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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

6.5 month old - food goes in but not IN....

15 replies

octanegirl · 31/07/2013 22:16

It's been about 3 weeks now. I'm doing a mix of BLW and spoon fed. So far, he doesn't appear to be swallowing anything. He'll have a chew on things I hand him but mostly drops them or rubs the table with them. If I try to spoon feed him he opens his mouth and it all falls out. Or he spits it out. After a couple of spoonfuls he won't open his mouth any more anyway so I can't get any more in.
And the MESS. Oh God the MESS!
I just end up binning the stuff I make for him as he won't actually consume any of it. Spooning stuff in only for him to dribble it all back out is frustrating and a bit demoralising.
Is this normal? He's still on the same BF routine he always was. I don't feel I can cut it back as he'll starve!

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 31/07/2013 22:18

Sounds normal.

Maybe he is not ready? Perhaps leave it a week or two and try again?

DD wasn't interested until she was about 7 months old.

TwentyTinyToes · 31/07/2013 22:21

"Food is fun until they are one" or something like that! Sounds entirely normal, DD is almost 7 months, she basically has whatever we eat with a few tweaks, she is only just starting to swallow stuff. Some meals she barely touches anything other meals she takes ages. She is having tons if milk as well, all normal.

ceeveebee · 31/07/2013 22:22

My DS did this. Then he used to keep it in his mouth but not swallow and end up with hamster cheeks. By about 9 mo I think he had it sorted!

Doitnow · 31/07/2013 22:26

I feel your pain. My 9m old had only just started having proper grown up poos so I'm confident lots is going in (not that you'd think it at mealtimes!). I'm doing the same as you, mix of BLW and whizzing up what we're having.
Looking back, my DD1 was the same.

Original poster
octanegirl · 31/07/2013 22:56

Thanks guys. I shall persevere and grit my teeth at the mess on the floor/table/chair/face/clothes.....

OP posts:
BettyStogs · 31/07/2013 23:02

Everything he's doing is part of learning to eat, swallowing is just a small part of it, its about taste, texture and manipulating food at the moment. It does take a while but he'll get there. With DS it was around 9 mo that he really started to eat more. The mess did go on for a while after that though!

mrsmartin1984 · 01/08/2013 00:09

Soon he'll get it. At the moment it's all fun and games. Don't stress

monstergoose · 02/08/2013 19:37

We've just started so not an expert but my dd is much happier on blw and will quite happily feed herself wedges of potato/ carrot sticks/ squashed peas etc but if I try to spoon feed her myself she clams up and then won't eat any more on her own either, so we've given up with spooning it in and are going with BLW all way and she loves it! I've also bought some short spoons which I load with some food then hand to her and she does a passable job of getting on in her mouth. You do have to close your eyes to the mess though!

I also find if we watch her eat she seems to get stage fight but if I just plonk some bits on her tray then get on with eating my own dinner she is much happier!

ProudMummyKiki · 03/08/2013 12:55

hey octane girl Smile I saw your post and I had a similar problem with my little one. I tried out these catcher scoop bibs by Dribblies and they work perfect!! they have cotton around the neck so don't irritate my little one and they can go in the dishwasher and roll up! heres the website if you too wanted to try them out dribblies.com hope that helps with the mess anyway ! xx

Amyksays · 04/08/2013 15:25

I'm blw too, 6m dd not interested in spoon. I know you shouldn't but... I'm feeding her in the bumbo in the middle of the dining room table, minimises mess! And this time of year can go minimal clothing and just sponge down. Only lasts a few months, as I recall!

Phineyj · 06/08/2013 21:40

I had similar problems but discovered DD will feed herself from a pouch and will also spoon food in herself - she just hates being fed. To reduce mess: feed outside if you have a garden (get cheap IKEA highchair you can just rinse down); the Tommee Tippee pelican bib is good for catching food; feed immediately before bath; plastic sheet under highchair (cheap shower curtain?); keep wipes and kitchen roll as close as poss to DC but not in their reach! I know some people don't approve of pouches but if you get one each of a wide range you may stumble on a food your DC finds yummy and you can build on that.

ceeveebee · 06/08/2013 22:49

You can actually buy pouches that you fill yourself - I saw them in jojo mamon bebe the other day, here

u32ng · 19/08/2013 14:44

I'm sure I read in Gill Rapley's BLW book that it's quite normal for food to come out at the start as they haven't totally got the hang of how to use their tongue to move food to the back of the mouth for swallowing.

Therefore, I wouldn't worry just now. I'm not!

Original poster
octanegirl · 19/08/2013 19:58

Three weeks on and things are much better. Judging from the truly heinous nappies and the fact that there nothing left in the food bowl at the end, we have progress!

OP posts:
rootypig · 19/08/2013 20:03

Oh good. Just came on to say DD had a lightbulb moment about swallowing at 9mo Hmm

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