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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

Weaning nightmare -- help!

13 replies

MegBusset · 10/10/2007 17:27

I am having massive problems trying to get DS, 7.5mo, to accept any solids. When I started at 6mo he was initially interested but has got less keen and now refuses anything except occasionally a bit of fruit or yoghurt. He clamps his jaws shut at the sight of a spoon and has started getting really upset at mealtimes.

He has severe eczema on his hands which means if any food gets on them he goes mad with scratching, so BLW is not really an option. At the moment I am feeding him with scratch mitts on as I can't see any other way to stop him scratching his hands raw, but half the time food soaks through them anyway.

He is teething too which isn't helping and we are both getting v stressed. Any advice please?

OP posts:
choolie · 10/10/2007 18:24

Hi Meg, keep bumping into you on similar issues! DS exactly the same, started well on baby rice and all the home-made purees I lovingly made, then went on an absolute solid strike for around 3 wks. Am slowly getting him back on things now, but am having to mix every new taste with apple or pear first, which he seems to love. He then seems to accept the new things. I also caved in and bought some jars and he has eaten a couple of them (went for HiPP organic, which are going down well).

I started getting really upset, making things 3 times a day, throwing it away, making up something new incase he'd have that, then decided to just go back to trying him at one meal a day (i chose lunchtime) until that got better.

He also loves feeding himself, so as long as he's got a spoon, he's ok with me sneaking the odd mouthful in whilst he splats his on the floor - again, with your LO's excema, not sure if that's an option.

How did you get on with the BM by the way, has he stopped wriggling?? I tried the jingle boobs necklace again on DS after posting you about it to great success this time, he LOVES it! - altho sometimes just wants to play with that and not feed, but sometimes it works.
good luck.
I know it gets a crap press on here, but he loves baby rice and baby rice pudding (again, been using HiPP) and mixing some milk in with things also helps - started off with EBM, but now mix formula into his food - I don't know if this is an option for you with his excema tho? - guessing you prob want the benefits of BM as long as you can?

choolie · 10/10/2007 18:25

oh, and he loves hipp baby rice and baby rice pudding (I know it gets a bad press on here) but mixing things in with the milk seems to help.

Original poster
MegBusset · 10/10/2007 18:34

Hi Choolie I think our DSs must be twins!

Dropping to one meal a day is a good idea, think I will try lunch too as he's generally most receptive then.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegBusset · 10/10/2007 18:37

Also I have ordered one of those necklaces to help with BF, I'm really keen to avoid formula because of his skin but have started expressing to mix with food, it's a faff though...

OP posts:
NineUnlikelyTales · 10/10/2007 18:42

Whenever my DS is teething he almost always refuses everything except fruit - and he is 13m now. A very healthy, average sized boy. At his age, your DS just needs to enjoy the eating experience and try things. Try not to stress and it might help if you didn't think of it as eating 'meals' anyway - he is so young, he is not really getting a lot of nutrition this way yet. Just offer him what you think he might fancy (I appreciate the excema makes certain food difficult) and take the approach that you couldn't care less whether he has it or not.

FWIW I felt just like you when DS was about the same age and had a big crisis (there is a ridiculous thread by me on the subject where I am practically hyperventilating online) Once I calmed down everything was fine. DS now eats most things without a fuss, and if he does make a fuss or doesn't want something I would honestly not be bothered.

NineUnlikelyTales · 10/10/2007 18:45

Just a thought - would he take food from a spoon if you gave him something thick-ish and then just left him to get on with it, even if he played with it? It might take away some of the battle.

And is there any food that he could have that wouldn't upset his excema, like little bite sized sandwiches?

choolie · 10/10/2007 19:40

sorry i didn't mean to put a 2nd message about the baby rice (not trying to start a fight about it with those who don't like it honest!) but thought I'd cut it out of original message, DS was crying just getting out of bath with DH so I was on borrowed time!!!

And, 2nd NUT about the teething, we've got 2 bottom teeth now, and that was what made him lose interest, now I think next lot are on their way, so thanks so much for the vote of confidence, it's good to hear when somebody else has been through it and it does get better (and seems to be a fairly typical occurance) - why can't the HVs tell us this??? - I rang mine asking what to do as was in a panic that LO would up his already too frequent night cafe BF visits, and they just started on at me to get more lumpy food in him , not how to get him to just eat generally!

I know what you mean about the expressing, I started off at 6mo mixing everything with EBM, but it can be so time consuming with the extra sterilising etc. can't it, so you have my sympathy as I do use formula now (again, Hipp, sound like an advert for them don't i???)

Original poster
MegBusset · 10/10/2007 19:44

NUT, thanks for the reassurance -- he is PFB so I am liable to panic when things seem not to be going as they 'should' . He does manage to pick up rice cakes with mitts on (without the mitts he just uses them to rub his hands against ) and enjoys a good suck on them so maybe I need to be thinking more about stuff like toast etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegBusset · 10/10/2007 19:49

X-posted Choolie, I never bother asking the HVs anything as the clinic is madly busy and last time I had to wait ages just to get him weighed. They told us they have cancelled the eight-month check-up even though it's really important (the HV's words) as they just don't have the resources.

Anyway last time I overheard one telling the parents of a 4mo that she was ready for weaning so I think they may be a bit 'traditional' in their views, I can't be bothered having to defend myself over DS still feeding several times a night and ending up in our bed every night...

OP posts:
choolie · 10/10/2007 20:00

I must admit I'm really lucky, I do moan about my HV, but she's coming to the house to do his 8mo check and when I tell her he's still feeding through the night and sleeps half the night with me, she keeps telling me how she was still feeding her eldest daughter every 2 hours through the night at the age of 2!

luckily she didn't push to wean early as really supports the BF, so that's something.

AitchTwoOh · 11/10/2007 20:06

och the poor poppet, that's awful about his hands. i get exczema on my left hand sometimes and it drives me MAD with the itching.
well done for bfing him, meggie, it sounds like totally the best thing. food-wise, do some things irritate his hands more than others?
like i could imagine tomato being vile, aubergines, kiwi fruit, apples or things that are acidic. but what about 'clean' stuff like blocks of cheese? or pasta with oil, do you think oil would irritate him or might it be soothing? hang on... you're goiing vegan as well aren't you? gawd. home-made gnocchi? easy peasy. or potato scones? hhhhhmmmm.

Original poster
MegBusset · 11/10/2007 20:17

Hi Aitch

Luckily we don't have to be vegan any more, as after a month of dairy-free living it was obvious that it wasn't making any difference to his skin.

OP posts:
geekymummy · 13/10/2007 10:55

Meg - hmm must be common as DD is 7 months and was liking solids but would rather chew on the high chair harness these days... the first two teeth have now come through so here's hoping she'll eat more soon...

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