Weaning - failing on all fronts

[redexpat]

DD is 9mo. She was exclusively bf for 7 months. She wont take a bottle. She will sometimes take puree from a spoon, but it will usually be washed around her mouth and then spat out again. So I tried blw instead. But the same thing happens - she puts it in her mouth, washes it round and spits it out again. She doesnt seem to swallw anything.

All this is complicated by the fact that I havent been able to get her into much of a routine, (although I know when she will sleep during hte day now which helps) and so it is tough to know when she is hungry, about to be hungry etc. I'm really struggling to know WHEN to feed her too.

I need to cut down on bf. I need to be able to go out and leave dh to it. She needs to be ready to go to the cm in 6 weeks.

I've emailed my HV but not holding out much hope for any real help. Does anyone have any advice? tia

[bunique]

Have tongue and lip ties been ruled out? I think they can cause issues with solids. Any signs in her nappy that she's getting some in?

In terms of routine I can only tell you what we do! 8mo. Wake about 7 and breastfeed in bed. Downstairs for breakfast at about 8 (porridge), nappy changed and clothes on. Drop big sis at school then down for a nap at half 9. Anywhere between 1 and 2 hours. Breastfeed on waking then lunch about an hour later. Down for a nap half 1 - 2 for an hour then school run. Sometimes breastfeed when we get back about 4. Dinner 5-5.30, sometimes bath, then bed 6.30-7.

Is she having any settling in sessions with cm? My first was a real booby baby but coped fine at nursery without it. They do adapt really well to other people's routines

[redexpat]

Have tongue and lip ties been ruled out? Never even heard of lip tie thanks. Do I ask HV to check or GP?

I think I may need to get up earlier in the morning then and make time for porridge. I have tried half heartedly a couple of times, but I find myself getting v stressed by it all that it's easier to not bother in the morning.

Yes settling in will start in November, but I'd like the peace of mind before that iyswim.

I think Im going to impose your routine on her since the sleeping times are identical. Thanks so much!

[Pantone363]

How long will she be at CMs for?

BLW is the way I would go. She's clearly not bothered about food, don't let her see you stressing. Just put a mixture on the highchair and let her play and move it around her mouth. She will eventually swallow some.

I wouldn't cut down on BF in place of milk at 9mths

What are you planning on doing for milk at the CM's?

[bunique]

I agree not to stress about it as I'm sure she'll pick up on that.

[bunique]

Red - try HV but I think lip ties are even less known about that tongue ties. Google might help you take an initial look

[FloJo151]

my 3rd child was like this. First 2 loved food and when we started weaning they ate quite a bit by 12 months, was a mixture of purees and blw. This time round dc3 was having none of it! she would just spit stuff out! Some stuff must have gone in as there was a definite change in poo consistency! I went back to work at 8 months (3 morns a week til 1/2ish) she was a bottle refuser too although she eventually took a bottle at about 9/10 mths.
Try not to stress too much (easier said than done I know!)

I found a great book to read called My child wont eat
It really helped me to not stress and realise that actually she would eat in her own time. (She did start eating a bit more by 14 months and now at 19 mnths actually eats quite well)

She still eats better at tea than lunch and im sure its because we are all sat at the table together at tea whereas at lunch although I try to sit with her I don't eat til a bit later.

I would try as much as possible to eat with her and just give her a bit from your plate. Just put a bit at a time onto her tray and do lots of smiling (I also did lots of exaggerated eating!)
I would defo recommend the book though it was great.
HTH

[redexpat]

Slight progress to report: I went out all day on Saturday, and DH had more success with me not there.

I hadnt heard back from the HV then realised I'd hit the save button rather than send.

I have downloaded the book to my kindle, although havent read it yet.

I have got some more blw recipes from the net. Realised that we hadnt been offering particularly blw friendly stuff. So quite a shopping list this week.

I dont know what will happen with milk at the cm. The guidelines say no cows milk before 1 year, so will maybe try ready made formula in a cup.