doesn't like food

[Cha]

My 8 month old (breastfed) dd is very unkeen on all food. Tonight she even refused the fromage frais - final straw.

She has never been a hungry baby and apart from citrus fruit, skrews her face up at all other foods most of the time. She will seldom eat more than an experimental mouthful or two of anything savoury and has now decided she doesn't want to eat anything off a spoon either. I have to either put it in her mouth with my hand or on the end of a grown-up knife / fork. I give her finger foods (bits of fruit, peas, chick peas,raisons, breadsticks, cheese, carrots etc) which she likes squishing and throwing down at the dog. He consequently loves feeding time but I feel increasingly depressed and worried. Should I give her vitamin drops?

Cha, don't worry! Kids go through phases of eating lots and not eating much. Maybe she is just having a not hungry week or two. Maybe also she isn't hungry when you are feeding her. Do you breastfeed her just before you give her solids? Also, not all kids have a sweet tooth so don't assume that just because she's refused the fromage frais she'll never eat again. My son eats absolutely everything in mostly large amounts and even he has been known to turn down ice cream or cake if he's full. And there are some weeks where he eats next to nothing. A multi-vitamin (with Iron) is a really good idea whether or not your daughter is eating lots. I've had difficulty finding a liquid one with iron...you might have to combine two.

Abidec vitamin drops are available in all chemists - I mix them with ds's food (no use though if your dd won't eat...) I think they really helped my son get out of a vicious circle of constant colds.

Could you also try the quick to offer, quick to respond to a refusal method? Otherwise mealtimes don't develop into an enjoyment of food occasion but an attention thing instead. If dd doesn't show an interest in something within 30 seconds of being shown it then you remove it from sight and do something else. You can offer again in 10 minutes along with some water.

Have you tried one spoonful to you and then one to her? If you want to be hygienic you can use separate spoons. Do you eat your meals with her? She might copy you then.

Will try all of these things! She does eat better sometimes if I'm eating and is especially good when there's another child / baby eating alongside. Bit difficult to organise though! Have been trying for months not to get too anxious about it all - I existed on white bread and strawberry jam sandwiches for months when I was a child and I am now 6ft... Will get those vitamin drops to make me feel better about it all, though sensible head says that if her body needs food, she'll eat it. It's just the waking up at night because she's hungry that does my head in.

Cha,
I've just been going through exactly the same thing with my ds (also 8 months). We had one week where he had no solids at all (he had a cold too which I don't think helps). Anyway, he is now up to three meals a day. My tips are:

1. If you have given a night breastfeed then start the day at 7am with cereal then a breastfeed.

2. Offer solids (main meal with protein) for lunch earlier than you might expect to. Say 11am. Follow this with a breastfeed. If the baby is too hungry then they get panicky and just want milk.

3. Offer a breatfeed at 2.30pm.

4. Offer solids (something light) for tea at 4.30 to 5pm, again before they get too cranky. Then breastfeed at bedtime.

Also, always have the food prepared nice and early so the baby isn't kept waiting!!

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Lois
Thanks for the tips. She is eating better now too - she also had a cold which must have put her off her food. I always breastfed on demand but now am attempting a structure ie at least an hour or two before meals so that she's not full before eating. Seems to be working.
Don't know if your son's the same, but ours is very independent and likes to feed herself. I bought a pack of mini carrots, sweetcorn and mange touts (for stir fry I think) cut them into little bits and steamed them. I added in some cubes of cheese, melted butter over the top and she loved it. She lets you feed her a bit from the spoon and then likes to do the rest herself. Very messy and takes forever but she's getting better at it by the day!