Fussy 8 month old - any advice?

[Echocave]

Can anyone help me with ideas please? Nearly everything I offer dd Is greeted with cats bum face and flared nostrils as if it's the most disgusting thing she's ever smelt or seen.

Full disclosure - I struggled to breastfeed her up to 5 months and we had a massive battle of wills which unfortunately tipped me into PND. So feeding is a bit of a problem. I actually thought weaning would make feeding easier. Ha ha.

Dd was weaned at 6 months and seemed to do ok with the purees etc. She even liked a few things. Now trying to get her to try more flavours (textures don't seem to be as much of a problem) but she seems to be so fussy. Am trying some Annabel karmel recipes but she seems to hate them - everything met with cats bum face. I have eczema so have been advised not to overdo dairy but am trying to cook with a bit of cheese to tempt dd.

I've offered little finger foods too - steamed carrot, toast, cucumber etc but they are the only things in the entire world that she won't put in her mouth.

Tonight I got so bloody stressed and frustrated after preparing a fish/orange juice/sweet potato thing that I had to leave the room before I got angry. Is it often this hard?

I agree, it can be so frustrating trying to feed a baby who just refuses. I find it hard to relax too but if I feel like Im getting a bit wound up I set myself a time limit - 10 mins ? during which I just leave the spoon and bowl on the tray and relax/read/have something to eat or drink myself and let DS explore the food. If he still refuses after the time limit I clear away and offer milk instead. Usually he is willing to try a bit more by then though. May sound strange to some, but being a very tense person, I find it easier to relax if I know there is an endpoint in sight rather than just endlessly and pointlessly trying to persuade him to eat.

Also, finding a finger food he likes and can manage can help to get him started. My son loves toast or those organic corn puff snacks you can buy and after one of those is usually ready to open his mouth for other food.

Actually I never try to persuade DD to eat. I always just leave her with the food to get on with it. I usually have food with her, otherwise a coffee, toast or even just a book. Meal times are set to 20min here unless the adults are too buzy chatting away .