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Original poster

Weaning - help!

6 replies

Sleepyhank · 29/12/2022 14:09

I’d really like some reassurance please! My 8 month old will not put anything in her mouth. She sucks her thumb and takes a bottle quite happily but will not eat. I started with baby led weaning when she was 6.5 months (she is very small and couldn’t support herself in a high chair before then) I did all of the veg as finger foods and purées which I tried to get her to taste from a spoon (she loves holding the finger foods and playing with them but doesn’t put them in her mouth)

Health visitor advised taking it back to basics and giving her fruit purée on her lips to taste but she turns away. The only way she eats anything is if I get it onto her thumb when she takes it out of her mouth. She doesn’t seem to mind this though - no coughing and spluttering. Have also tried the net dummy things with fruit in them but she won’t put them in her mouth

Other than being on the small side she’s meeting all her other milestones and is happy and thriving.

We are being referred to speech and language but I’m guessing this will take
ages.

Anyone been through similar? Thanks!

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PritiPatelsMaker · 29/12/2022 14:11

Not experienced it sorry but have you tried putting something in her hand, like a toy, so that she doesn't suck her thumb and you can try to spoon feed her?

ToddleToddleToddle · 29/12/2022 16:31

I would feed her a bit in addition to what you're doing. She'll get the hang of it eventually, I promise! But in order to get some food into her you may have to do it yourself.

When we weaned my boy had absolutely no interest in picking up food. I would set something in front of him and he's stare at it then lower his face to the table to eat 😂 Aside from this weaning went very well (I spoon fed him until he could do it himself at 10ish months). Now that he's bigger and has more motor skills he shoves the food in with both hands.

Original poster
Sleepyhank · 31/12/2022 19:19

PritiPatelsMaker · 29/12/2022 14:11

Not experienced it sorry but have you tried putting something in her hand, like a toy, so that she doesn't suck her thumb and you can try to spoon feed her?

Thank you for replying! She just moves the toy to the other hand and puts her thumb back in her mouth, or throws it on the floor if she has two toys. She won’t let me put a spoon in her mouth at all!

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Original poster
Sleepyhank · 31/12/2022 19:22

ToddleToddleToddle · 29/12/2022 16:31

I would feed her a bit in addition to what you're doing. She'll get the hang of it eventually, I promise! But in order to get some food into her you may have to do it yourself.

When we weaned my boy had absolutely no interest in picking up food. I would set something in front of him and he's stare at it then lower his face to the table to eat 😂 Aside from this weaning went very well (I spoon fed him until he could do it himself at 10ish months). Now that he's bigger and has more motor skills he shoves the food in with both hands.

Thank you for replying!
I am trying to feed her. When I spoon feed her, she turns her face away and leans her head back so I can’t get the spoon in. Then puts her thumb firmly back in - stubborn little monkey! I’m hoping she’ll just become more interested given time. She was only 4lb when born and is 14lb now at 8 months

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upfucked · 31/12/2022 19:23

Are you eating at the same time as her? I would try putting her on your knee and offering her food from your plate.

Original poster
Sleepyhank · 31/12/2022 19:26

upfucked · 31/12/2022 19:23

Are you eating at the same time as her? I would try putting her on your knee and offering her food from your plate.

Thank you for replying!
Yes we always eat at the same time. She loves watching us and her 2 year old brother eat. I’ve tried sitting her on my knee in case it was the high chair stressing her out. She enjoys waving the food around I’ve given her and whacking me with it 😂 but still has no interest in putting it in her mouth

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