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Baby will only eat crisps

183 replies

reallybloodytired · 14/07/2021 08:38

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. Sad

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

OP posts:
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EleanorOlephantisjustfine · 14/07/2021 11:51

@reallybloodytired

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.
Don’t compare him with other babies, it’s not helpful and will just make you feel more stressed. I wouldn’t give him puffs as that isn’t food.

To be honest it sounds like you’re doing a good job. Try to relax. The more relaxed you are the less anxious you’re going to feel about this. I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself and your baby 💐

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 14/07/2021 11:59

Just sit him in a bouncy chair or one of those inflatable ring chairs that help them sit up, sit on the floor opposite him and eat something. Or in a highchair. Don't offer him any, just eat in front of him. If he shows interest in anything, offer him a bit. He doesn't really need food yet so I think you just need to take the stress out of it.

bathorshower · 14/07/2021 12:03

Hi OP, he's actually doing much better at weaning than my DD did.

She didn't want to put any food in her mouth at all. If I got anything in (e.g. on a spoon) she'd not just spit it out, but actually vomit to make sure there was nothing left. She did that until she was 1....

We did get help from a dietitian when she was 15 months. Quavers (not entirely dissimilar to melty puffs) were one of the foods we were advised to try. Along with chocolate buttons.

I remember being incredibly stressed about it. What helped was giving her really simple food that I didn't mind if it got wasted. I too tried making purees etc., and I felt more frustrated when she refused those.

Nutritionally, milk is fine, but if you're using formula, it needs to be follow on milk so that your DS is getting enough iron - again, something I was told by the dietitian. I found it helped to separate whether DD was getting the nutrients she needed (yes) from was she learning to eat (no).

I'll be honest, DD is still a very restricted eater (and eating with others at nursery then school made no difference). But she's at the extreme end of fussy...

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Jent13c · 14/07/2021 12:09

Go to dunelm mill or the range and get the PVC table cloth cut in a fabric that kind of goes with your decor and get used to it because you are going to want a floor covering down for the next few years! Then get a little travel feeding booster seat.

Then every time you have a meal take a little bit off your plate (a spoon ful of rice and one bit of chicken at first) and pop it on his tray. Give him a couple of crisps if you want as a safe food. Then have your meal while he eats his. Take it away after you have finished.

As others have said his full calorific intake is from milk right now. You do not need to worry how much he is taking. Try not to get into the trap of giving him lots of crisps so he is eating something because the whole goal at the moment is to get him used to sitting at meal times and trying new textures.

Every baby has something that they do which stresses their parents out (some never sleep/some are v shy/some cry all the time etc.etc) this is just your babies thing. Your friends that have babies that are chowing down 3 meals by now will have something else that they are stressed about.

burritofan · 14/07/2021 12:50

If he doesn’t eat well or goes to school fat or underweight or with bad teeth, that’s on me
Well, all you can do is offer food, not make him eat it. School is a long way off, as is overweight/underweight. My parents were proper vegetable pushers and bean sprouters and homemade this and that, and I was a stubborn demon who subsisted on bread and butter til I was about 12: it wasn’t on them, it was all me.

Teeth, yeah, but tackle that when he’s got a gobful (and remember milk teeth are gappy – nature’s way of compensating for reluctant toddlers – and so long as you pin him down twice a day, often literally, you’ve done your bit).

Please remember that sometimes babies cry! Doesn’t mean he’s got deeply ingrained food associations making him miserable. He might just feel like playing at that moment, or not be especially hungry, or fancies crawling around instead of the high chair, or be kicking off because [insert illogical baby reason here]. At this age he’ll change all the time too, so one day you’ll discover he fucking LOVES the high chair and will be crying to go in it, just as you were despairing.

It is hard in the early days but it is also important to relax about it because you’ve got years of feeding him to come. The other day my two year old refused afternoon snack and dinner – really fucking annoying when we’d spent ages faffing with making her a roast dinner, which last week was her “FAVRIT!”, and she just would not eat. But she was happy and slept fine despite eating nothing after midday, and just ate twice as much as toast at breakfast. Sometimes they’re just busy little bellends bees who’d rather do something else.

