waited until 6 months, now baby not interested

[TaraFlapalata]

Ds is nearly 6 months (24wks) and I just tried him with a bit of baby porridge as I read this: www.bda.uk.com/publications/statements/PositionStatementWeaning.pdf which kind of alarmed me about waiting until 6 months exactly (micronutrient deficiency, stalling growth etc), which had been my original plan. He has been EBF.

He wasn't interested at all in the food, didn't even lick it off his lips.

He seems to have been 'ready' - trying to grab food, watching us as we eat, chewing his fists, easily able to coordinate putting stuff in his own mouth and able to sit with support - since about four and a half months. I've noticed he's become less interested in watching us and trying to grab our food of late.

Have we missed the opportunity by trying to hold out til 6 months? We've a bit of an unusual situation anyway as DS was IUGR and SGA at term and I've had heaps of conflicting advice about what to do.

Have I inadvertently set us up for trouble with weaning by ignoring his signs of readiness and trying to wait til 6 months?

You haven't missed your chance at all.
You've done a really great job giving him everything he needs so far and introducing solids bang on 6 months won't change the price of fish.

They all wean in their own time and the fact that your baby was smaller to begin with might just mean he takes a bit longer to wean.

Have you read about baby led weaning? It's a great way of letting your baby feel the texture of new foods and get used to feeding himself, rather than being spoon fed.

As you've fed him yourself until 6 months, you could give him solid food straight away, rather than trying to spoon feed him porridge. baby led weaning

When he seems ready to grab something off your plate, pass him something to try.
My sister has used this technique with her baby and it worked a treat. Sometimes I would think he was about to choke but she said to wait and he'd sort it out himself with his tongue...and he did.

I wish BLW was around when I had my two. It was just starting to become more popular after I had weaned DS 5+ years ago. I don't think I would have such fussy eaters as I do now otherwise!

You haven't missed anything don't worry. And I only read the summary of your link, but it seemed to say weaning at 6 months is ideal so not sure why you're worried?

And it's completely normal to ignore baby rice the first (and second, and third....) time you offer it, so again, don't worry. Weaning really is little by little, don't expect too much too soon. (And have you tasted baby rice? You'd ignore it too!)

I would recommend BLW to anyone weaning at or around 6 months - my DD is loving it so far, and so am I.

Good luck!

Ds1 hardly ate a thing until 8.5 months and will now eat anything. DS2 was on three meals a day by 6m + 1 week.

Relax. They're all different.

Signs of readiness include being able to sit unsupported. See NHS recommendations here.

Lots of babies don't really get the hang of eating until they're 8 or 9 months, even older. An old (pre-BLW) baby book I have says it's entirely normal for some babies to refuse all solids until 9 or 12 months.

(And BLW is loads of fun! :))

Ds1 hardly ate any solid food till he was well over a year. He was always tall and high on the percentiles tho. He is still a little fussy but now he is 3 he eats well most of the time. Ds2 loves solid food, eats anything and big quantities, yet he is smallish and tracking on the low percentiles.
I do think it depends on the child so as others have said try to relax, don't focus too much on how much is going in, and don't compare to your friends babies.

EBF DD didn't really get into solids until 8 or 9 months as Angel pointed out. She would eat better for DP TBH. When I offered solids she would look as if to say "Why exactly are we messing around with this rubbish - get your knockers out woman!".
Once got a taste for it though, she tucked in with real gusto & we've never looked back.
I only ever did baby rice once - I tried it myself (after she looked at me in horror & then spat it out) & made the first rule which was to never try & feed her with something I wouldn't eat myself. Vile stuff.