Baby Food Advise

[LouBlue1507]

Morning everyone!

I need some advice re my baby's food. Please don't judge me, I know it's not great but I don't know what to do.

DD is 10 months and was weaned at 6 months. But she has never taken a spoon! She won't entertain one in the slightest.

As time has gone on she has become more and more fussy, refusing most foods I offer.

She eats a lot of fruit and dairy but point won't touch vegetables or any meals I make. So atm she's just having toast/fruit/snacks and maybe some pasta or waffle with fish fingers.

How do I get DD to eat other things or take a spoon so she eats decent meals? I've tried giving DD the spoon and leaving her to it but the food gets thrown on the floor followed by screaming.

I don't know what to do

Don't sweat it... DD didn't use a spoon until much, much later. Finger foods of whatever they fancy, plus lots of milk is fine. There are loads of finger foods ideas out there...

She's still really little. I don't think you need to do anything other that carry on offering different things, even if she doesn't eat them. Presumably she's still getting most of her nutrition from milk. Food is just an added bonus. My DS was the complete opposite and always favoured spoon feeding. He's 16 months now and shovels food in with a spoon, his hands, licks directly from the bowl!

Hi op

How much milk does your baby have?

My son only started accepting a spoon and really "eating" when I dropped more than half his bottles....

Try grating a mixture of root veg or whatever vegetables, grated cheese, .. Make it into 'finger' shapes or like a meat ball and put under the oven.. Then its still healthy and looks like what your dc already eats..

I'm no expert I have a picky eater which she did not learn from us so I do understand the struggle.

My LO isn't keen on milk 😢

Fruit cheese fish and potatoes is OK.

Meat is quite hard for them to eat. Mine loved to gum on a chicken leg but wouldn't eat much of it. Did once sick dry to a dessicated husk a medium rare lamb chop th ing from a Sunday lunch rack of lamb.

Let her feed herself. Put veggies out in soft cooked sticks. Go down the baby led weaning route and she will come to cutlery eventually.

It will be messy but you can let her feed herself purees with her hands if you are worried about the meat thing. They can't throw it so far if they don't have a spoon. Put down a wax tablecloth under the high chair (easier to then take outside and hose down)

She doesn't need to eat off a spoon. Read up on baby led weaning; sounds like it would suit your little one more. Basically it's finger foods & your baby feeds themselves.

And they can definitely tell how much effort you have put in. The more love and care you put into a meal the less they will eat. Just to spite you I think. It carries on. 😊

Thanks! DD has about 8-10oz of milk, it's so hard to get her to have any! She is a happy baby, but feel like I've already made a rod for my back. I just want her to have some cottage pie or Sunday dinner with us!

She will get there eventually, she's still very little! We did blw and my 22 month old DD has only really picked up a decent appetite in the last couple of months. As long as they're still growing and have enough energy, they're doing fine :)

She can have a Sunday dinner, no need for a spoon for meat, veg and potatoes

DS2 is 19 months and can use a fork, and can manage with a spoon but isn't brill with it, but he still eats more than half of his meals with his hands, it's just quicker and easier for him

Are you worried about her being messy? Is that why you think she needs a spoon?

My son didn't use a spoon for eating until he was just turning 2 it was only at the start of this year he got given a fork to use and he is 3 next week!

Don't stress too much. Where I am the advice is that 'food under one is just for fun' as the majority of nutrition and calories should still be coming from milk/formula. Just keep offering her a variety of healthy foods (as finger food if she prefers - don't worry about the spoon thing, she'll figure that out in her own time and I think that if you focus on or worry about that, it will seem like a longer, harder transition). If it helps, I remember reading a study that said babies that play with their food went on to be less picky as they grew older. It's a really normal way to learn about the different textures, colours and smells of different food. If you're worried about her weight dropping then maybe your GP or HV might have some more advise. Good luck!

Nope not bothered about the mess I have given her food without a spoon, it gets chucked unless its pasta, fruit or a block of cheese!

DD refused lots of stuff and was quite highly strung about eating. She ate much better when we were not staring at her and 'coaxing' her! I think they pick up on our stress and tension (and it's really not about what WE want)

She's got a lifetime of sharing roasts with you, ahead of her - don't worry just now. It's more important she enjoys whatever foods SHE fancies right now, and feels in control of the process.

Cheese grated on the shepherds pie? Get her to watch you do it so she knows it is cheese? Although my dd would just pick the cheese off the top when I tried this.

Cheese fruit fish and potato isn't a bad diet.

I sometimes found that dd needed fruit before a meal. Almost to give her the energy to tackle the meal. So she would have her pudding first if you like. A handful of raspberries on the plate next to the cottage pie might look weird to our adult eyes but she enjoyed it.

Oh - and mine basically had ham, cheese and breastmilk until she was 18 months!

She has 8-10oz of milk a day? In one feed or per feed....?

In 2 feeds, one in the morning and one at bedtime. About 3-5 oz per feed.

This is normal. 10 months was when my dd realised she had the power to say no and refused food she previously loved. Keep persevering and try to resist only giving her what she wants. Introduce spoons during play. Put a spoon in your mouth and let her grab the end. Then let her 'feed" you and make lots of happy noises. After some fun playing, dip the spoon in yoghurt. Take turns in letting her feed you and you feeding her. If she refused to open her mouth try leaving a taste on her lips.

Ok . Is she gaining weight etc?
I think it sounds like she's just a bit fussy at the moment. Very frustrating for you....
They say that a baby has to try something 10 times before they decide if they like it or not! X
Don't give up! Some people would reduce milk further but that's a personal choice for you to decide on x

I would actually try to increase her milk, most of her nutrients should still be coming from milk, 2 3oz feeds per day really isn't enough

You could try making muffins with veggies? I wouldn't sweat the spoon stuff just focus on finger foods :)

Whatever you choose to do (and there are lots of good suggestions on this thread), don't worry that what you do now will mean she will never eat with a spoon. She's still so little, nothing you do needs to be permanent.

Honestly don't worry. You have just described the eating behaviour of all my children. Get some resusable pouches and try your mashed food in there. I promise you your baby will eat when she is ready. We have become obsessed with getting babies to eat in this country... food before one is just for fun. This will pass. I promise.

Try sweet potato and swede,these are sweet and more acceptable to small people.Does she eat with her fingers?
My dd used just not to be interested in some meals at that age and til about 2 so I would just make sure she had enough to drink.I have a great picture of her in her chair on the lawn covered in grated cheese,fromages fraud and bits of bread.I could while her down and the dog would love to up the mess.