BLW-8.5 months, still not going that well

[fburrough]

Hi there, just looking for some tips really. I'm doing BLW with my 8month old DD. I did try and feed her with a spoon but she was having none of it. refused to open her mouth.

she does put food in her mouth and chews and swallows but she is hardly eating anything and has not reduced her breastfeeding at all.

some days she just doesn't eat anything. i know its meant to be just playing, but i do wish she'd take a proper amount of food

she does sleep through the night so that is something but am feeling quite down about the whole thing as although i'm glad to be bf her its a bit exhausting and I'd like an afternoon off sometime! also worried that as she's bf so much it'll be really hard for me to go back to work. she won't take a bottle!

just wondering if anyone had any ideas/tips??

thanks!!!

at this age she won't really be taking much quantity and breastfeeding will not reduce at all.

i found with both of mine they were over a year before they were actually eating breakfast lunch and dinner, even then it was very small portions.

breastfeeding never decreased with dd1 until i weaned her. dd2 is 14mths and has not decreased.

basically food is only a supplement to the breastmilk.

just slow down and don't worry about portion size! it can be very hard to judge exactly what a baby is actually eating and tends to take a lot longer than you imagine.

DD was at least 10 months before she'd consistently eat a decent amount at each meal.

Try not to worry about volumes. BLW is all about the long haul and the bigger picture.

My DS just started eating huge amounts at about 8.5 months, one day woke up and ate loads all day and hasnt stopped since.
I have a bottle refuser too. I have stopped bf him (he is now just over 9 months)and he is taking a reasonable amount from a beaker thing and appears to be eating food rather than drinking milk.
What I am trying to say is that your DD may turn round one day and surprise you and have you running to the kitchen for more and more.

Why would you want her to take a bottle? At this age she can have a sippy cup - saves you a load of hassle! A lot of BLW babies seem to find their stride around 9 months, so it could be about to pick up. They're all different though. Try not to coax and keep offering a variety. There's no need to feel down - nothing's wrong!