6 month old not interested in solids

[septembersong]

As per current advice, I waited until DS3 was 6 months before starting solids. Alas just as we were starting out, he got a tummy bug (unrelated) so I stopped and waited until that had cleared. Then he got a cold and was generally grumpy with limited appetite, even for milk. Have been trying him with all the usual suspects (baby rice, veg purees, mashed banana etc) for around a fortnight now, and he shows no sign of interest. Any food that makes it in pretty much comes straight back out! He doesn't seem to mind me trying to give him stuff, but he turns his face away and most certainly does not open his mouth! Am now beginning to panic that I've missed the window of oppportunity (I remember a health visitor saying something about this). Any advice or general words of reassurance, anyone? (Needy, moi?!)

6 months is a guide, not a law :)

Some are ready just before, some are ready just after, and particularly as he's been poorly I can imagine that won't have helped.

Have you tried offering something he can play with and try to eat himself? Some babies just aren't interested in being spoonfed, some are happy to be spoonfed if they've got something they can try to get in their own mouths at the same time and others will only take food off a spoon - it's a case of finding what he prefers (and when he's ready for it)

If you'd missed the window of opportunity, then many others would have too, and you don't know of any other adults or children who are surviving solely on milk because they were weaned too late (do you?)

Don't panic, it's exactly like flisspaps says. Have you met children or adult surviving solely on milk? If he was poorly, he wouldn't have wanted food earlier anyway. Food is very foreign to them, something strange and definitely not to fill their tummies.

Keep offering different things, try giving both mush and finger foods. Or like flisspaps suggested, spoon at the same time a spoon to play with. My DD won't open her mouth for the spoon at all, turn her head away etc, just like your DS. But she puts everything in her mouth herself and bite them. So she's being weaned on BLW. She gives everything an enthusiastic lick, and on good days, she'll swallow a lot. On bad days, she just licks them. But I keep calm and just let her explore.

Hello, just wanted to say that you're not alone in having a baby who's uninterested in solids; I posted a very similar message a couple of days ago.

DS2 is just 6 months and isnt that bothered, although he's happy to have the odd bit off yogurt off a spoon, and suck an apple or piece of melon if I hold it for him.

He had his 6 month check with the HV the other day, and she wasn't at all worried, just told me not to stress and give him time to get used to the idea, and let him play with food while we eat. Eventually he'll get it, although I'm sure I'll be Mrs Stressy along the way...

Thanks all for the suggestions re finger foods and letting him hold a spoon. And also for the reassurance! We'll get there I'm sure, and in the meantime I need to just chill ... he's a wonderfully happy wee guy, so all is good!

Cheers again.