HELP! Tips on starting solids.

[Natinbris]

I started giving my son solids at 6 months, but he just doesn't seem to be getting the hang of it (he is 7 months now)! The only thing he seems to like are the jars of creamed porridge/rice pudding. I had started making fruit and veg purees but he just shuts his mouth so I gave up on this. Even when eating the jars he doesn't really open his mouth, he tends to just suck the slop off the spoon, and covers himself in it. Sometimes he screams whilst I am trying to feed him so I just have to stop. He is breastfed and just loves the booby! My first son used to open his mouth like a baby bird so this is quite a shock. I don't know what to do - any tips from people who have had similar situations would be really helpful. I was hoping that solids might help him sleep through the night as he still wakes up 2 or 3 times.

[goingnowherefast]

Have you thought about trying baby led weaning? It's where you just start with finger foods, and let them feed themselves - they eat as much or as little as they like, or just play with it for a few weeks! You can look at the book "baby led weaning" by Gill Rapley for more info.
If you don't want to blw, don't worry about him refusing the spoon - he will eat when he's ready. They still get most of their calories from milk at this age, so don't worry. Sadly acecdotally weaning doesn't appear to make much of a difference to sleep. Breastmilk is still giving him all he needs nutritionally at this age as long as he is allowed as much of it as he wants - I wouldn't turn it in to a battle though I understand it's hard.

[Natinbris]

Yes - I think I will have a look at the BLW book - sounds interesting! Thankyou for your advice - I need to calm down - don't want to put him off his food forever.

[goingnowherefast]

I know it must be hard if they won't eat, we've been lucky (so far) as dd eats anything and everything, but I do feel at this age especially it's just a case of offering, and if they don't eat it, fine - no worries, just try again later.
She will be fine with the bm for now!

[Dalrymps]

My ds is very difficult to feed, always has been. My advice is to force youeself to just relax, relax, relax. I say this because i'm sure we've prolonged my sons feeding issues by being so anxious. It is very early days. The best thing you can do is make feeding time calm and happy and encourange him to explore the food whether that be puree or finger food.

I'm sure you're doing your best, it is the most frustrating thing in the world when they just won't take the food!

You'll get there, maybe just make sure he is exposed to lots of different flavours even if he doesn't eat a whole lot of them. If he feels like mealtimes are fun whether he eats or not then he will feel under less pressure to eat and probably just do it of his own accord iyswim.

I don't mean to be patronising, this is just my 'theroy' and it seems to be helping with ds.