My 8 month old is refusing food, what do I do?

[Bigspoontoe]

Hi there,

I am looking for some advice on weaning please. My 8 month old is not a great eater, I am following the Annabel Karmel recipes and some days he will enjoy them and the following day he will simply refuse to eat (even though it's the same thing). I have tried giving him food from a spoon and finger food and it is a hit or a miss. I am nervous that he is not getting enough of what he needs to keep him going. He is still up during the night and I think it is because he is hungry. It's very disheartening as I make everything fresh and there is so much waste.

Does anyone have any top tips on what I can try and I am really struggling .

Thanks for your help xx

[backtowork2015]

Food is just for fun at this age so what entertains him today will be disregarded tomorrow. Try to batch cook and freeze in tiny portions to save you the effort, or just give him some of your meals. It's so disheartening to slave away only to have it refused. Ready break or weetabix with fruit pot and formula is a good filler at teatime if you think he's getting hungry at night. Experimentation with food is better earlier in the day. .. 11am ish.

[Little1One]

I agree with "backtowlrk2015", food it is just for fun at this stage. Is he still breastfeeding?
My daughter is 20 months and she still eats very little portions. I was very worried at the beginning but my older sister kept telling me: make sure that every bite counts so if she eats little make it be a superfood (mash avocado, blueberries, chickpeas etc)
As long as he is not losing too much weight, let him play with it and give him time. He will get there.

[MadeForThis]

Please don't stress about how much food your LO will eat. It's all about experimentation and different tastes until they are one.
If they are breastfeeding or drinking formula regularly then don't worry.
Eating should be fun. Don't feel like you need to make your LO eat. If they refuse just leave it and try again at the next meal.
I know 8 month olds that will eat anything and others that won't attempt lumps. They are all different.
Same as with sleep. Some love it,some fight it

[SpongeCakeBigPants]

Please don't worry at all about this. Some days babies will eat everything you give them and other days nothing. Just keep offering a wide variety of foods and keep meal times positive and stress free

[Bigspoontoe]

Thanks everyone your comments have certainly made me feel better. I suppose I just feel under pressure as my friends babies at the same age are on three meals a day and eat everything in sight so I thought I was doing something wrong. He started off great then it all went downhill but as you all say it's just the experimental stage and they are all different.

Thanks Ladies xx