meal times are taking forever!

[vivie]

Has anyone else had an experience like this? DS is 7 months and seemed to be enjoying solid food. He still eats quite a lot, but mealtimes are taking ages! We follow the GF routines (more or less) but he's not very interested in breakfast and only has a small amount of cereal after his milk, but then wants his lunch at around 10.15 am. No problem really, but he will eat a relatively small amount before fussing and crying and refusing any more until I take him out of his highchair. He'll play for a short time and then fuss and cry until I put him back in his chair and give him more food, but then he'll eat a small amount and fuss etc... This goes on until it's time for a nap! I'm not worried about how much he's eating and he does eat veggies, chicken, lentils etc as well as fruit. This is a new development - only the last week or two - and it's probably just a phase, but all the wingeing is driving me nuts. It also makes going anywhere in the mornings (mums and tots etc) impossible. I don't think the chair is uncomfortable, and he's doing quite well at drinking water from a cup so I don't think he's thirsty. Could it be teething? Any suggestions?

my ds went through something similar at a similar age, and it turned out to be teething. Unforunately I put pressure on him to eat and ended up with a 'problem eater'. My advice would be above all don't put any pressure on your boy to eat. He won't starve himself and will eat what he needs when he finally needs it. Unfortunately GF's routines are a bit rigid (and I do like her ideas) when it comes to children who watn to be individuals.

Have you tried giving him different foods for breakfast? ie not cereal. Wha about texture or temperature of the food? What about giving him a little snack before he fusses, or finger foods in between meals? Bickiepegs were brilliant for ds - his behaviour changed instantly.

vivie - snap! ds (9months) point blank refuses cereal at breakfast. We're following GF too. I'm reluctant to cut down on his milk when he wakes up because he's guaranteed to take that, but it does seem to fill him up too much for any real breakfast.
He will take yoghurt or toast though. More often than not, especially if we're going out, I'll skip his breakfast and give him a nibble of something aroung mid morning (rice cake/breadstick/dried fruit etc) but nothing too much and give him his lunch at 11:30am then nap at 12.
I would say forget about the cereal idea for now - you know he eats well the rest of the day - give him whatever he'll eat at breakfast and have an early lunch.
If it's teeth then having a good chomp on something that he can feed on himself might help. Sorry that's a bit waffly

Our 7mo dd eats very well but did go through a whingy phase recently. I found giving her finger food while I was feeding her (she loves boots organic rice cakes) or even a plastic toy - a teething ring or something to chew cheered her up. I also sometimes give her her own spoon. I feed her right next to the sink so I can rinse off spoons and toys she throws on the floor. I think she might have been getting a bit bored with the process of eating. I also sing the banana splits song which makes her laugh (then I stick some food in) We do take our time over food - up to 40 minutes I think although I haven't done it by the clock - and sometimes she eats a lot and sometimes she eats a little. I thinks she's got a pretty good attitude to food. But ask me again in 18 years!

Our 7mo dd eats very well but did go through a whingy phase recently. I found giving her finger food while I was feeding her (she loves boots organic rice cakes) or even a plastic toy - a teething ring or something to chew cheered her up. I also sometimes give her her own spoon. I feed her right next to the sink so I can rinse off spoons and toys she throws on the floor. I think she might have been getting a bit bored with the process of eating. I also sing the banana splits song which makes her laugh (then I stick some food in) We do take our time over food - up to 40 minutes I think although I haven't done it by the clock - and sometimes she eats a lot and sometimes she eats a little. I thinks she's got a pretty good attitude to food. But ask me again in 18 years!

I still have no idea what ds is complaining about but he's been a bit happier the last couple of days. Excellent point, Milch, about not putting pressure on babies to eat. Ds is on the small side and I think I get quite anxious about him eating properly and gaining weight but you're dead right that he's never going to starve himself.
Bobsmum, I delayed breakfast today and he lasted until nearly 11 am for lunch. Not bad! He's enjoying rice cakes (thanks emwi) so I'm going to try letting him have a drink and a snack tomorrow mid morning and see how we do.