9 month old - no interest in solids

[Becproc23]

I started introducing puréed foods to my DC at 4 months old. He took to them really well and had no aversions to anything.

He’s now 9 months old and won’t take anything from a spoon anymore. It’s been like this for a few weeks. He won’t eat anything puréed and most solids he throws onto the floor.

Is this a normal developmental stage?

Does anyone have any advice if you have experienced this?

They say food is for fun up to 1.

We never puréed but just left a range of fairly mushy finger food out on the high chair.

Roasted veg barons/ avocado/ banana etc
Yoghurt to smear about. Bits of toast/ eggs etc.

Could easily have teeth working their way down under the surface and just not fancy eating atm. I know I don't with toothache.

I believe the usual advice is to keep an eye on how many nappies they're getting through, if they're still weeing plenty that's a great sign.

Obviously if you're really worried seek medical help.

It's normal, don't worry about it. Keep offering a mixture of things regularly. He'll eat when he's ready. As per pp, until they're one it really is just for fun - as little fun as it is for you!

Definitely normal but I wonder if it might be time to drop a bottle? Once he reaches 10 months they only need 400 ml of formula a day.

If you're BFing, you could try offering solids first?

I'm not sure that's right? At 12 months onwards it's still recommended they have 500mls whole milk? Albeit including intake from yoghurt etc but it doesn't sound like he's having much that way. I would be guided by him re dropping bottles personally.

@booksandbrooks @SErunner Thanks for your feedback. I’ve never heard of the ´food before one is just for fun’, but this is reassuring because I feel I’m just reading everywhere that babies should be eating 3 full meals a day blah blah blah.

@SErunner @SiouxsieSiouxStiletto If anything, he’s drinking more formula than ever at the moment. Over 1000mls! I’ve noticed his lack of interest in food seems to be more of an aversion to being spoon fed. Yesterday I tried giving purée straight from the sachet (which I know you shouldn’t do) but he ate it.

What purées is he having? If it’s just fruit ones then they are really sweet and delicious so he probably won’t want anything else. Savoury food is a very different taste.

Going off food and refusing a spoon are all very normal stages though.

I would put a few different foods in front of him (fruit and savoury foods) a few times a day and let him pick them up/ chew them/ throw them on the floor.

Also offer him a bit of whatever meals you’re eating (mash it with a fork in a bowl with a bit of milk if needed).

Give him his own spoon too. Many like to 'feed' themselves. You can pop spoonfuls in in between their attempts. Maybe try moving on from straight puree too - try mashing rather than puree.
Also lots of different finger foods.
Sit him on your lap when you're eating - stolen bits of your dinner are always better than having their own!

My daughter didn't eat more than a few peas until she was 13months. She only gained 200g between 7 and 13 months because she wasn't taking in enough calories to sustain her activity.
We were under a dietician, paediatrician and HV during this time and they weren't concerned

I wouldn't stress about amounts.I am a very strong believer in letting them watch you and learn from that. Eat your meals together and give baby bits from your plate on his tray . Load a few spoons if you wish or dip toast/ bread into runny foods. No need for anything puréed at this point . Put some water or milk in a cup for him to serve himself . He will get the hang of it.

How are they with messy play? Could you introduce solids through encouraging them to play with them? Natural yogurt with food colouring to paint or cooked spaghetti with a tiny bit of oil on a tray with containers spoons etc.

@DuploTrain Thanks for your advice. It’s reassuring to know it’s normal, so this has put me at ease. I’m offering both sweet and savoury, although he definitely prefers sweet food.

@Seeline Great advice about giving food off our plates. I will do this too.

@Superscientist That’s interesting to know. It must have been stressful for you.

The best advice I would have given myself is not to stress about it.

My DS was very enthusiastic at 6-8 months and then barely ate anything until about 10 months. I found it stressful because he had reflux so I was desperate for him to have more food and less milk. But the stress didn’t help anything.

Just keep offering lots of different things. It’s tempting to always offer the thing that you know they like, but sometimes they get bored of it then and go off it too 🤦🏻‍♀️

A litre a day is a lot. I really would try dropping a bottle.

Yes it was, I was under pressure at the time to stop breastfeeding to change my medication. She had a bottle aversion on an off since being a new born due to reflux and allergic reactions. A reaction to a formula at 8 months meant I couldn't hold her and a bottle without her trying to jump from my arms. So switching to formula or oat milk wasn't an option no matter what the vessel. We went into hospital to see if with support she would eat enough to sustain her needs which was a pipedream but we had to jump through the hoops
Eventually we had no choice and went cold turkey in the hope that she would take formula which she did after a very long 26h without drinks, she had a little bit of food.
She's 3 now and we still have times when it a struggle and if we get her to eat 1 meal over the weekend we are doing well. We have learnt not to stress it so much! I don't know how she survives on so little some times but she does!!