Cormoran · 14/07/2021 21:14

@reallybloodytired first of all, it will be fine, he is 7 months, not 7 years old, we can fix this shaky start.

First step, you have to - as many have said - to stop giving puffy snacks and other baby junk food because they are engineered to be addictive. Melty puff are no different than Cheetos, you can't stop eating them and they have the same ingredients, texture, and if you keep giving them, you risk that you baby boy will only eat processed foods.

You also need to break this habit of giving food in pool, car or wherever until real food habits are rooted. IF you start giving junk food whenever baby is unhappy you are creating a second ( and bigger) problem.

Now, easy to tell you to remove crisps, but what next? Smile

In a recent discussion, I give a mother some ideas on what and how to prepare for a baby here. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/4292911-Weaning-5-months

To you, I add that you need to understand how sucking, chewing and swallowing work form a mechanistic point of you. A baby needs to learn to chew to produce saliva that will lubricate the food. otherwise there is the reflex to spit it out. So first foods need to be wet until baby has learned that. Imagine yourself having to swallow a big spoonful of dense mashed potato with no sauce and without doing any movement with your jaw, just told to swallow. IT gets stuck.

Ultra processed baby food such as melty puff or rusk dissolve in the mouth and the ultra proceeding will produce this sweet feeling in the mouth.

So, this is how you are going to do it. Take a 48 hours break, during which increase the milk to compensate for lack of food. During this time, go shopping with him, in the fresh aisle or grocers shops or market if there is one. Do NOT give him snack to keep him happy. Whenever you pick a fruit of vegetable, show it to him, even if you have to squat to his level, or present it to him before putting it in a bag. Select your fruit and veg and then pay and go home without visiting the baby food aisle. . Have him in your arm while you fill your sink with water and wash the fruits and vegetables , then next to you, while you peel and cut them. If you have to do it on the floor, so be it. Put newspaper under the chopping board.

You have given him high palatable food, which combines the sweetness of corn , with oil and the saltiness of veggie powders and this combination that doesn't exist in nature (sweet+fat+alt) is the key to making people go nuts (think about eating chips without salt, not the same thing) , so now as first food you need to be able to find this delicious taste.

In Italy, where my DD was born, they start with a rich broth ( cut into pieces carrots, zucchini, onion, ripe tomatoes, celery in a pot of water and let it simmer for a couple of hours, discard the veggies, put press them a bit before doing filtering the broth) put a ladle or two of broth in your smallest pot, and when it boils, add baby pasta (the dot or similar size one) and cook for the amount of time on the packet. Once it is cooked , remove a ladle of pasta/broth , put a tiny bit of real butter , parmigiano reggiano grated cheese, and you will have the combination of sweet (pasta) + fat (butter) + saltiness (cheese). Make sure it is still very liquid. When it has cooled down, fill half the spoon, with mix of pasta and broth. Don't go deep in the mouth, just pass the lips, this will create a reflex with the tongue.

In Italy, broth is the base for weaning. It is used for pasta (of course, Italy!) , but also soupy risottos, and later when babies eat shredded meat, a bit is added in the last minute to the pan to have it more sauce-y.

Fruit, think about, juicy and cold watermelon, or a ripe melon (cut in half, once you have removed the seeds, with a metal teaspoon, dig some flea from the centre , again half the spoon) or apple sauce, pear sauce, .... Ice-cream again combines fat and sweet, don't give it. You can blend the flesh of watermelon and put in a very tiny container in the freezer, until it is starting to solidify, then with a spoon, just give the tiniest taste, never overfill the spoons.

Then once these are accepted it is time to open more foods, and soups can go down better than purees. You can make them more of less thicker and again, think about that 1 cm of butter and some parmigiano reggiano .

Whenever you can, have him in your arms, resting on your hip , when you prepare the food. IF you have an oven, think about sliced pumpkin cooked in a tray with extra virgin olive oil, with a couple of garlic cloves in the corners, and a branch of rosemary. Let the pumpkin cook, until it caramelises . Again let cool. The pumpkin should break down under the pressure of the fork. Many veggies roast beautifully in the oven, zucchini, sweet potato...

