Dad struggling to help with the weaning

[Teedad88]

Hi,

We have a 9 month old boy who is breastfeeding at the moment and we're trying to wean him but he's being stubborn. He's never taken a bottle and he certainly isn't going to start now.

I've said to my wife that we try to make one meal of the day some solids like these Cow & Gate jars which seem ok. Another problem is, he just refuses any kind of spoon feeding. He can nibble on toast. That's about it.

My wife is so patient with him but she's really tired and I want to help with the feeding so I'm coming home from work every lunch time and trying to feed him lunch. It's hard going but I'm hoping we get there in the end.

Appreciate any tips for a dad who wants to do a lot more than he already is.

Thanks

If he likes nibbling, give him a range of finger foods to eat and he can please himself. He does eat food and not just milk?

Agree with pp- Baby led weaning was the only option for my friends little one who would have absolutely no truck with being spoon fed. Omelettes, cheese on toast, boiled veg sticks, roast sweet potato wedges, very thick porrigde, ripe fruit- things like that are good for nibbling. Please try not to think of him as stubborn-he's only tiny!!
I obviously know nothing about your situation (and you sound very kind btw) but I find help with things like cleaning, cooking, general tidying, bathing baby etc really help when I'm tired.

"porrigde"?? porridge I mean

DS1 was a spoon refuser from the get-go. I just gave him the bowl of whatever and let him get stuck in with his hands. Its much less stressful to let them explore and clean up the mess afterwards.

www.babyledweaning.com/ Get some hints here.

I am just a little bit confused, because 'weaning' has two different meanings (helpful, eh?!). Do you mean you want to up your son's solid food, or that your wife wants to stop breastfeeding now, or both?

God, I wish my dp was supportive like you.

My chikdren never ate prepsred babyvfood but eat home cooked food fine. So msybe try some of your own food.

Also use s beaker. Offer it as often as possible. Everyvday & many yimes a day, to getvthe baby used of it.

Look into blw as it really is a solution when a baby refuses tovest off a spoon.

Hope your situation is getting easier. Take care.

Food at his age is about exploring and tasting rather than eating so it can take time, he's not stubborn he's just wary of new things that taste weird!

If you want him to learn utensils leave a baby fork or spoon on his tray and let him play with it and maybe occassionally stab it with food and let him try and aim for his mouth :)

Fingerfoods to try (BLW: which I find easier but some parents don't):
Cooked sticks/slices/chunks of carrot, broccoli, sweet potato, potato, courgette, butternut squash, apple (cooked) - if raw watch for choking. Raw apple is good for gums :)

Raw slices/chunks of banana, avocado, peaches, pears, melon, cucumber.
Cooked rices.
Eggs - scrambled, boiled, poached etc.
Citrus fruits, strawberries and kiwi fruit.
Cooked pasta (gluten free if under one) with or without sauce.
Cubes or fingers of bread/toast (watch out for this sticking to the roof).
Breadsticks (check for salt content).
Cheese (no goats or mold cheese until after 1) - cut into sticks or grated.
Pieces of cooked fish or meat.

Avoid anything really high fibre or "diet foods" i.e low fat. Honey, added salt & sugar. Cow's milk.

Just google if you're ever stuck for food ideas :) The site linked above is good. I used to use it :)

Good luck! Xx