BLW - grumping baby at mealtimes

[Sassles]

Hi eveyone!

DS is now 8 months and we are fully bablyled weaning (plus breast feeding).

Things had been going well and I know reading the Rapley and Murkett book that they have wee regressions and days where they will not eat much and have bigger milk feeds.

I'm finding that DS seems to be moaning through our meals. It's like he is not happy with the selection of food. I've tried doing different things like giving him more and more choice till he eats something or just left him moaning and got on with our meal and he will eventually pick at something.

Is anyone else had experience of this? Should I be giving him other options, or just leave what is there and if he doesn't eat it, then so be it?

I feel bad if he is hungry, but just not in the mood, for whatever it is I put in front of him, or does he not really know that yet?

He seems to be teething at the moment, so maybe that's a factor, but he will eat something one day and then moan at it the next.

Any tips?

Do you offer him water? My DD also moans a lot during meal times. I have found that she eats a tiny bit and then gets grumpy....I realised eventually that she was a bit thirsty and needed a bit of water to wash it down with and then she just got on with it. Could be different with your DS though, may be a phase of control or something. My Dd has just been and is just getting over such a fussy phase. She is 11 months now.

I am also worried about whether to just not feed her if DD doesn't seem interested. I often worry she will starve also and give in and give yoghurt, am avoiding this too much though as don't want her to expect it if you know what I mean. GOod luck I am sure someone might be along with better advice :)

8-9 months can be a tricky stage. The novelty of getting food and joining in with mealtimes starts to wear off, but they haven't yet made the connection between food and hunger. Up until that point they have no concept as to why they need to get, and that it fills them up...so tend to get a bit bored with the whole affair!

The food < hunger connection comes at around 9-10 months, some earlier/some later.

You'll probably find his interest peaks again once he twigs!

Just carry on offering a selection of stuff at each meal. If he doesn't want it, and is fussing, just end the meal.

It will all slot in to place, promise

Thank you for your responses.

fifilottie He LOVES his water. I think sometimes he is moaning for it and I will keep offering it. He will drink loads and likes to bash the cup about. i tend to take it from him at that point, sometimes he will eat a bit more and sometimes will moan till i give him the cup to bash around, so may be a bit or a boredom thing too. I echo the yoghurt! I think, at least he will be getting some calcium, but need to stop this too. :)

justalittleblackraincloud I think you are probably right. We had lunch out yesterday with 3 other mums and babies and he was perfectly happy throughout and eat a fair bit. Guess that was quite exciting other than just me or me and DH. I think he may be getting tired at tea also, so need to try and have dinner on the table a bit earlier. I will try stopping the meal and not offering him other things. He has a good selection.

Thank you
S x

Maybe he's coming along with his pincer grip and wants to practice? Sometimes my DD won't eat food in big chunks but if I cut it up very small she'll pick it up one.... bit..... at..... a....... time...... and....... eat....... it......

Depends how much time you have on your hands though!

He's got really good with the pincer grip. I had no idea that he could do it and at 7 months we were out for lunch and I had peas and carrots. I put some peas down for him, thinking he would just play with them and he picked it up and popped it in his mouth. I was such a proud mummy.

He can pick up bits of rice now, but I do always give him a variety of shapes and sizes, but think you are right that he is moving towards smaller bits now.

I actually maybe have another theory....

He has two bottom teeth and sometimes when he is moaning, he has food in his mouth. Do you think he is a bit frustrated that he can not chew it quickly enough and be on to the next bit? May get better with more teeth?

DD didn't get any teeth at all til 10 and a bit months - so I'm of the thinking teeth have very little to do with it.

If he's got sore gums, that may be why.

Could be teething, or working on the 37 week developmental spurt which can affect mood, behaviour, sleep, eating, drinking etc.

It's explained in The Wonder Weeks.

I just kept offering whatever we were having, and if he didn't want it, I'd revert to something he almost always liked - and not worry if he didn't want anything at all. Even top favourites were rejected at times. It rarely lasts long though IME. (DS is 13 months now).

I had a look at that angeldog Very interesting.

I think I may have cracked it tonight. He wanted a fork! Now eating from it and trying hard to do it himself!

Wow, he's advanced - my DS is doing this now at 13 months.

DS still moans though, usually because he doesn't want to eat off his fork, he wants to eat off mine.

Angeldog I'm sure he'll decide that soon too!

He's quite advanced in some ways and not in others. e.g. he's been able to say cat and knows what it is since 7 months and is now saying bubbles (shrugs). But he doesn't really roll much (although he can) and not anywhere near crawling. Wants to stand all the time tho

:)