Baby led weaning advice please!!! - my 11mo turns fussy!

[Pinetreeland]

I have been doing baby led weaning since DS was 6 months. And for the first 1-2 months he hardly manage to eat very much at all but he was always keen to explore different food. The following months were sort of a success story, he was keen to try all type of food and was pretty good at feeding himself.

In the past 2-3 weeks or so, he suddenly turned fussy and only eats carbs - mainly potatoes/noodle/pasta and throw all meat and veg to the floor. He used to be quite keen on meat (but not so keen on veg) I was hoping that baby led weaning means a less fussy eater but he seems to be suddenly growing really fussy. He is also breastfeeding so I guess he probably get most of his nutrient from breast milk still, but I am worried that his fussiness will go on?

Please advice if anyone has experienced this? I am wondering whether I am doing anything wrong...

Also lately because he's sort of eating less solid, he's been also feeding more on the breast. It feels like a step backward!

My almost 2 year old, who I have done BLW with, has become really fussy now despite a good start with her trying lots of different foods at her own rate. Surprisingly since Christmas she has rejected her high chair and asks to be fed by me, or just to sit on my lap and feed herself. I guess this sort of regression may just be something she needs for some reason and I am trying to go with it. I do feel disappointed and frustrated like you that after a good start I was hoping for a less fussy outcome. Gives me doubts about the method too. I guess we need to hear from someone who is out the other side.

Have you seen the article that came out in BMJ recently? The authors found BLW toddlers are just as likely to be fussy as spoonfed ones. But they are less likely to be overweight. They also, maybe coincidentally, have a preference for carbs.

Babies energy needs do change though as they get older - the more active and brain-y they are, the more carbs they need. I think it's something like 50% calories from fat at 6 months, to 35% at 12 months - and the 12 months absolute calorie needs are higher as they're bigger, and carbs have less calories per gram. So they do have to start eating lots more carbs over the months. Of course that doesn't mean no meat, and hopefully not reject the lower density carbs in vegetables, but are you sure the baby doesn't just need that sort of food - it's hungry for carbs because it needs carbs?

Do you always let him fill himself up at each meal by keeping giving him more carb foods?

How many calories do you think DS is getting? Has the increase co-incided with him moving around a lot more (walking/crawling etc.)

DD isn't at the stage where you are, so I have no personal experience, I do feel that he's likely to know the types of food he needs on the large scale (protein, carbs or whatever) and is just going for that at the moment. I'd relax and let him do it, certainly for now.

Fredgeorge that's interesting about the change in energy needs. Mine is 10.5mo and touch wood hasn't turned fussy yet. But I have noticed she has a much more refined taste for flavour now. She spat out the cream cheese pasta I made her for tea on sunday because it doesn't taste good . I didn't cook anything and tbh it tastes foul. She loves strong flavours and will eat a lot if it's adult tasty!

How are you cooking the veg? My DD doesn't like plain greens. But loves it when in a curry, or a cheese sauce. Same with meat btw.