Weaning

[JB86]

Hi all,
My daughter is 7 months old in a few days and she absolutely refuses to eat anything other than have her formula milk. She's is a good healthy size (91st on the centile last time she was weighed) and seems satisfied with milk.

I've tried carrot puree, apple and pear puree and avocado in one of those netty nuby eaters.... Still not interested. I've tried carrot puree 3-4 days on the trot but she still turns away, clamps her mouth, etc. I've even tried it on the highchair tray to play with, which she will happily do, but won't put her fingers in her mouth.

My son was 3/4 months when he weaned and was very happy to do so, no complaints. Any suggestions...?

Milk is fine up to 12 months. Just keep offering small amounts of finger food or mash up a little of what you have.

I know it’s mostly fallen out of favour now we wean later but have you tried baby rice? Made with baby’s usual formula it will taste very familiar. Then you can add fruit/veg purée to it, a little at first then increase the ratio.

But I wouldn’t panic about it, she’s only tiny and clearly thriving on milk! She will get there.

Maybe it's the sweetness of the veg? Carrot is quite sweet, can try something a bit bland like potato or even porridge to see if that works? It could be loads of things such as not a fan of the net, the flavour, teething, etc. Just fussy little eaters :P
Don't give up! Weaning is hard, my DD takes the food in her mouth but then blows raspberries with it so me and DH are covered🤦🏽‍♀️

I would try finger food rather than puree. Some kids like it better. But I also wouldn't worry, she's still young. Foods for fun until they're 1 was what I was always told ...

I would have her in her highchair at the table when everyone else is eating and just give her bits of the same food everyone else is enjoying as finger foods.
If you take the stress and worry out of the situation, she'll get the hang of it, even if she just plays with it or throws it to start with.

If she's 7 months old I wouldn't faff around with purees or net feeders and you don't have to be restricted to fruit and veg. Give her bits of what you're having at meals, try yoghurt, different cereals, bits of toast, etc

Yeh I second finger foods- also try meals before milk when hungry

My second was like this. I stopped the purée and gave him food. He just didn't like been spoon fed. Don't panic if she doesn't appear to eat much in the beginning. Formula is more than enough for the moment.

@NannyR

I would have her in her highchair at the table when everyone else is eating and just give her bits of the same food everyone else is enjoying as finger foods. If you take the stress and worry out of the situation, she'll get the hang of it, even if she just plays with it or throws it to start with.

This is what I would do too. At that mine loved things like meatballs that they could pick up easily and suck on.

Thanks everyone for your help. I should have said that I tried baby porridge and baby riced mixed with her formula, but still not acceptable!?

I will as suggested by a few of you, try her sitting at the table with us and as she has one tooth already (and one on the way) I'll put mushy foods on her tray. Hopefully she will see us eating and copy....

I'm not too worried at the moment, just wondering at what age she should really be eating as like I say my boy was an early eater and has a brilliant appetite!

Thanks again everyone!

I sat my little one at the table every meal time from 5 months and not one thing went in his mouth until he was 11 months old. I tried spoon feeding and finger foods but he would not entertain any of it until he was ready. Every meal time he threw it on the floor until one Sunday when he put a slice of roast chicken in his mouth followed by a finger of steamed carrot. He hasn't looked back since. My advice would be to just keep it fun for now and don't sweat it (easier said than done when all the other babies are taking to it like a duck to water)

He is 13 months now and I still can't get a spoon (or wet foods) anywhere near him but he will feed himself anything from curries to roast dinners.

Awww thanks so much for this. It's reassuring to know others go through it too. I will certainly try this and hope for the best. No point forcing her into something she isn't I interested in! Many thanks! :)

Food before 1 is fun! That's the motto.

Personally in your position I would just relax and calm down about the issue as long as she is having plenty of milk. I would forget the purees because it seems she is already defiant to not have that. If she happily plays with finger food then continue putting it in front of her and just let her play, she will start to explore and eat it. A relaxed approach is usually best in situations like this.

The finger foods you offer don’t necessarily have to be mushy. Have a look into baby led weaning (there is a good U.K. group on fb) as it sounds like she isn’t a fan of you trying to feed her and would prefer to be more independent x

My two are 7.5 months, we had pickled beetroot for the first time today 😂

They don't need teeth to be able to eat, feeding mush is from the days when people weaned far too early for their digestive systems to cope, not because they need teeth.

Have you co sider3d baby led weaning? Ditch the purees and be led by baby. Offer finger foods or whatever you're eating from your plate (no added salt and no honey before 1, no while nuts before 5). Don't fuss about them not consuming much, they're learning to move food around in their mouth. Baby will explore and throw a lot on the floor but will start to taste the different offerings and evetually swallow some. We've done BLW since 6m,my little eon devours strawberries like there's no tomorrow and if baby can see food nearby is really impatient to have it!!