What is it with 7 month old eating??????

[Meandmyjoe]

OK, I don't want to keep complaining but just looking for a bit of advice really.

DS is now 7 months. Always been very fussy and irritable- needs a lot of movement and stimulation. I wasn't too worried about this as people have assured me that it's just frustration and that when he gets mobile then his mood should lift dramatically.

However, when he was younger he seemed to pull off when feeding even when he was hungry. Arch his back and pull away. He is now on solids and bottle fed. He has 3 8ounce bottles a day along with 3 solid meals.

Meal times, including bottle feeds seem a bit of a battle really. I know this shouldn't be the case and food should be enjoyable but he seems to be eating less and less, even when he's hungry and hasn't eaten all night. He is not wanting to eat in the morning.

He seems to turn away from the spoon more and more and ends up sobbing. He pulls off bottles after about 5 ounces or less and arches his back again like when he was younger. He seems to grunt a lot and not like sitting still. He does OK with finger foods but it's difficult to get him to eat enough to fill him. Please tell me what the hell is wrong. My health visitor just thinks he's frustrated and I should let him cry more. I really don't like the idea but am running out of ideas. He is only really happy when lying flat and rolling on the floor or being up right and carried around in our arms. He hates it if we sit with him for a minute. He is very restless and unless asleep will even cry in the car. We are exhausted! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whomovedmychocolate]

Is he teething? DD was a right little sod when her first big teeth came through - she was fine with the first few but then - gahhh what a nightmare. Went from eating normally to being an absolute swine.

But don't worry too much, it will pass. As long as he isn't losing weight and he is still weeing and pooing he'll be getting enough. DD regularly eats four grapes a day when she has a tooth coming and sod all else bar breastmilk But it's temporary (she's 16 months btw). They all do this. It's worse if they realise it gets a reaction as well so try and be calm and say 'okay, not hungry, no problem' and try later. Don't do the reason thing, it means nothing till they are at least one!

Have you tried him in a door bouncer, that way he has independent movement without you having to hold him. HV is being an arse btw, if he's insecure, letting him cry isn't exactly going to help, other than teach him he can't rely on you which will over the long term be a problem.

Good luck. At some point they do turn into proper little people you know, and it stops being such a battle. Sort of.

[Meandmyjoe]

Thanks, I think he may be teething but it's hard to tell. He chomps on everything and doesn't like me feeling his gums but he has been drooly and grumpy since birth! I'm hoping this food thing will pass. Maybe he'll lighten up a bit when he crawls properly or finally gets some teeth!

I totally agree my health visitor is an arse! She has told me some odd stuff about how I'm too attached to him and I need to 'edge away' and leave him to cry longer.

He's my son, surely it's a good thing I am attached right??????! Granted I maybe worry a bit too much but it's not like I'm clingy with him. He seems as happy with dh and just about anyone who will carry him around and show him things! I'm not sure if he's particularly insecure or just really inquisitive and frustrated. I fail to see what leaving the poor little mite to cry will do though- just make him more miserable I would have thought.

Think this food thing is maybe just something we'll have to ride out and hope it goes away. Thanks

[Habbibu]

Oh, jeez - dump the HV. I couldn't let dd out of my sight pretty much until she was about 5 mo! And curiously enough she's a well balanced happy little girl who goes to nursery 2 days a week just fine. Food - he's very young. Try not to let it become a battleground - he can fill up on milk. If he likes finger food then stick with that - share it with him/let him nick your food. Whomoved's advice is spot on - DD goes through phases where she doesn't eat much, and then a week later I'm scrabbling through the fridge trying to satisfy an insatiable appetite.

He needs reassurance and cuddles from you - this will give him confidence, and allow him to become more independent. It will pass!

[bilblio]

He sounds a lot like my DD was until not so long ago. She is nearly 8 months and it was wind and belly ache causing her problems. She did a lot of the back arching and cried unless we were walking round with her.

It took her ages to get past the colic stage, but even so we went straight from using Infacol to giving her gripe water. It's only been this last week that we've managed to go a couple of days without her needing gripe water.

[Meandmyjoe]

Mmm very interesting bilblio- makes me wonder if it's the same for ds as he was an incredibly windy little baby and has always wriggled and writhed as if in discomfort but not exactly pain. He doesn't cry inconsolably or anything but I feel he probably would if we didn't walk round with him! Aso his discomfort and moddiness was never at a certain time in the day (which is what made me dismiss colic when he was newborn) he just seems generally cranky even now. We also releyed on infacol and gripe water for months but it dodn't seem to make a great deal of difference.

He hates sitting in the car or buggy and really doesn't like sitting still at all. He sits well unaided and can play like this for a while but doesn't like to be held still if you see what I mean. I think he is just very independant and still suffers from tummy cramps or wind.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone! Glad you're seeing an improvement. x

[Meandmyjoe]

Well, I have no idea what the heck it was but it seems to be improving. Managed to get ds to eat all 3 meals and 3 bottles plus little snacks too this past couple of days. Perhaps just wind. He still seems easily distracted in solid meals and keep having to talk to him and keep hime interested but seems OK now. Thanks!