Even if you don't have a table , you can have him next to you while you eat. Sit crossed legged on the floor , with him between your legs while you hold your plate. He will have his nose in your plate. He will be curious, and reach for the food, let him take a small piece not a handful Of course , this means you have to reflect on what you eat as a parent because if you are having take away or ready meals, or other processed food, you are not introducing good habits.

While you cook, have him on the floor at your feet and give him a silicone tool or a wooden spoon and an empty pot in which you have placed an apple, a fennel, even a branch of celery, put the lid back on, and you let him play with that , he will bring them to his mouth and get the taste even if only by licking it. Everyday change what you give him, hidden in the pot (a bit like a culinary treasure basket) , give him kitchen tools that are safe, and new fruits and veggies, maybe a slice of omelette one day, when he starts eating more.

When he is more accepting of his chair, have him next to you while you cook, and give him some food to copy you (everything will land on the floor, just so you know) .

Yes, far more work than opening a pack of crisps, but you can save this situation.

I hope, some of what I have typed will be of some help. Good luck Flowers

Marmite27 · 14/07/2021 21:55

Personally, I’d ignore Cormoran unless you want to go crazy with even more pressure.

It doesn’t have to be that hard. My advice from up thread was to stop food (all food) for a couple of weeks. I don’t think your baby is ready yet - not all of them are at bang on 6 months.

I have two fabulous eaters, yes I cook from scratch and we all eat the same, but I didn’t bugger about in the supermarket showing them vegetables then making myself a martyr washing them together at home.

We had Somerset pork, new potatoes, broccoli, green beans, baby corn and Mangetout for dinner. They also had asparagus. I didn’t because I don’t like it.

Last night We had teriyaki chicken (including onion and pepper) with rice (including peas and spring onion) and steamed vegetables, red cabbage, broccoli, carrots and baby corn.

Equally, at the weekend we went to a bbq and one ate a sausage, some pickled onions and a chocolate brownie. The other had some rice and salad to balance it a bit Grin They have pizza and nuggets, and beans on toast. But they eat a massive range I don’t look at their daily diet, but look at it over the whole week. So what if they have pizza on Monday night, if Tuesday they eat a meal with 7 different vegetables.

Don’t put even more pressure on yourself my lovely Flowers

Marmite27 · 14/07/2021 21:56

Oh and don’t cook with your baby in your arms. It’s so bloody dangerous! What if he grabs a pan? Angry

Undersnatch · 14/07/2021 22:05

Op there is a great book called ‘my child won’t eat’ by somebody Gonzales which is great for reassuring worried parents about how little children actually need to eat. It reinforces the mantra ‘food before 1 is just for fun’. Honestly, at the moment he is checking it all out and showing you that he has some concerns. Just try to accept what he’s telling you, be calm and reassuring, and try to show him that food is fun. Maybe start with the high chair being fun - having him sit in there for short periods with toys and no food. Weaning for the first time is anxiety provoking, and especially if you are worried about mess. Sounds like you need practical solutions that reduce your stress as well as his. High chair outside maybe? Has he sat in high chairs in cafes etc at all? Sorry you’ve probably been overwhelmed with food suggestions but I remember toast spread with soft cheese being a staple at first.

Cormoran · 14/07/2021 22:12

@Marmite27

Oh and don’t cook with your baby in your arms. It’s so bloody dangerous! What if he grabs a pan? Angry
Of course I am not talking about having baby over the stove. Cooking as in preparing the food, seasoning it,....
FuzzyWuzzyWas · 14/07/2021 22:14

My baby (also 7/12) is also seriously not interested in food. Only wants to throw it on the floor. Have tried purées and finger foods. Had a bit of a breakthrough today after searching the internet for tips. One page suggested (and it sounds totally disgusting, but it worked!!!) chewing the food yourself and then letting them take the masticated food from your fingers.
I’d echo what others have said. What your baby is offered at this point is entirely up to you. Their diet is mainly milk based. Food is generally just about introducing tastes for the moment. Remove the crisps, and keep offering stuff. Something will click. But they don’t need to be just eating crisps at this age. Good luck

LakeShoreD · 14/07/2021 22:19

Melty puff are no different than Cheetos, you can't stop eating them and they have the same ingredients, texture
Hahaha I could really go for some Flamin Hot Cheetos right now and I can assure you the Ella’s kitchen puffs I have in the cupboard for the kids will not cut the mustard. I don’t think ANY of the ingredients are the same.

