But it was all going so well! desperately need help!

[felixfelicis1]

In desperate need of help. Weaning was going so so well with DS. He absolutely loved all food and happily fed himself with a spoon. Now we have started on finger foods and thats all he's interested in.He can't really exist on finger foods as he doesn't have teeth so has to just suck on them really (obviously only a little bit actually makes it to his tummy). I know he does like the taste of some of the food I give him as he will often eat it when tricked and won't spit it out. He just seems so so bored by food and frustrated about being in his high chair which he used to love. He is such a busy little guy (standing and nearly walking he's so desperate to be on the move). Yesterday I resorted to giving him an Ella's Kitchen pouch to suck on and squeeze. Now I know how people end up in that awful habit of following their toddlers round the playroom sneaking cheerios into their mouths. I really really wanted to make meal times a lovely thing and to try and foster good table manners (I know he is too young for actual table manners but you know what I mean!). He is an absolutely awful sleeper so I really want to make sure he eats enough in the day to try and get him on the way to one day sleeping through the night. He is totally disinterested by his bottles as well. I've tried making food look as fun and exciting as possible and us sitting together at the table to eat, no distractions etc. I work full time so supper is the only time we have together and I desperately want it to be fun and not some kind of battle! Sorry for long babbling post but please help!

First of all chill

I take it he is under 1? If he is then food is for fun, milk will still be the main source. If he was eating well and has now stopped do you think he could be teething? Its not uncommon for some babies to go 'off' food when they are teething.

Thanks BlackOut. He's 8 months. Think I mentioned but he is totally disinterested in his bottle now that food has come along. I definitely won't be able to go back to having milk be his main source. You might be right about the teething. I can see them coming through. Might that be how he'd react? Sort of restless and irritable about sitting and eating?

Would he drink milk out of a beaker?

You could try him with some teething gel or powders?

Not sure why you want food to be "fun"? that makes it sound like a game and playing - why not make food about eating? Tricking him sounds bonkers?

Firstly, babies do not need teeth to bite and chew food, their gums are rock hard as the teeth are there underneath, they can rip through food to swallowable sizes long before the teeth come through. DD can eat corn off a cob with only 2 small front teeth at the bottom and none at the top. She was eating most foods from long before she had any showing at all.

What foods are you feeding? Have you tried things he can eat himself that don't need chewing - chilli, mac and cheese, etc.

Try to relax, easier said than done though. From experience I got really wound up with DS1 and food and it became a vicious circle. Wanted him to eat so that he would sleep etc and it didn't work. We resorted to one piece of cake, one spoonful of gloop etc.

I relaxed more with DS2&3 and it is eaiser (still have the aaagh you sods I spent ages making that and you've just thrown it on the floor moments). Mine preferred finger food also so I moved them onto it pretty quickly, even if it did feel that all the ate was cheese on toast at times. I got a couple of finger food books and used those, tortillas with cheese inbetween, pan fried and cut up etc.

It sounds like he is moving around a lot as well and interested in what is going on around him? They develop quickly and have new things that interest them and aren't bothered with eating. Keep doing what you are doing in terms of variety, making it fun etc

Is he at nursery, childminders during the day? How does he eat then? Eating with other children is great for getting them to eat.

Thanks Fred. Obviously I agree that tricking sounds bonkers, the whole point of my post was that I didn't want to be tricking him into eating! :-) When I say fun I don't mean a crazy playground adventure I meant enjoyable and not a bore for either of us. I know that he doesn't need teeth did chew food but it does mean he is less efficient at it i.e. he can eat but a lot of it isn't going to end up in actually in his tummy and he will get bored and cross before he has eaten enough. I'm struggling with how to keep him interested and his patience levels up. Any ideas?

Have tried teetha and it seems to work at the time. When he's eating he doesn't seem to be in a huge amount of pain with his teeth, just restless and irritable. I think you are probably right that this is what this is Blackout.

Thanks tryingto, he is at a childminders in the day. We've been on hols this week and for a few days preceding he was a bit off his food as well she said. She only looks after him so there aren't other children to eat with. Might it be an idea to try and get everyone sitting together at the table and eating as well to make it seem more like its what eveyone does?

And yes everyone you are definitely right that I need to chill a bit about it! Just was so pleased that food was going so well before (EVERYTHING else has been a bit of a disaster) and feel so disheartened. Its that thing with trying to balance everything out with going to work etc, if one thing goes wrong it feels like it all is!

Eating together is great, one tip the HV gave me with finger foods is not to worry how much goes on the floor, it always looks loads, so long as some is going in.

Don't feel disheartened, we've all been there, it gets easier. I think juggling work, children etc is really hard going at first. It feels that there isn't a lot of time and its rushed etc