Weaning

[katpotat]

Hi, after a some advice, we started weaning our wee one 4 weeks ago, she still clamps he mouth shut at the sight of a spoon! Have wasted so much lovingly prepared food. Trying finger foods too with not much success she is now 7 months and I am staring to worry. Still breastfeeding, and she has started waking more in the night too. Any ideas??

Kat, can you talk us through what mealtimes are like? Do you eat with her? What kind of foods have you tried? Is she still breastfeeding as much as before? Some babies do take a while to get the hang of it, and she'll be ok on milk for a while yet, so try to relax.

[blunt suggestions follow, do not be offended ]

give in and stop stressing
sit down and eat your lunch at the table with her
leave bits of whatever you're having on her highchair tray
let her get on with it, no coaxing, no spoon aeroplanes, just put things back in reach if she's grabbing for them
when you have finished have a cup of tea to give her a chance to finish
then mop up and take away anything uneaten without comment

bf on demand will fulfil all of her nutritional needs till almost a year so don't let anyone badger you re iron, protein, weight gain etc

[blunt advice ends ]

MrsBadger speaks wisely, Kat...

Hi No offence taken, you are right...
I think I am stressing too much about this, reminding me how hard BF was at the start, it took 6 weeks to get going. But since started weaning baby been VERY constipated too! Trying to get water into her has been hard. I was worried about the iron etc
I will start sitting down with her at meal times and doctor suggested one meal a day again.......she is still breastfeeding as much, but was down to one feed in the night, has started waking 3 to 4 times again.
Need to be patient I think....roll on lunch tomorrow

Kat, make sure lunch tomorrow is something you really like, so that you'll look forward to it. You can try picnicking together on the floor (you may notice that this is my stock answer to weaning questions, but it is so much fun) - put food within her reach, perhaps share from the same plate, and treat it as play. Have a cup of water for yourself, and let her see you enjoy drinking it - mine always wants to drink from my cup! Talk to her about the food, what colour it is, what is tastes like, maybe where it comes from, anything to have sociable meal chat. Have a leisurely time, cup of tea at the end as MrsB says and just enjoy being ladies who lunch. Even if she doesn't eat anything, you'll be showing her that mealtimes are fun, social experiences, and that's part of weaning too.

Tried wee one with some broccoli, carrot and parsnip cut into fingers, she tried the broccoli and carrot!....so its a start! also tried rice cake to suck on, that went down quite well. Think she is getting another tooth though!!

Going a wee bit better, until my mother stormed in and took over, back to square one!

What did she do, kat?

Oh, you know...she took the spoon and tried to feed her, wee one was doing okay by herself and that was it, she wouldn't eat anymore. Did try as you suggested and we both ate the same this tea time and she ate loads....my mother wasn't about though...shouldn't moan really, she has been a big help, but you know I am learning just as much as wee one is at all this.

just to second (or third?) what was said above: our ds1 took till 7 and a half months to stop spitting everything out again.
He was fine (we were worried sick).
He now (2.8) eats EVERYTHING (except apple crumble and boiled potatoes) so didn't mean he was going to be picky long term.
Our ds was probably eating too much milk at night to be hungry enough in the day to try new things (but not saying your lo is the same).
what did your mum do?

Yes, sometimes mothers are a bit over helpful... (trying to store lessons away in own head). Glad she enjoyed a social meal with you - the other bonus is that I find myself eating much better, as I'm very conscious of what she eats. Onwards and upwards, kat!