8 month old- when will you be interested in solids?

[SoraSky]

Hi all,

FTM to an 8mo baby boy here.

He started weaning at 5months and has gone up and down with interest in solids. But, for the last few weeks his interest is about a 0. He may touch or play but mainly just gets annoyed at the high chair and wants to come to mama or do something else.

I'm worried, as he's not really taking any in atm.

I know food before one is mainly just for fun, but as a FTM, I'm wondering if it's normal? I keep seeing other bubs his age eating plates of food!

How much milk is he having?
Are you giving food before milk?
Are you eating with him?

Do you sit and eat with him so he can watch what you do? Eat the same thing and make yummy noises etc?
Do you do baby led or purée or both?
Fringe frais is always a winner on the house.

@SoraSky what makes you say "food before one is just for fun"? It is actually quite the opposite, you have a window of opportunity to offer new tastes that will be accepted more easily and you are shaping his eating habits.

Only on MN do you read the "fun " statement.

You are not saying WHAT you are giving him and HOW

Hi
@StacySoloman @Horehound @Cormoran,
Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

He is breastfed about every three hours. Usually before naps and then after nap will be time for solids.

My husband and I always eat with him.

We started off with puree store bought in pouches which he enjoyed for a while and then kind of went off. So, have been trying what we are eating- but in suitable servings for him. Sometimes he will take a lick or a bit or like this morning, he ate a bit of home made fried rice- but would only accept it from my fingers! Sometimes a spoon which he issues himself also (tries to use).

Have tried some finger foods of steamed veg as well, but except for a potato finger he mostly just mushes them up.

He has tried a lot of tastes and textures etc- but just doesn't seem too interested at the moment.

Just trying to keep offering and make it as relaxed as possible; despite not always feeling so relaxed inside!

It is great that you eat together as a family.
It is also great in a way that he has gone off pouches. Their content tastes nothing like their real life equivalent, either because their combine improbable combinations (blueberries and spinach) or are heavily based on sweet vegetables.

It is however a moment to embrace and to offer a big variety of vegetables to develop a liking. Soups, be it a pumpkin-carrot, peas-potatoes, minestrone, ...., are a good option since you can either blend them or chop into the smallest pieces, and it is something you could all eat at the same time.

The important thing is to remember not to add salt or stock, since his kidneys are not developed enough yet.
Instead of fried rice, you could try a risotto to which you add a blended cooked zucchini, a piece of butter and real parmiggiano reggiano. Again a risotto is a dish for all.

For vegetables., the taste is nicer when braised instead of steamed, so just put 2 cm of water and let the veggies cook in that little water and their own juice, Blend with liquid that is left.

You should also consider some fruit, apple sauce homemade without sugar is always nice, poached banana is easier than cut as it will be wetter and will slide more easily.
If he doesn't like the spoon, offer a baby fork and stab small piece of his food

My daughter is 8 months and she is just not really interested either. She takes one mouthful of purée or home purées and that's it. Most I have got her to eat was half a scoop of a baby porridge.

When I searched it says it is quite common but if you worried I would ask the HV. There will be a point when breast milk doesn't fill them up enough and am hoping the interest may come then.

For now I am just relaxed about it as she is still gaining weight nicely so she is getting all she needs. How is your son growing?