Weaning not going well

[mermaid101]

Hi

I have recently started weaning my DD. She is almost 7 months. We are mainly giving her homemade purees with the odd bit of finger food. It started off fairly well and she seemed happy enough to have her food - opening her mouth and looking around for more.

However, for the last few days she doesn't seem to want to take anything other than milk. When I try to feed her, she clamps her lips shut and turns her head away. The only way I can get any food in her is if I sneak a spoonful in when she is distracted. I really don't want to keep doing this: I don't think that can be pleasant for her and it takes ages.

What's gone wrong? And what can I do to sort it out? I'm really worried about her not eating.

Thanks!

I posted the exact same question this morning! My 7mo started brilliantly, but since last week won't open his mouth. I got some brill replies. I posted under the weaning topic. My boy is teething, so I'm putting it down to that. I'm still offering him his usual meals, and he has started eating breakfast and a bit of lunch again with distractions, but not as much as before. As long as his isn't stressed I'll keep offering, but as soon as he starts getting agitated I stop so not to give him bad experiences. Maybe your LO is teething? I spoke to friends with older tots and they all said it happened to them too and to persevere, it'll pass. I give my son another spoon to hold and play with. He opens up to chew it and I pop in a bit. Good luck! Hope that helps.

Hi Librarylu

Thanks for that. I'm new too, so didn't know there was a weaning section. I found it and read your message. Totally the same! It's stressful isn't it? Is your baby still having lots of milk?
You're right. Lots of great advice there. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Yes, he's drinking milk, though not as much. He's bottle fed and I've moved on to aptamil 3, as it has more nutrients in smaller volume. I'm pretty sure it's teething. He chews and bites his bottle teat too, very frustrating! He was up all night too unable to settle. Just managed to get some brekkie down him with spoon distraction technique! Let me know how you're doing x

Remember "Food is fun until Age 1"

Milk is still their most important thing until they are a year old. So relax about it. They'll eat when they're ready.

Ds2 is the same age and exactly the same. i found with him he was better when i offered him more interesting flavour's. this week he's eating like a pig. i learnt with Ds1 that it all settles down eventually. i made myself ill with worry over Ds1 and he's now a happy healthy naughty 4 year old. there's a book called my child won't eat which helped me keep it all in perspective. (must remember all this next time I'm pulling my hair out that one of then isn't eating!)

Definitely chill out about it. She doesnt need food. It should all be about tastes and texture and trying things out at this stage.

I would just leave some finger foods on in front of her and see what she does. Some babies just dont like the pureed stuff.

have a look at babyledweaning.com, it sort of makes sense that babies are quite wise not to like purees!

Thanks for all the advice. I've tried some finger foods as well. She hasn't seemed very interested in them, but I'll keep on going.

Librarylu, I think our babies must be at exactly the same stage! I've been having lots of broken nights as well. I thought when they started eating solids, that was supposed to help with sleeping.
Just feel like a big ball of stress just now!

However, all the advice is reassuring, so hopefully everything will settle down soon.

Could she be teething? This always put DS right off his food. I think he cut his first tooth at around 8-9 months...

Just offer meals as normal (purees and finger food, I honestly don't see any problems with purees despite all the fuss over BLW!) and she will come back to it when she is ready.

Mermaid101, sounds like they are! It's been a week now, and he is still refusing to open, though he is getting better I think. We've managed breakfast most days, baby rice and his favourite fruit purée, but lunch is still tricky. He likes sucking and chewing in strawberries I've found. I might try a rice cake or two. I love the mantra 'food is fun until they're one'. Sleeping is still disrupted though. I met with a friend yesterday, her d is 7m too, and the first thing she said was that she wasn't eating solids anymore and was teething! Just must be one of those things. Is it best to carry on offering food or have a break from solids completely for a few days?

Try blending up what you are eating and have LO take food off your plate. Does your LO have the chance to get their hands right into the bowl and have a good play with it (smear it all over face, table etc)
If they are getting enough milk then there is little pressure for them to 'eat' a huge amount but babies quite like strong flavors. Read Gill Rapley weaning book as will give you confidence to move away from purees. Do you ever eat at same time as LO so they enjoy the meal experience rather than you sat there feeding them?
DS gets in a huge mess but loves squeezing food between fingers and decorating his high chair. I do put some spoonfuls in but he prefers it if I give him a loaded spoon to do it himself. I let him play with spoons for a while so he learnt to immitate us but does still retch on it sometimes. Doesn't bother me but realsied it is a bit off putting to others in a restaurant
Get the flannels and floor wipes out!