To think that ‘food for fun until they are one’ isn’t really meant to be taken literally

[ElderflowerRose]

It isn’t (surely) literally true that babies need nothing but milk until their first birthday, is it?

Or if it is true, why don’t we start weaning at around 9/10 months not 6?

My ds isn’t engaging with weaning at all and if I hear the above again I might just scream!

@ElderflowerRose

I know, that’s the problem. I am hoping when he sees other children eating at nursery it will become a nice, social event.

Absolutely this is often the case. Most toddlers eat really well at nursery because they follow the lead. Might still be tricky at home though, just because they are contrary!

41 is young compared to me! I am 55, and my DM was 92, so I took quite a lot of my leads from her, which at the time, were probably really outdated too. She fell out with my SIL's quite a lot, one didn't speak to her for several years.

That’s the thing, he doesn’t like the high chair. Poor baby

If it’s all become too stressful, could you try leaving it for a month. Also perhaps ditch the high chair and go for something low that he could sit at. If you’re out and about try and offer bits of what you’re having while he sits in your knee, but with no pressure. And don’t worry - reluctant eater DS is 35 now and eats loads!

Its a bit of a silly phrase, that seems to just be a British thing, as its not just for fun, they do need the iron (BF babies especially) from food, and early introduction to allergens is important for avoiding allergies, and it is good for them to experience a variety of foods early even if they don't eat much at all. There was certainly no question of food before one not being important at the baby clinic (not in UK) when my children were babies, instead the importance of starting weaning was stressed as soon as they turned 4 months.

I would talk to your HV about iron levels, perhaps its possible to get a test (fingerprick test hopefully) to see what his levels are like in case supplementation is needed. Nursery should help, babies and toddlers seem to eat much better in nursery, peer pressure!

I have 3 children and all started properly eating at different stages.

Does he like sitting on your lap? If he does then he could sit on your lap whilst you eat and chat to your DP/H is he's around. Have a side plate with some stuff for him. None of mine tolerated a high chair for long so we often mixed high chair with sat on laps.

Watch he doesn't head butt the table like on of mine did 🤦‍♀️

It sounds like you've become extremely stressed by it and he's picked up on that honestly he will be fine you have said he's happy and a good weight.