Weaning

[Asansom]

I have an 8 month old baby and he won't eat any savoury foods. Just puddings. Have been trying to feed him them on and off since about 5/6 month old. Only savoury food he'll eat is wotsits crisps and quavers. Surely he should be on 3 meals a day now? Should I feed him 3 times a day and just use desserts?

You've tried cheesy mash, omlette strips, cubed bread soaked in soup, that sort of thing?

Have you offered baby self-feeding? Cut it up and plonk onto highchair tray so he can help himself?

Wotsits and quavers are high in salt and not really suitable iirc.

Definitely feed him 3 times a day. Whatever you're having (no nuts, choking hazards or honey, no added salt), give him a plate of it and leave him to it. Don't give salty crisps. How does he get on with things like toast or weetabix?

Might be worth contacting your HV for some advice on weaning OP.

Yes, 3 meals a day and you can try just giving him whatever you’re eating as long as it’s low salt content.

The crisps is an absolute no go because of the salt content. If he’s having those regularly youll be running the risk of kidney damage. Sounds dramatic but it’s true unfortunately. If he likes the texture of wotsits etc you can get special crisps made for babies and toddlers from the baby aisle in the supermarket.

If I were you, I’d strip the weaning back. I’d use sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash and I’d probably let him feed himself. Id cut out desert (you dot. Say what you’re giving) entirely and only offer fruit or plain yogurt for some of the meals.

Weaning can be an absolute minefield but if you just keep it simple and stick to the rules you’ll get him to eat.

Haven't tried cheesy mash or ommlett strips but will give it a try. Just tried him with toast before and was boaking so spat it out like he does every other food I try him with.

I don't tend to eat through the day as baby always wants my attention as soon as I sit down to eat. Whatever time of day it is so me and my husband have to wait until he goes to bed to have our tea. Haven't tried him with weetabix yet but will give it a go. Thanks everyone.

Stop giving him puddings and give him savoury food. It's perfectly normal for them to 'boak' when trying new foods.

Sit and eat with him. Make your meal then put some of it on his tray and let him get on with it. He needs to see you eat. Eat together. He'll be occupied with trying the food so you can eat. You don't need to feed him and don't worry if he doesn't eat much initially.

And stop with the crisps, sweet things and processed foods.

So tomorrow morning you could put him in his high chair with a bowl of weetabix and a banana whilst you sit next to him and have the same. Then at lunch you could do something like scrambled eggs on toast for you both, again you sit with him and have the same.

Have you tried parsnip?

I'll keep trying him with food I eat. They aren't necessarily desserts, they're all pureed fruit so it's not as if I'm feeding him sweet stuff all the time. No Haven't tried him with parsnip.

My eldest was fine with feeding/weaning. Started him at 3 months so I'm getting a bit worried why my youngest isn't the same. Feel like a 1st time mam again as there's a 5 year age gap.

Babies naturally prefer sweet tastes which is why the advice is to give them savoury foods to start.

At that age mine loved meals like pasta and meatballs, Shepard’s pie, fish pie, veggie sausages and mash, curry, chilli and rice, noodles etc

Also they loved a roast dinner especially homemade Yorkshire puddings(no salt)

I will keep trying every day with him. But after he boaks he just keeps his lips tight shut so won't have any more. It's a nightmare.

An 8mo doesn't need puree any more.s

Sorry hit post. Stop offering the fruit altogether. Give whole savoury food and let him self feed - just put e.g. strips of toast with nut butter, chunks of omelette or chicken in front of him. It doesn't matter if he doesn't eat solids for a day or two but it does matter if he develops a dependence on sweet and very salty foods.

As above just let him feed himself while you eat your food, if he doesn’t eat it that’s fine take it away and try again at the next meal time.

Thanks everyone, I will keep trying.

Weaning has been a challenge with both of mine. I kept reading they ‘should’ be eating 3 meals a day - but they weren’t. Neither accepted spoon feeds. Neither were they interested in feeding themselves what we had, other than gumming the odd bit of toast or apple. Reducing milk feeds didn’t help. Both continued to grow on their centile lines perfectly, DS became more interested in food at 12 months, he’s now 4 and quite adventurous with what he eats. DD is 19 months and improving every day, she’s got a small appetite and enjoys playing with her food and eating as she plays, but she’s still got a bird-like appetite!

I feel you. My DD would barely eat anything but fruit and yoghurt at that age (and for many months after). PPs have made some good suggestions on things to try but don't get downhearted if yours just plain has no interest in proper meals like rice and chilli, shepherd's pie etc. Doesn't mean your DS should be eating that just because others his age do.

Best advice I got was off someone on MN who said it's your job as a parent to put balanced, nutritious food in front of your baby. It's up to them whether they choose to eat it. That took some of the stress out of it for me. Nowadays DD (2) eats a good range of stuff but she's still got no interest in chilli or shepherd's pie!

seeing my DD is the same, anything like a full ‘meal’ and she’s still not keen on trying it. She will have toast, fruit, plain cereals, cheese, yogurt of any description, toast/bagels with cream cheese, pasta sometimes, a few baked beans sometimes, and recently she’s starting trying a small amount of scrambled eggs. So much wasted food and time between my two DC, but we’re getting there!

The last 3 comments have made me feel a bit better. You feel as if your child is the only 1 doing this (Well I do). I know i shouldn't compare my baby to others but I Can't help myself. It's just what I do as a mother. He is also waking up more through night but not sure wether he's teething or he's hungry but then won't eat any solids through the day. Just tried him with half a weetabix and his own milk. He done a lot of boaking but just kept giving him it. He ate a little bit so it's a start I suppose.

My two weren’t big eaters until about a year old. I did BLW with them, but I still found it a bit disconcerting when they were having as many milk feeds as they’d always had whilst babies of a similar age were eating more & having a couple of milk feeds a day.

I just put food in front of them, sometimes things they could pick up easily, sometimes a “meal” such as pasta & sauce. It was messy, not a lot went into their mouths, but they enjoyed “trying”. Eventually they tarted eating more & more, they’re now 8 & 6 and eat pretty well.

Up until 1, milk should still be their main source of nutrition, so try not to worry too much - put lots of variety of food there & let him try things out & feed himself!

I never bothered with set meals at this age. I just put a selection of soft cooked veg on the highchair tray and left them to it. I pulled the highchair up to the table at meal times, and sometimes they wanted my food and sometimes not. I just put extra on my plate and gave a spoon of bits on the tray and let them explore.

That's something I could also try. Thank you.

My little boy is 11 month old. He's goin to be 1 in 4 week and lately he's started crying when put to bed at night time and does the same through night when he wakes up for a bottle. I've had to start putting him on my knee to fall asleep again until I can put him in his cot. Haven't done this since he couldn't hold his own bottle. Could always put him down and leave the room straight away. Don't know what's gotten into him. Does any1 else's baby do this? Any advice/tips would be great thanks.