Worried Mum - Please advice

[Michlj]

My almost 8mo is refusing most solids and purees. He will onmy eat fruity pouches, like mango or berry yogurts. I have served toast, fruit, fish, veg, pureed veg, nothing seems to work. He has 5 bottles a day 60z, enjoys his milk but not showing any signs of wanting food. It ends up on the floor or in the dog. Really worried. Anybody had the same? xx

When do you offer food, relative to bottles? I'd try to arrange your day such that you're offering food first, when he's likely to be a bit hungry, but not so hungry all he can think about is getting his milk. I'd also sit and eat with him, so he sees what to do – and can have bits of food from your plate, which are often more tempting than the (identical) food on his plate.

@skkylark I offered weetabix this morning before milk, he had maybe 5 spoonfuls (only because I added berry yogurt to it) then finished his milk off. He had a bottle at lunchtime, hes due again around teatime, do I offer food instead? Would you offer 3 meals a day or two, if so which two meals, breakfast and lunch or breakfast and tea? xx

I don't think you need to worry, 8 months is very little still and they have lots of time to find their love of food. My daughter is now a great eater but didn't show much interest in food until gone 9 months. I would stick to one meal a day, experiment with how long to wait between milk and food, keep offering different things not just what you know they will eat, and keep it relaxed. They will get there in the end.

I think in the early stages, letting them try different flavours and textures is more important than how much they eat. From your posts, it sounds like he naturally favours sweet things, so I'd want to make sure he was also getting exposed to plenty of savoury tastes. I was offering food two or three times a day at this age, just bits from my meals – which makes it easier to offer a good variety than if it's just breakfast – but the key word is 'offer'. DD would merrily have a bite or two of almost anything, but virtually never more than a few bites (she made an exception for satsumas).

I'd offer food before milk, something like half an hour or an hour before a bottle, but then offer the bottle as normal. The food is almost an activity for him, not really about nutrition yet. If he touches it, smells it, licks it, it all counts at this stage, even if it ultimately ends up on the floor. Try not to stress about it or react to him not eating it – you don't want him to find food stressful, or alternatively, start throwing it on the floor specifically to get a reaction.

@skkylark Thank you for all your advice. You have been very helpful. He had a few spoonfuls if weetabix and cucumber and pasta puree today (the rest went on the floor for the dog haha) xx

Glad it was helpful, and it sounds as though at least he and the dog will be the best of friends!