8mo is fussy with food.

[GrittersWifeAndProud]

She refuses to eat any veg at all. Unless it's hidden in a puree. She will only eat fruity purees (cow & gate, heinz etc) or fruit and veg purees (Ellas kitchen pouches). She will eat 'snacky' things herself, bread sticks, rusks etc. She'll eat milk-soaked weetabix, sandwiches, toast, teacakes, yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and not much else. If I give her carrot sticks (raw, mashed or cooked), mash potato, cauliflower or any other veg, she will not eat it. She'll suck on fruit and knaw at it a bit but then spit it out or chuck it on the floor.

I've tried feeding jars/pouches of 'proper' meals, she'll swallow a spoonful but then just retches until it comes back up. The same if I cook anything for her, I've chucked loads of stuff away because she won't eat anything unless it's really smooth, no-texture-at-all puree, or the few things she will pick up and eat herself.

Is this ok? I'm getting worried as her poos are getting less frequent (1 every other day roughly) and they're small, and solid, she usually cries when she's doing them as they're so hard :( I don't know what to do!

HV is no help either.

Reading your post, to me it sounds like she just doesn't like 'proper' meals if you are feeding her. The list she can eat arent at all smooth and has a large variety of textures. As for veg, are the steamed or boiled (the normal british way to serve side veg). Or are they very flavourful like cauliflower cheese or in a curry? If she will have roast potatoes, how about other roast root veg?

She's 8mo so still early days in weaning. Keep offering finger foods (like from your own plate), and your homemade purees. It takes supposedly 10-15 before a taste or texture isn't strange to a baby.

The veg question is because my DD won't eat boring veg. Have you seen Hugh F-W with the veg hating children in river cottage veg? He found a lot of them just don't like bland veg! My DD will eat any veg if theres enough cheese to go with it. Or if it's in a very strong sauce, like a curry or stew.

It's early days. I'd tackle the constipation if you can - less bread etc and more water. You can give less solids too.

Try making finger food based meals - bits of homemade burgers, chips, pasta etc and see how she gets on.

There's nothing wrong with giving her very smooth veg purée, at least expose her to the taste and then gradually work on the texture. 8 month is such early days! I would start with nutritious blander root veggies eg parsnip, swede first then move gradually onto greener stuff. Best of luck!!