7 mo screaming at lunchtime

[JimJammum]

My ds was weaned at 20 weeks and has been eating beautifully ever since (we have taken it very slowly. A week and half ago we increased to include breakfast, so now on 3 meals a day. He has pureed veg & fruit to start, and then some finger food, as I used to find he was so hungry that finger food didn't "get it in" fast enough, and this way I know what he is having.
For the last 5 days, he has screamed at lunchtimes. I have been able to pacify him with a stick of cheese and offer spoons of veggies in between mouthfuls of that, but today he flatly refused anything after a cube of pasta in tomato sauce. I finally managed to get him to have some apple/pear puree, and then offered cheese, bread, banana and a rice cake for him to feed himself all to no effect - he just screamed and screamed.

He eats his breakfast (weetabix) and his tea beautifully still, so he is getting some veggies and fruit, but these lunchtime battles are really upsetting me as I don't know why he has changed.

Anybody able to shed some light?

tbh, 3 meals a day at 7 months is quite something! iirc mine weren't eating regular(ish) meals until 10/12 months.

Are you still giving him milk in between? Babies often need a 'quick fix' and then a small amount to eat.

Maybe try feeding him a little earlier. Could he be getting hungry and then crossing into the point of no return where he's just too fussy to eat? Or, he could want milk in between.
I've found with ds too that he usually has one very fussy meal of the day, but I know he's getting enough milk, and prob enough food, so I try not to fret.

He is having breast feed at 7am, breakfast at 8am, offered 4oz milk at 10am, lunch at 11.30am, and then 4oz milk at 2pm, and tea at 5pm. Sometimes he has the milk and sometimes he doesn't, but I assume he knows if he is hungry.

Today we were at nanny's for lunch and he ate beautifully (and loads). He was ok back at home for tea until he jabbed the spoon in his mouth at which point he started yelling and didn't stop. He seemed to be still hungry...so maybe that's it.

Could he be teething? I found that my ds who has a great appetite and eats anything, would suddenly refuse a meal. I know it is hard but if it is becoming stressful that he doesn't want to eat at that time, perhaps just give up on that meal and offer a healthy snack later. He will soon let you know if he needs more food!