How do I wean onto solids??

[hellollo]

7.5mo has had a mixture since 6mo! He’s had purées but likes some finger food like cucumber broccoli melty sticks

For the past few weeks I’ve done meal pouches Ella’s kitchen because I was worried he wouldn’t get used to multiple flavours mixed and also he just really was not arsed about BLW! He had those 3 foods I mentioned up there that he loves then the rest would be on the floor. He’d cry he’d refuse and we’d end the meal time as the dog had finished his food for him off the floor!!!

i do want to get him on solids I’m worried I’ve left it late I’m scared

I don’t know how to though. What can I do to get him on solids ?? X

Buy the Annabel Karmel Baby Bible book,I've weaned several children from that,it's really good and spells it all out step by step.

Keep doing what you're doing and offering. Some babies don't take to it so easily, but they get there eventually. Continue to offer a couple of times a day, but keep meals pressure-free. Try and make it fun, with lots of praise.

You eat at the same time and let him watch you. Show him how you enjoy eating and chewing. Lots of exaggerated chewing!!

Just start giving him the finger foods again, as long as he is still having the corrwct amount of formula/breastmilk that is where the nutrition is so it doesn't really matter too much how much actual food he is eatibg. Its all about getting them used to new textures and chewing and swallowing.

Buttered toast strips are easy for them to hold and suck on, steamed carrots/brocolli etc. As PP said find a weaning book and work through the steps

Don’t worry, you’ve not left it too late. I would suggest putting the dog in a different room though, dropping food for the dog can become an unhelpful game.

Thanks everyone I tried a bit more today! So I gave some usuals and tried toast with cream cheese and he seemed to like that!

However, tried pasta later on and he refused after 1 tube had a melt down I think the tube wasn’t big enough he couldn’t grasp it well (and it was barely the size of his fist!) is this normal behaviour??

It’s definitely not too late. I started by giving one solid bit alongside each meal. For example you could give some puréed potato and then also a wedge of cooked potato alongside it. Just keep offering, don’t worry if he won’t have any of it. I’ve often found my LO prefers things the second time I offer rather than the first :)

Honestly don't stress. Our 1 year old is still hit and miss - he has loads of time. Just keep offering a variety of things, at regular meal times. Eat with him each time and don't stress if it all goes on the floor. Just encourage him to pick things up (even if he doesn't eat them) and make lots of happy noises and smiley faces. He needs to learn that meal times are fun first, enjoyment of taste and feeling of fulfilment comes later. Try to avoid the highly processed melty snacks - there are lots of good alternatives which are non processed and just as quick and easy. Pouches are fine on occasions but I wouldn't be relying on them every meal - he needs to learn different textures and tastes without everything being sweetened by fruit! He will be absolutely fine, don't worry!

Children are so different on this, some snatch food off your plate others have zero interest and you have to slip food in while they’re distracted!

What worked for me was baby in highchair, facing me, with a traytable on his lap (it was part of his chair), me on a dining chair opposite him, I put a selection of finger food onto his tray and then started picking up bits and eating them with lots of smiling and open mouth chewing. Baby looked indignant that I was taking things off ‘his’ tray and joined in.

He's so young, just keep offering him a variety of foods and try not to be discouraged. At that age more will end up in the floor than not.

I highly recommend following solid starts on Instagram, and check out their website and app. It gave me so much confidence and is run by a team of qualified feeding therapists, nutritionists, etc. Basically experts, rather than celebs that had a baby and decided to make some cash by weighing in on weaning (sorry I'm a sceptic 🤣)