Opalfeet · 14/07/2021 22:54

Some just take a while. My little one would take very little. We did find some stuff he liked, but it took ages for him to move from super smooth puree lumpy bits and eventually solids. He most likely will get there. Don't worry and I know it sounds stupid as it's difficult not to...but try not to stress.

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 14/07/2021 23:03

We were told "food's just for fun until they're one" Flowers

my second didn't eat until he was 11months old - he's 10 now & still eats fairly sporadically but he's seriously fit Grin

Cormoran · 15/07/2021 00:01

@LakeShoreD cheetos and melts puffs are both made with corn flour and oil, then the remaining 15% is flavouring, which variés of course between the two. Both are an extruded snack the quintessence of ultra processeing.

DragonDoor · 15/07/2021 01:00

I think its worth remembering OP he actually wasn't 'eating' the cheesy puffs either, they essentially would have melted in this mouth.

This ^

Take it easy, offer him a little taste of what you are having. You don’t need to spend money

Weebleweeble · 15/07/2021 06:52

From the Organix website for Melty puffs

Our Organic Ingredients
Corn 80%
Carrot powder 10%
Sunflower oil 10%
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)*

Caspianberg · 15/07/2021 07:09

Those puffs aren’t exactly crack. The ones Ds has at home (not uk, so diff brand maybe)

63% corn flour *
15% millet grains *
Sunflower oil *
10% banana powder *
rosemary extract *

  • from organic farming

They aren’t his main diet, but handy when I want something clean for him to snack on sometimes when he needs to just sit still ie while I had my vaccine

Bryonyshcmyony · 15/07/2021 07:33

Those puff things are revolting and make a massive mess. I remember buying them once for dd never again. The breadsticks are much nicer and actually give them something to work with rather than a load of orange flour

Justgettingbye · 15/07/2021 18:20

I give mine puffs/rusks as part of a balanced diet. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Good luck and keep trying. I quite often offered mine extra bottles and they had that instead

Ninkanink · 15/07/2021 19:30

At a later stage of course that would be okay. But at this young age out of desperation to get some solids into him it really isn’t necessary. He doesn’t have to be having solids now, OP can keep trying a little daily without worrying too much and as long as he’s having his milk he’ll be just fine.

GreyhoundG1rl · 15/07/2021 19:34

@quizqueen

Stop buying crisps then he'll forget about them.
This.
CatLandlady · 15/07/2021 20:56

Really don’t worry, when we were weaning lots of people said “food before one is just for fun”. They’re fine with just milk until then. Like you said, he’s eating the puffs so he’s a little bit interested already and you’ve still got 5 months to go :-) for now food is just about exploring textures and flavours, not actually nutrition so there’s no need to be worried.

Also, my little one definitely had a preference for crunchy foods.

Opalfeet · 15/07/2021 21:22

The food before one is just for fun is not true btw. Because at one they should be eating solids fully. But you are getting them to that point. Also they need iron. I'm not trying to worry you but I just want to dispel the myth that food for one is just for fun. I'm sure by about 9 months 10 months he will be eating a lot more

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 16/07/2021 00:12

Just to add - please don’t wean in a Bumbo!

I’ve seen that suggestion several times but it’s not safe. Aside from just being bad for baby’s posture, they are not safe for eating in. Bumbo seats curve baby’s spine and put them in a position that they can’t gag safely when eating.

If you get a floor seat, please get one which has a flat seat, keeps the back straight and doesn’t tip baby’s knees above the hips. There’s a few safe seats out there, you just need to research it.

Baby will only eat crisps
Baby will only eat crisps