11 month old only wants milk not solids - feeling useless

[zeromanghoul]

Hi all. Apologies for this being in chat but it's a lot more active than the feeding threads and my anxiety is starting to suffer. For context my older DD is tube fed and has been from 8 months due to complex genetic needs (which my son doesn't have) which is why I'm particularly anxious about this.

DS is 11 months and truthfully weaning has always been a battle. He gets very frustrated and cross in his highchair. He's better at eating when out and about but this isn't always practical. He isn't averse to lumps or self feeding because I've seen him manage both plenty of times. But the last few months he's been unwell or teething, usually one after the other and his feeding has completely ground to a halt I suspect. He only wants bottles of milk. We've tried lots of things, we always eat at the table, picnic on the floor, offer what we're having, not forcing him etc etc etc. but nothing is working. HV suggested things we are already trying. We've even gone right back to basics offering purée and easy finger foods. He's taking vitamin supplements which feels like putting a plaster on a broken leg! I just feel completely useless as his mum. I couldn't feed my DD and now seemingly, my DS.

Thank you for any advice.

No suggestions but sympathy OP. My DS would have happily stayed drinking milk at a similar age. I despaired to my sister as seeing parents in cafes with babies who jus sat and ate what parents spooned into their mouths but DS ate nothing. I know that it's food for experimentation etc. at that age but even so. I had a very "he must have 2 good meals a day and a pudding with custard" HV which didn't help.

My DS is a teen now, and still a very faddy eater, but he did start to eat eventually.

Do they not still say "food before one is just for fun thing?" We got told this a lot when mine were little. Don't worry, milk is fine, it's basically a complete food. Just keep eating a fun, social thing, he can grab a bit off your plate, try what he feels like, forget the highchair. I found mine were happy to snack as they played but not interested in meal times at that age, which is fine. Tot up everything he has a bite of, every bit of your food or slice of fruit and you'll probably find he's having more than you think.

He’s only 11 months, he’s been Ill. You’re in no rush. You’ve got a lot on your plate. Make sure he has milk after he’s tried solids but awhile after. - don’t let him go hungry obs.

Just take the pressure off him and you. There’s bound to be anxiety he’s picking up on, through no fault of your own. Sit and eat at meal times give him bits of what you’re making (or some puréed food and if he eats with you brilliant if he doesn’t try the next time. I would just relax and let him find his own way. He’s still having milk as back up and he can try foods without the pressure of having to eat a lot. He will get there, winter is difficult if they are snotty etc

When children are unwell they regress and behave like a much younger child. Try not to worry, continue with giving him his milk as normal, just offer him a few suitable finger foods each meal time. If he wants them fine, if he doesn't that is fine too. He is reacting perfectly normally to being ill/teething. If you can give him some vitamin D drops that would be good. Ask your HV.

My 2. 5year old would still prefer milk over food! He didnt eat solids till over 1.
Despite try everything! Dieticians, allergy paediatricians said was down to late discovery of allergies, (covid and no one would see us)
Even now hes so fussy unlike all the others

@zeromanghoul

how did this turn out my 8 month old gets so upset in highchair won’t really engage with much food feels awful looking for some hope x