First attempt at weaning - didn’t go well!

[jinglejangle6]

I started weaning my 6.5 month old today by cooking two carrots then puréeing them. DS took the tiniest bit off a spoon and didn’t seem to like it at all - then wouldn’t eat any more. I then gave him a bit of banana to hold and he wasn’t interested in that either - he touched it to his mouth momentarily then threw it on the floor! I tried with two more pieces and he didn’t even put them near his mouth. It’s not like him as literally every toy goes straight in his mouth!

His general demeanour through the whole process wasn’t good either - he didn’t cry but just looked really upset and bewildered.

Where do I go from here?

Try again tomorrow. He doesn't know anything but milk so doesn't realise its food. Mashed banana is a good thing to try too. A finger of buttered toast?

Oh don't worry! It can take weeks before they actually swallow anything! Just keep offering different thiggs once a day. It doesn't matter yet if he eats anything, it's just to have a new experience. Milk should be the primary source of nutrition until 12 months ish.

I promise you in a month's time he will have tried something!

That’s fine! Make sure you are doing it at a time when he is usually happy and not tired, air and eat your food at the same time m.

Just keep trying. Try different vegetables. Try a yoghurt. Try something else to hold, like egg, or steamed broccoli. Mix in a bit of breast milk/formula into the puree so that there's a familiar taste.

At this early stage, it's all about exposing baby to new tastes and textures. Doesn't matter if they only ingest the barest amount, or throw it around. Just move on to something else, and try carrots and banana again in a few days.

Try not to be hard on yourself. It's so nerve wracking to begin with, but trust me, it gets much easier before long.

Sounds like DC3, took a few weeks before she actually ate more than a tiny taste but once she did there was no stopping her and now she eats anything.

That’s totally normal.
We followed the one known food one new food thing, each day give them something they had the day before and something new.
I also preferred purées to start (my preference) then moved to baby led when he was about 8 months.

Oh, thanks so much for the reassurance. Tomorrow I might try some puréed peas or broccoli - plus a piece of banana again!

Peas aren't good for pureeing due to the skin. Sweet potato, squash and other root veg are good. Rather than pureeing broccoli try giving a cooked floret as finger food

Yoghurt/fromage frais is good too. Add fruit puree for flavour

Thanks @dementedpixie!

don’t put too much pressure on him. If he’s in a highchair, being given food to eat and you’re staring at him expectantly then he’ll feel a bit overwhelmed. Why not sit and eat something with him, pop a couple of bits of banana in front of him, chat to him and each other, and let him pick the food up/play with it/lick it/eat it as and when he wants. If you’re relaxed, he’ll relax!

Health visitor told us that until 12 months food is just for fun.
Dont worry at all.
Put it on the high chair tray and if they want it fine, if they don't, fine

Good luck though - I found that weaning was one of those things that should be fun and easy but was actually stressful and took lots of effort! You’ll figure it out together

My first took a really long time to be interested in food. I worried but didn't need to. Second weaned early on medical advice and ate everything in sight from the word go. They're so different. Try to relax.

Sounds successful to me. Your baby was willing to hold and put to mouth and that is a lesson in itself. Its about feeling and introducing the textures and tastes. It takes time and perseverance. Try carrot again in a few days

Add a bit of milk to what you give him, it will give him a clue! Put a spoonful of mashed veg on the high chair so he can dip his fingers in. He'll suck it off then.
Pear is nice!

Normal, normal, normal! Please don't worry.
Also, don't t be afraid to stop and try again a couple of weeks. It'll be fine in the end!

Try sitting down with him at the table, eating some of the food first and then if he seems interested, offering him some. Sometimes seeing the primary caretaker do something first makes them want to try it too.

Good luck!

I know it doesn't seem it, but sounds like a good first try as he didn't get upset, and seemed inquisitive about it! Just keep trying, he will soon get used to it, and it really is a sensory experience at first, even if he isn't actually eating any its the feel of different foods, colours and smells etc. It can help to eat at the same time though as it models behaviours they pick up, I used to have something nice instead of purees though for myself haha like a yoghurt..

Very normal, just try every day with something else or something new. Mines fav first single veg was courgette & cauliflower!

He's tried two things, including as finger food. That's pretty good.

I'd just give a well cooked carrot stick or piece of broccoli and let him explore

I think we started on porridge and banana.

Also sweet potato was a good one. And parsnip.

Mashed up banana too.

I gave Dd and ds a bit of whatever I had too just to let them play with it.

Sounds totally normal to me! DS was a bit confused when I first gave him solids, as in he didn’t know what to do with it. It was incredibly messy as he just smeared it everywhere. But then i rebranded it in my head as messy play and gave myself extra parenting points! He took til he was about 10mo before he was eating with any sort of reliability really, he’s 3.5 now and loves food more than he does me, don’t worry!

DD was like that too,I used to mix some of her milk in with the food I puréed and that helped

It's a brand new skill It takes a while and then it'll probably be the most surprising thing that gets chomped. I gave DD some cucumber about 2 weeks into weaning and was very surprised to see how much she was enjoying it - her first proper meal was a spicy chickpea curry!