BLW failure?

[dontpokethebear]

DD 8m (DC3) does not want to/can't BLW. We've been trying for 2m, but unless it's toast, rice cakes or cucumber she will just sweep it onto the floor. She will eat other things such as cheese, courgette fritters for example, if I put small bits straight into her mouth. I've also tried mashing and pureeing dinners, not interested. Although she will have yoghurt and porridge.
After two DS who BLW, ate and slept like angels, this little madam (who doesn't sleep for more than 2 hours at night for the record ) has been quite a shock.
Does anyone have any suggestions for BLW?!

It's hard isn't it when they don't eat - must be even more frustrating when previous babies did it "properly"! She will get there, I'm sure. At the end of the day if she isn't eating puree either then you kind of have to grit your teeth and keep plodding it away. (sorry, not helpful!)

I have had to do putting a bit of the food in her mouth with my DD, even if it isn't strictly baby led, and it did help. I've also put bits on a spoon and either fed it to her or she picked it off and ate it. She's 10mo and although the first couple of months of BLW were OK ish, following a month of colds and viruses after starting nursery she will now only eat cheese, some fruit and any of those bloody baby "crisps". The thing is I don't want to stop making a variety of nice food for her and offering it because of the familiarity thing. Already I can see that it does have an effect - I gave her a few bits of green beans every meal for a fortnight and by the end of that time she would put it in her mouth and try to bite it (has no teeth so not much success, but still!). I started off waggling a whole green bean at her, bopping her on the nose etc - not going near her mouth - to make her laugh at it. then I'd just eat it myself. Maybe pick a couple of foods and try that approach just to see if you get her eating a bit of something different?

Don't know why I'm trying to give advice really when i could have my own thread! I've been in tears the last couple of days when she has only eaten tiny cubes of cheddar cheese for lunch and dinner. i know logically why she's doing it - I mean, she's ill! - but still, feeding our babies is such a primal thing - I find it so so hard to stay cool over it.

OH by the way there's a weaning board which might get you some more responses. Good luck...

Ah moggle, thank you. Any advice is welcome. I rather smugly thought I knew it all having my 3rd baby. Bloody serves me right
It is reassuring to know it's not just me. But it's so frustrating!
Yes, baby 'crisps' are definitely a favourite here too. I've stopped giving them to her because otherwise she'd eat nothing else!

Agreed about still wanting to make the varieties of food. It's just very disheartening when most of it gets swiped to the floor for DS2 to eat before I get chance to bin it

But it is baby led! She is very clear about what she wants! Just keep trying with a mix. She won't starve. The important thing is not to show anxiety- they are very astute at body language and food can become a power struggle.

Good perspective Mehitabel, you're right. I try not to get stressed about it. But I'm sure DD isn't sleeping at night because she's hungry (she feeds a lot through the night).
We'll keep plodding along

How many teeth does she have? In an incredibly scientific poll (ie me and my mates!) we found that the ones like ds who got their first teeth quite early just ate "better" than those with fewer teeth. For obvious reasons!

Yes- DD is so frustrated now without teeth. She's 10.5m. She does do really well without but there are so many foods she just can't grind up enough to swallow.

No teeth! I think it is more stubbornness than lack of teeth. She can pick up a bit of cucumber (slippery!) and quite happily gnaw away. Pasta for example she doesn't even try to pick up, just sweeps on the floor. Yet if I put it straight in her mouth she'll quite happily gum it down.