7 month old getting angry at meal times

[KandJblog]

I don't know what to do, hoping someone has some advice!

My boy has always been good with his food (he's a big boy lol), he took to solids well, spoon fed initially then added finger foods in too. But this past week he has started shouting and getting frustrated at every meal time, so he isn't eating much of it...

He doesn't really cry as such, just sounds angry, I'm worried about making meal times a miserable experience, that's the last thing I want. I'm ready for a full mental breakdown after every meal time (he has 3 meals a day)

I've tried him with chunky, smooth, sweet, savoury, spoon fed, and letting him grab at his food. But nothing's helping, he still gets angry. If I spoon feed I feel like I'm forcing him but atleast he eats some, if I let him grab at his food he likes to drop it all in his lap and gets very little in his mouth - then I'm left with a horrendous mess to clean up... which I wouldn't mind if he was enjoying and eating it... but I can't help but feel what's the point when it all ends up on the floor with him screeching and whinging in his high chair.

I don't know if I'm getting his signals wrong?! I only feed him when I think he's giving me hungry cues.

He is teething and has been since 6 weeks old on and off, it hasn't put him off his food before. I've also tried putting ambesol on his gums before feeds, but that didn't help at all. I considered trying dentinox gel which is what I usually use through the day on him, but it's got quite a strong flavour... I don't want to distort all his foods flavours if you get what I mean?

I know that people say if he gets angry / frustrated at food then stop and try again later. But what if it happens every meal time... am I supposed to just stop feeding him solids? Feels like a step in the wrong direction

He gets angry at his milk bottles sometimes too, not every bottle but it does happen quite a lot.

I'm sure I just need to stop worrying so much, I know people say he won't starve himself... but he's my first child and I havnt a bloody clue what I'm doing.

[Fourmagpies]

Are you maybe leaving it too late to feed him? My youngest DS would get very upset if he was hungry and then not be able to eat properly as he was so upset. Maybe try feeding him half an hour earlier than you have been or trying feeding to a schedule rather than waiting for hunger signs. DS (now 7) still gets hangry if not fed regularly!