Delayed weaning?

[MultipleMama]

DS is 9mo (7mo adj) has shows no signs of being interested in food all, he's not even curious about it. He is behind on development and is unable to grab objects and let them go and still hasn't mastered sitting up unaided. He has OHS in August which will set him back, again, so I don't want to force something he's not ready for

I'm curious to how long weaning can be delayed for? When did you introduce weaning to a non-interested child?

Are you giving him any supplements? I believe you shouldn't delay the introduction of gluten past 7 months and iron might be an issue too. Baby led weaning might not be suitable for babies with developmental delays.

I don't know what the official advice is, but my ds refused solids until 13 months. He was ebf. I used to worry but my gp and hv weren't worried.

He's now 9 years old and healthy (he always has been healthy).

I know I'm not much help, but there's a perspective anyway!

No, he's just breastfed. We see his Doctor monthly, and she says that his iron levels are fine and isn't concerned enough to suggest supplements, as he's doing fine without them.

Thanks, dobedo :)

I think the issues would probably be vitamins then (NHS recommends supplementing with A, C and D), introduction of gluten and there is also some suggestion that delaying solid food beyond 10 months can cause problems for children learning to chew, but not sure how robust the evidence is for that one.

But surely his Ped would have mentioned something by now if that was a problem?

No idea. If he has a paediatrician maybe they are the best person to ask about how long you can delay weaning?

Are you only offering finger foods or have you tried purees? Mine were 2mo to correct also, couldn't sit in high chairs etc at 6mo, and took a very long time until finger foods registered, but smashed their way through Elllas purees in their bouncy chairs for a while.

He won't touch pureed food either. Anything goes near his mouth and he has a fit. When it's left in front of him, he has no intetest but to look at it.

His Ped says not to worry at the present time as he has a lot to deal with and process but I guess I'm making myself worry incase he keeps refusing and wondered how long before he needs soilds.

My hv and gp kept telling me my ds was fine on bm. Obviously thriving, just refusing food! When he eventually started eating, it was another year before he ate three meals a day. He never had purees really, unless you count weetabix.

I don't know about supplements, but your gp should tell you more.

I don't know what you can do other than just keep offering foods and being encouraging. When your doctor says that his iron is fine, has she actually tested this?

Yeah, he has blood tests taken every 3 months, and because I get badly anaemic when pregnant she checks his iron to make sure he's not effected.

Will he play with a bowl and spoon? If he finds it hard to pick spoons up you could place it in his hand for him?

It might help him get used to the equipment first?

Slightly different situation to you however our DS was premature and when we got to 6 months showed no interest in food at all. What we did was pop him in his high chair when we were eating and gave him some food on his tray.

For weeks and weeks and weeks he didn't even look at it and then last week out the blue he picked up some food and started chewing on it. Each meal is hit or miss however most days he is at least chewing on something and has started to take food from a spoon too.

Initially I found his refusal quite stressful and was endlessly fretting and then I realised that when he was ready he would eat and that as long as he was happy and healthy I should relax and enjoy the journey.

As long as his care team are happy with his progress there is no need to worry. Food should be fun so offer and be prepared to bin loads!