Weaning issues - does your child eat well now?

[Everynow]

I've only just started however the NCT mum's have been telling me how their babies are loving baby rice/porridge. I decided to start with veggie and fruit purees rather than rice/porridge and whilst the NCT babies are shoveling it into their mouths like no tomorrow my baby is having a full blown meltdown over some broccoli and pear concoction. He doesn't seem to like anything! Sweet potato and parsnip - no. Banana and apple - tolerated a minute amount. Pear was the most successful. Broccoli = crying, wailing, arms flailing. I'm starting to think maybe I should try the porridge or rice. He also isn't one for gnawing on toys and now I'm worried he is going to be fussy after reading about it online being a "major" issue.

Please tell me it gets better?

IME what happened during weaning had absolutely no bearing on how they are later on. DC1 was quite slow to take to it, is now a 10 year old who eats anything. DC2 ate everything as a baby, now is very fussy.

You might want to mix the veg/fruit with a bit of rice or milk/formula/ebm to make a milder flavour. Or try more finger foods along the baby-led weaning style. Different babies prefer different things. My DC1 preferred purees while my other ate more finger foods.

Word of warning - they nearly all become fussy buggers when they turn two.

People are always telling each other how perfect their children are.

I never gave either of mine baby rice and I only gave them porridge when they could have it as a breakfast when they were about three.

Try not to listen to other people and just keep doing what you are doing. If he doesn't like broccoli this time he will like it another time. Probably when you are eating some. Maybe add a bit of pear if he likes that but try not to worry about it too much, This part doesn't last for long and then you get on to them trying a whole range of foods.

Baby rice is nutritionally pointless - you make as well soak sawdust in milk.

Have you tried finger foods? Some babies just want to be able to do it themselves. Dd would just about allow me to feed her natural yogurt, but everything else she wanted to do herself.

Just completely relax about it (harder said than I done I know!) but the more stressed you are, the more baby will pick up on it. Just stick some food down on the high chair tray and eat your own meal. Weaning is about learning textures and feelings as much as it is actually eating at 6 months.

Completely agree with the fussiness at 2! Dd lived off cheesy pasta, peas and toast for about a year Thankfully she’s starting to come out the other side now.

I think I will try finger foods from next week as he hits the magic 6 months. I just wanted to get him used to the high chair and food. I did mix in some formula but might not have been enough.

Thank you for reassuring me on later eating habits though. I hope your DC2 branches out a bit more in time

And I'm not going to bother with the rice. It looks vile which is why I didn't want to use it.