7.5 month old picky eater

[Dory567]

My LO is 7.5 months and weaning has been hard work so far. At the start he’d gag and look disgusted at everything, including purée, but the gagging is better now. I know it’s still fairly early days but he’ll only accept fruit purée, yoghurt, toast, baby crisps and cucumber. He refuses whole fruits and vegetables and fights being spoon fed. He’ll only accept a spoon for a fruit purée once he realises he likes it and then he has to hold it himself and sucks it off. I’ve tried lots of finger foods and just put bits of what we’re having on his tray and he mostly ignores it or if he touches it, he looks disgusted. Unless it’s one of the above things and then he dives towards it. He’s gobbled down toast no problem so I know he can eat, he just won’t. He won’t even play with the food much.

Does anyone have any tips for getting him to accept some more nutritious food? He’s breastfed and still feeding lots and I know he’ll get most of his nutrition from this but I’m worried about his iron levels if he doesn’t start eating more soon.

I really wouldn't worry too much. They say 'food is for fun before one'. I'd just keep offering up a variety of foods, both whole and pureed, and he'll soon get into it.

Does anyone have any tips for getting him to accept some more nutritious food? He’s breastfed and still feeding lots and I know he’ll get most of his nutrition from this but I’m worried about his iron levels if he doesn’t start eating more soon

Really don't worry about his iron levels. Posts only starting appearing on MN with worries about iron levels after a formula company had that advert with a baby with a giant cup of formula.

The iron in your BM is far more easily digested than most other forms of iron so it's very unlikely that your LO will be anaemic. If it's something you are worried about and having more DC, at your next birth ask them not to cut the cord until it has stopped pulsating as this gives LO the maximum iron reserves.

There's more on BF babies and iron heree*.

As for him being fussy, I'd stop the crisps and yoghurts, unless it's plain yoghurt with no sugar.

Just keep offering different foods and don't stress if he doesn't eat. He's just not realised yet that solid food can satisfy hunger and again that's normal.

And definitely never offer an alternative if he hadn't eaten or he will always hold out for his favourite foods

This is totally normal behaviour, and it's only the beginning of his weaning journey. Keep doing what you're doing. He will get there.

Would he try new things if you spread them on toast? Like nut butters, egg yolk or mashed steamed veg?

Or conversely, would he lick/suck yoghurt off a piece of finger food like a piece of strawberry?

Would he like home-made yoghurt dips, or yoghurt with mashed fruit mixed through?

Totally normal. Ignore all the YouTube accounts etc suggesting babies are eating a wide range of nutritious foods at this age... And if they don't want to be spoon fed, don't force it. I spent ages lovingly prepping various purees for weaning and my DD hated spoon feeding so we just did finger food, and the variety was not great at 7.5 months (nb. she got happier with spoon feeding later on when she was eating something she really liked and was in a hurry to get it down)

HAve spoon each for feeding purees.

Just keep offering a wide range of foods. It's very early days yet.
Try sitting him on your lap when you're eating - things stolen off your plate are always more enticing than bits left on their tray intended for them to eat

So early to be worrying! Its all new...let him enjoy what he enjoys and keep offering bits and pieces.
And do not be afraid of flavour - have you ever eaten steamed broccoli? Blugh!

One of mine was like this, they didn’t start getting into food until they were 9 + months from memory, they just weren’t really interested until then, don’t panic, they’ll get there, as PP have said, before one is just for fun.

Are you giving him actually tasty things he might want to eat?

Pasta in a nice creamy cheesy sauce?
Quark with berries and a tiny bit of cinnamon?
Soft boiled eggs on buttery toast?
Seasoned, soft poached chicken?
Steak fingers with lots of juices?

You may well be, but I’ve just witnessed friends who are weaning and disappointed that their baby isn’t getting on with food and it turns out to be steamed cauliflower with zero seasoning. No wonder it’s going on the floor.

The most important thing you can do is try not to worry. I spent a lot of time stressing that my DS barely ate anything until he was about 9/10 months.

Just keep offering lots of different things, eat together and offer a taste of things off your plate too. They all get there in their own time.

They are not a picky eater they are still getting used to foods, textures and tastes. Just keep offering things and don't worry about it.

This is such a good point. I made mine some broccoli puree and, shockingly, she wasn't into it. My husband gave her venison soldiers and she smashed them away.

But mostly, just don't worry about it. Keep giving him bits and pieces of nice stuff. Don't worry about the spoon. He'll get there.

My 7.5 month old DS is exactly the same. It's so confusing because my DD was eating full bowls of pasta and all kinds of fruit by this point. I think all babies are different and have their own journey with food. Solidarity!

Quark with berries? Only on Mumsnet. 😂

My husband gave her venison soldiers and she smashed them away.

Think I would as well! 😋

Do you go to the supermarket? Quark is in the yogurt section in different variations, plain, fruit, chocolate. Anything labelled as a protein yogurt is usually quark 🙄