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Infant feeding

My BF 16mth old won't eat solids from me

6 replies

BBandthedestroyer · 17/10/2011 09:47

We've followed BLW except for breakfast since she was 6 months old, breakfast was usually spooned porridge/fruit, which worked fine she'd eat after her morning milk.

This was great until about a month ago when she started refusing her breakfast. I tried different things to eat but she was having none of it. Having spoke to a health trainer at the baby cafe she said it was important for her to eat solids at breakfast at this age so we were aiming to get her to have solids before her milk, as she's filling up on milk and then not hungry. However she'll only take this if she doesn't see me in the morning (picture: me hiding upstairs while DH gives her breakfast!) My DH has done this for 12 days running in the hope to get her into a routine with it, as he works different shifts and won't be able to do it after today. This morning I attempted to do it and she screamed blue murder. Wouldn't eat and just wanted breastfeeding. Now she own't have solids and I doubt she'll eat well till she wakes after her nap.

So we're back to square one. I don't know what to try next. Incidentally, she doesn't have a huge appetite as it is, usually eats very well at teatime., but with the new routine where my DH fed her, she was eating a good amount of breakfast and lunch too.

My DH thinks she's been 'mollycoddled' with me giving her milk pretty much on demand.

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thisisyesterday · 17/10/2011 09:51

not sure what planet your HV is on, but it's really fine for your little girl to have milk in the morning instead of breakfast.
if I leave my lot to their own devices they naturally will ask for breakfast around 10am
so it might just be that it's too early for her.

it's fine for her to have lots of milk.. milk is fantastic for her! has more calories than most foods plus all the added benefits to her immune system etc etc.

so i would chill. if she is hungry for food she will eat food. if she wants milk then that's fine.

i presume she is not losing weight or anything?

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BBandthedestroyer · 17/10/2011 10:26

Thank you. My instinct tells me to just go with the flow and to trust her to tell me what she needs, but given conflicting advice from the health team and also the pressure I get from DH (he doesn't get 'extended' breastfeeding or the idea of self weaning, its a foreign concept for him and causes much strain in our household) it makes it difficult. I don't think she's losing weight, I don't really weigh her often but she seems to be growing just fine.

I did try and give her bf very late, she's just only interested in milk before lunchtime, unless she's with someone else, then she'll have solids!

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MigGril · 17/10/2011 13:35

DD didn't get breakfast untill she was over 3years old and I bribed her with a sticker chart because I didn't want her to go to preschool with out having eaten anything.

For a long time I though it must be milk in the morning, but when she droped that it didn't make a difference and then i though it must be because she was still having a night feed. But when she started sleeping though at 2 1/2 that didn't make any differences. She just isn't a breakfast person. I think trying to force them to eat solids just has the opersit effect.

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BBandthedestroyer · 17/10/2011 13:44

Hmm that's interesting Mig, I have never been one for breakfast either (although DH is) and now you mention it I can remember my mum letting me have cake because I wouldn't eat anything else(!) I agree about forcing it making it worse.

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mawbroon · 17/10/2011 13:54

I would go with the flow tbh.

DS2 is 19months. Some days he eats mountains of food and not much milk, other days he has mostly milk and eats small amounts of food.

Breastmilk is a very good food indeed, and I trust ds2 to regulate what he needs.

Breastfeeding Older Children by Ann Sinnot might be a good book for your dh to read. If you are planning on letting your dd self wean, it could be a while yet, so he really needs to know what he's objecting to IYSWIM.

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BBandthedestroyer · 17/10/2011 19:51

Thank you I'll look out for the book. Its getting him interested to read it though, its not thats he'd ask me to stop feeding her, he knows that'd go down like a lead balloon. Its just that he's not really that supportive.

Glad to know that milk is still doing it for now. I worry too much I think.
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