Baby will only eat crisps

[reallybloodytired]

Really not what I thought would happen when weaning. Six weeks in and he won’t eat anything (he is seven months.)

I have tried purées and non purées, pouches, just putting food in front of him, giving him the spoon (he throws it on the floor!) - he just won’t eat.

But he will eat melty puffs.

Can anyone give me some pointers - I’m really worried.

I don't think you need to get too stressed re seven month old. But I agree with stopping the melty puffs until he eats different things

Thank you - but then if he wasn’t ready he wouldn’t be eating the crisps, or would he?! Arrghh it’s so hard

@reallybloodytired

Because I can’t hold him and eat at the same time.

Sit down with him on your lap. Even if it's on the sofa with some sandwich es and fruit. Surely your partner eats at some point in the day so you can use the table?

At 7 months mine still had no teeth and really struggled with ‘ just everything you eat’ he wasn’t a huge fan of spoons either but did eat some stuff off spoon.

Things that worked well:
Raspberries
Roasted sweet potatoes
Very well cooked cauliflower
Mash, purée veg and flaked fish - spoon fed
Yogurt
Porridge
Banana - split into three long segments to hold easier
Soft bread small sandwich with houmous or cream cheese ( peanut butter also works but nut allergy here)

Once he was used to above and he got front two teeth through around 9/10 months he could then eat a larger selection.

The foods you have listed are mainly 'sloppy' but the crisps are solid/crunchy
Could you try toast, cheese, something with a bit more substance?

Also I'd say he might fare better in a high chair with his own table

He's still quite young, I'd stop worrying for a start! Take a break from solids for a couple of weeks, If he shows interest in anything you're eating, let him have some, but otherwise don't bother. Definitely don't give him cheesy puffs, there's no nutritional value. When you start again, just put some bits on his highchair tray, and let him get on with it. When you think he's had long enough, just clear it all away and don't worry. Always offer solids before milk. Milk will fill him up.

OP don't stress. You're right at the stqrt of weaning, if they don't eat anything yet it doesn't matter!

Take the pressure off and just put him in the highchair when you are eating and put something on his tray and let him play with it! I used to do pieces of buttered brown toast as easy to hold and chew with their gums.

@RestingPandaFace

Honestly don’t stress about it.

You can’t make him wean at 6 months any more than you can make him walk bang on 12. He’ll do it when he’s ready.

Keep offering him bits of the things you want him to have, and do t give him things you’d rather he didn’t eat, or if it’s stressing you out too much leave it a few weeks and try again.

Absolutely this. He’ll do it when he’s ready

My first child didn’t take to solids until she was a year old. My second child - typical second child, very stubborn - really wasn’t interested before 18 months - but it didn’t stop her, she was walking at 8 months.

They’re both now tall, strong, healthy girls (13 and 10). It’s easy to say but try to relax. He’ll get there, he just needs to be allowed to do it in his own time.

We can’t use the table no - it’s an office now (whole other thread probably but judging from the WFH threads on here won’t go well!)

Thanks caspian. I bought a blender when it didn’t go well initially and made some lovely purées but he just spits them out and turns his face away and then starts crying. I feel like I’ve really spoiled food for him.

well the crisps are made with ingredients that are designed to make you want them. they are high in salt etc so that may be why he likes them. It may be worth trying food with a bit of a stronger flavour - but no salt - to see if he just thinks what you are giving is too bland...like adding herbs to the scrambled egg

And thanks everyone - I know I should stop getting stressed, it’s just that every other baby I know of a similar age is eating well now and here the whole concept of meal times is just non existent.

Honestly I don’t think it matters too much at his age. I’d just stick him in the highchair or wherever, somewhere near you, whilst you eat and chuck him a bit of whatever you’re having along with a couple of his beloved puffs. Even if he just plays with it, he’s still experiencing food. The puffs have already found a way to his mouth, eventually more food will too. Weaning is a marathon, not a sprint and they all get there in their own time.

He doesnt actually need to eat solids at seven months if hes not that interested. He will become more interested over the next few months. My dd was like this. I would stop buying the crisps, and forget about solids for another few weeks

I'd just offer more finger foods OP.

Toast cut into soldiers with different toppings. Some savoury, some sweet.

Frozen banana.

Things he can grab.

My son hated purees and baby food too. He just wanted to control what he put in his mouth rather than have it done for him.

You're not doing it all wrong, you're just setting yourself far too high a target for a young baby.

