Horrible attempt at weaning - have I gone wrong?

[lavenderandwisteria]

Ds is six months on the 16th June. When the HV came a week ago she noted he’d dropped a centile and recommended weaning him. I didn’t breastfeed despite desperately wanted to and so was very anxious to get this right.

Ugh. Yesterday was broccoli and wasn’t too bad - he didn’t eat much but I expected that. Today was carrot. I thought he’d love it.

It seemed to be going okay until he randomly started crying in his high chair. I tried to pick him up but OH had strapped him in sort of behind one of those giant bibs and I couldn’t get him out and the more I tried the more he got stuck and screamed and screamed. He inhaled my hair at one point and then vomited over us both. I cleaned us up, tried again and he just cried.

I know food is for fun until they’re one but it wasn’t much fun

Any pointers? Worried I’ve put him off veg for life now.

Oh dear! Sounds messy and quite gross, bad luck getting vomited on!

You will not have ruined it, just keep trying and being super cheerful about it all. I would say utter chaos, food on the floor, them not eating anything, food in your hair, food on the walls are all normal.

You could always try baby led weaning instead of mush, that can reduce stress. Read up carefully to see which way you prefer to go. Good luck!

If he's nearly 6 months I wouldn't get too hung up on offering one thing at a time unless there is a family history of allergies. If you are eating a meal give him bits of it either mashed or as finger food. Fingers of toast, bits of banana or mashed banana, pieces of pasta, slices of chicken, etc can all be offered.

Was it puree you offered?

I fairly sure you haven’t traumatised him for life.
You might wait a week and then try again maybe with something different. Sounds like he’s not against the food as such, just got fed up in the chair?
Also sound like you panicked a bit when he cried. Babies cry for a million reasons. Might not have been anything to do with the food! Give it another go, there will be many other occasions when he cries over his dinner I’m sure!

Thank you, I really do appreciate the reassurance!

I probably left it a bit late in the day, he’s often grumpy at this time. God knows what I was thinking

I did do purée although it was quite lumpy purée because of my crap blending! He definitely seemed to like the smoother bits. It’s difficult for him to have what we are having as OH isn’t the healthiest and I’m losing weight - no happy medium!

It will be absolutely fine, keep it fun if you can and just put bits of simple food on his high chair tray for him to mush up, suck on and play with.

DD really liked, buttery toast fingers, strips of omelette and corn on the cob, corn on the cob was hilarious, she'd gnaw on it like a frantic little beast and suck as much flavour out of the sweetcorn as possible. It was also brilliant for taking along as a snack when out and about, just cook and cool and she would happily sit in the shopping trolley gnawing on it cold.

Did she have teeth? Ds does put things in his mouth but not sure if he’d gnaw as such - worth a try though! I love corn on the cob myself though - yum!

Their gums are hard as the teeth are underneath so they can have a good chew at foods even without teeth

Exactly what dementedpixie says, it was great when she was teething too though as played the same role as a teething ring but with the added benefit of being tasty and cold enough to soothe her gums.

He will have forgotten about it already. I just gave mine normal food, none had teeth aged 6 months(2 didn’t have teeth until over a year old!). Pasta and meatballs, toast, fingers of melon pretty much everything apart from shellfish and no honey and keep an eye on the salt.

Agree no teeth needed!

@colouringcrayons

Oh dear! Sounds messy and quite gross, bad luck getting vomited on!

You will not have ruined it, just keep trying and being super cheerful about it all. I would say utter chaos, food on the floor, them not eating anything, food in your hair, food on the walls are all normal.

You could always try baby led weaning instead of mush, that can reduce stress. Read up carefully to see which way you prefer to go. Good luck!

I was going to suggest baby lead weaning. At this age they are not little babies and can show preferences and interest. I'd sit them with a high chair that fixes to the side of the table or goes up to the table so they are properly joining the meal time without the high chair tray.

Have baby suitable things they could pick at on a plate next to yours whilst eating alongside them.
The best way is often by example.

He doesn’t really show an interest though - he did a bit with the broccoli and put his hands in it but didn’t really eat it! Then he ignored the carrot!

Give him a spoon to hold at the same time

Oh dear, when food before one isn't much fun don't get hung up on it, it sounds like you just got in a pickle, got yourself worked up and in turn worked baby up.

I also recommend baby led weaning. Ideally baby would eat what you eat (and it's a great motivation to sort out your own diets!) but you can do it separately if that really won't work. Being able to pick up and explore proper pieces of finger food is a lot more of an exciting and realistic experience of food for them than purées.

@lavenderandwisteria they don't really eat much at all when they first start, they don't associate it with filling up their bellies and tasting nice, it's new and unknown. They get there pretty quick though once they start being introduced to new tastes and textures.

Just had a skim through some old photos, DD is 7 now so memory is fading on what she liked and based on the mess, she really enjoyed pasta in tomato sauce and yoghurt in squeeze pouches.

By the sounds of it you’re on day 2?!
Sounds like you’re expecting far too much... don’t stress! It’ll all come together you’re both getting the hang of it 😊

She’s lovely half

He has a spoon but he just throws it down

I probably am expecting too much. It just really upset me when I didn’t breastfeed so I am very anxious to get this right.

Weaning can feel like such a big step can’t it? As PPs have said it’s only been two days, plenty of time to figure things out. I usually offered my baby food between the morning & midday naps when she wasn’t tired and about an hour after she’d had milk (so she wasn’t too full).
If you’re on Instagram, I’d really recommend following Solid Starts, they post loads of useful information, videos & tutorials about introducing foods to babies. They also have a free database of foods on their website. Genuinely found this an amazing resource, especially the videos and Instagram stories. It is an American org but geared to quite a global audience I think.

Thanks so much. I just don’t want to get it wrong again

I'm no HV but if he's dropped a centile then surely more milk is more helpful than broccoli? I don't understand our obsession with weaning! I don't mean you OP, I would keep prioritising milk with food as the extra learning, all the nutrition is there, try not to stress about food. My eldest took to it like a duck to water at 6 months, my youngest barely ate a morsel and only had more food than milk by the time he was around 10 months. They're both healthy older children now!!

It’s difficult because he’s unable to take large amounts of milk. It’s only very recently he’s started to be able to manage 4oz feeds.

He’s really healthy - he’s pink and wriggly and meeting all his milestones, just a bit on the small side. I’ve put a picture on.

DS is 6 months on the 18th, he's 3rd child and they have all been different to wean.
Don't stress, chill and try enjoy the journey...
DS1 was weaned using jars long time ago
DD was baby led all the way!
DS2 I'm doing both, he seems to love baby cereal and I give him fruit, veg and loaded spoons he just explores!
I offered him roasted courgette and he was literally heaving, he put it close to his mouth and tried to lick it and nearly vomited! He got annoyed with himself and screamed!
Just think tomorrow is a new day start again.
Follow some Instagram for weaning ideas and tips..
good luck

Awe he's lovely, as long as he's doing well mum instinct is best.
Dd was on the second centile until a year old, some babies are just small, some are big theyr all different. I wouldn't get hung up on it ur doing ur best!

Agree with other posters just put some cucumber/ sliced banana ect on his tray and let him explore it as you eat your food.

It doesnt have to be a full meal, nor puree, and the fact he was bottle fed means naff all - you didn't fail at all.

Dont be so hard on yourself & if you want to leave it another day or two / or a week or two before trying again, that's ok too!

I would also recommend a piece of kitchen towel or a muslin cloth over bibs, they can be bulky and distracting - or given the time of year just strip his top/vest off.

Up to you of course but I've lost many nice outfits to tomato sauce stains!

You got this - also, he looks adoreable