Crying when weaning

[Charbar123]

Help.. My 6.5mo was happily eating solids from 5.5months but now cries everytime I try to feed him. I don't know what to do!

He may have developed a negative association with being fed with a spoon. For example, if the spoon has been loaded up with too much food or put too far into his mouth. And if you like to scrape the food that ends up around his mouth at meal times, he’s probably learnt to dislike and refuse it. Use a soft-tipped shallow spoon. Sit directly opposite him, not overloading the spoon with food, presenting the spoon to just in front of his lips giving him the opportunity to lean forward slightly, open his mouth and accept it. Or fry finger foods.

I definitely try letting him self feed. I never spoon fed any of my children. Not knocking it but it was much easier to sit with them and let them feed themselves with finger foods. Food is for fun before you're one is correct. Yes it's messy but we cooked healthy stuff for ourselves and put a dollop on the high chair tray. My DS loved it so much I couldn't even feed him porridge. He would scoop it from the bowl with his hands!

Have a go.

My DD would go absolutely bonkers if we ever went near her with a spoon but would happily pick up food and shove it in her mouth.

You only need to offer solids once a day at this age so I'd just offer something they can eat themselves like porridge fingers, a banana, a hard boiled egg quarter etc.

There are some good suggestions for finger foods in page 31 of this guide

Thank you everyone. I've tried a mixture of feeding himself/loading a spoon for him and he does seem more settled. I think he would just much prefer to eat sweet things which in the long run is not ideal but we can cross that path later 😊