Firstly I'd make sure he's not too hungry or too full before offering solids, so about half way between milk feeds would be ideal. Then you need to be eating at the same time as him, preferably with something similar to the bits you are offering him. Then just put a small amount of whatever on his tray and leave him to it whilst you eat your food. The types of food that @Marianicka suggested are ideal. Take all the pressure off, and don't worry at all about what he does with the food. If he throws things then just leave them on the floor until the end of the meal, if he handles food that's great. If he puts it in his mouth, that's great. If he actually swallows any, that's great. If it all comes out after being in his mouth, doesn't matter it's still great. If he's not in the mood and doesn't want to do anything, that's also fine, and of no great significance. Just finish your food and then clear away.

Try and give yourself a massive break about this, and take a step back. 6 weeks of offering solids is no time at all so there's no need to panic or stress about "progress" around this. He'll get there in his own time in his own way.

I think picnics might help. Have a picnic lunch in the living room. Then you're not disturbing your partners work. And you're baby can see you eat. Do things like soft boiled egg, cucumber sticks, toast fingers. Don't worry if he doesn't eat anything himself. Or gets it on his legs. It's more about setting yourself up at this stage.

The early stages of weaning are not about the quantity of food they are actually eating, every piece that is touched, smeared, put in their mouth, poked with a finger, sniffed, etc. Is a win! One of my DC basically only ate buttered toast strips and melting crisps (would also have chocolate flavoured baby custard and apple purée sometimes) until about age 1, and now will eat pretty much anything. We did baby lead weaning, and the mess was spectacular, but I have seen kids who aren't allowed to make mess and who had food issues. If your worried about getting food on your clothes it's only natural you won't want to eat the soup, stew or sauces. If you are worried about getting food on the floor, it's only natural you will be more inclined to be fed with a spoon than self feed with a spoon. They have to not be afraid to make a mess and get things 'wrong'
I saw a programme about fussy eaters, and all of them were told to let their children play with food and stop stressing about the mess. I can't tell you the amount of food stuffs I've washed out of hair, and the amount of Hours I've spent trying to get stains out of clothes, but that's the fun of weaning for you!

He’s still little. It doesn’t matter if he’s not eating solids.
It’s good to make a mess and play with it, he’s exploring.
Stop giving crisps.

Or put him in the high chair, put foods for you to share on the tray, sit on a dining chair immediately opposite and share.

We had very similar with my DD. I had about two months of tonnes of wasted food and effort and feeling awful that she wouldn't eat anything. My health visitor suggested the low salt, low sugar baked beans. I thought she was crazy but we tried and she loved being able to play with them in the bowl and pick them up and tried a couple and swallowed them and it got much better after that. So they will get there.

Try things like toast, sticks of cheese, things he can grab and nibble. I wouldn't bother with purée at all and just stick with baby lead weaning. Home made pizza, pitta bread in strips with toppings on, sweet potato and spinach fritters, have a google of some recipes and baby lead weaning ideas. Get into a routine, stick at it and try new things. He will get it eventually

DD was like this. She would nibble on mini rice cakes, but that was all. I just kept on offering food, and 9 months, she started eating it. She just wasn't ready. DC2 was grabbing food out of my hand for a couple of weeks before he turned 6 months. They are now 14 and 11 and perfectly healthy, although they would both live off Haribo if offered the opportunity.

Is he on your lap as you eat then?
If so he's at least aware you are eating!

Try not to stress. Offer a little soft bit of banana, cooked carrot stick : something you can be eating too so you are not prepping food for nothing.
Just park the crisps idea for a few years.

So don't offer the crisps! At this age your child's diet is entirely in your hands, it won't be long before this changes. Milk is still the main source of nutrition in a weaning baby and few children eat enough to compensate until well info toddlerhood. Keep to offering simple finger foods, ie. pasta that you are eating or chunks of veg and fruit and allow him to try it.

Try him with things like breadsticks, and then move to toast, cucumber, melon etc. Things that he can hold and have a bit more crunch to them.

What do his nappies look like? DS is 6.5 months and sometimes I think he barely eats anything but the consistency of his nappies has definitely changed so he must be getting something in!

We’ve found asparagus is very popular (expensive taste DS) cos he can grip it in his hand and suck both sides.

We also learnt not to try and feed DS less than 90 mins before nap time, so I tend to breastfeed him before a nap, change his nappy when he wakes & then feed him within 30-45 mins of him waking - when he’s tired, he won’t eat a thing.

Maybe have a play around with timings/schedule to see what works.