My DS is approaching 14m and has a good appetite, just like his daddy. He's predicted to be 6'3" plus, so will definitely be daddy's boy in that respect too.
He had to go on Hungry milk at 4m as he was never satisfied on the Stage 1 formula.
When I started weaning, he developed a massive love of fruit and could quite easily have lived on that if I'd let him! This liking for fruit has continued, which I'm really pleased about. And I was surprised how easily he made the move from just bottles, to some bottles and some food, and to where we are now - a bottle before breakfast, and one at bed time, and three meals during the day, occasionally with a healthy afternoon snack if he wants it. He had a Bumbo to start with, then graduated to a high chair, which he's always happy to be in. He recognises the words breakfast, lunch dinner, and always greets th words with the smile and excited wriggle. So far so good.
As I've been working full time again for some time (teaching - VERY long hours, and loads of work to bring home), I did go down the jar route (although I've been very fussy though and taken great care to avoid junk, additives etc). It's been much easier to organise child care with family than asking them to cook, and he was having vegetables, porridge, fruit and blended portions of a lot of our meals when at home with me. I'm vegetarian and have a few food allergies and intolerances, compared to my unquestionably carnivorous husband, so mealtimes are quite complicated and mummy and daddy seldom eat the same meal. I've no intention of depriving my DS of any healthy foods just because of my dietary requirements, so I've encouraged him to try white and red meat-based meals, as well as fish and vegetable ones. I'm not going to continue with the same work hours, so I can have more time with my little chap. In that respect, I want him to have more home-cooked meals, which means I can ensure he eats healthily, and with the right amount of variation and texture.
This is where I've hit a wall.
He loves sandwiches, fruit and finger food at lunch time, which he has off a plate. He likes porridge, milky muesli-type cereals and weetabix, and he loves to have his own spoon (he's always had one on his tray) and is keen to feed himself some (even if the spoon has very little on it by the time if gets to his mouth). When it comes to dinner though, nothing seems to work. He cries while I'm preparing food, cries when he sees it on the plate, cries even more when I start to feed him, and shakes his head and pushes my hand away. He's not interested in feeding himself at these mealtimes. I've tried food in a bowl and food on a plate; food with a spoon and food with a baby fork; food chopped up small or, when possible food that he can hold and feed himself; I've tried flavoursome and less-flavoursome food; dishes with rice, dishes with pasta, dishes with sauce. We've played games (not a route I'd really wanted to go down), and sung nursery rhymes and his favourite songs to gee him along. I've put food on his tray (always fine at lunch times), rather than always having it in a bowl or on a plate, so he can feed himself but also get used to the feel of it. I've eaten with him, and offered him what I've had. It's been mashed or left chunkier. All of it is either a total flop, or extremely hard work, mostly with me forcing him (gently!) to take it. He pushes it out with his tongue, or gags as soon as it's in his mouth (if I can get it there to start with!) It always ends in tears.
What on earth is going wrong?!!!!!
Yes, he's got teeth cutting, but that's nothing new (he's got all 4 upper incisors and the 2 large bottom ones, but no molars yet), and doesn't present an issue at breakfast and lunch times. I honestly thought that, given how well he's fed until now, and how adventurous he's been, that this next step to 'big-boy dinners' would follow suit, but it hasn't. He's frustrated and unhappy, which is totally out of character, and to see him like that is really getting me down. Not to the mention the fact that we seem to be as good as skipping dinner a lot of evenings, which is a real worry.
I really want him to enjoy dinners again, and for me to be reassured he's having enough, and continuing as he should with the weaning process. Any suggestions would be so gratefully received.
And I'm sorry I've written so much, just thought it might save time if I gave all the info up-front.