help please! getting in a bit of a tizz re: the whole weaning thing

[lazyemma]

Hello there. My daughter is now 7 months old, and has recently decided that she doesn't like anything savoury. I bought an Annabel Karmel book and lovingly prepared all sorts of tempting mushes, but she takes a couple of mouthfuls and then spends the rest of the meal perfecting her spoon-dodging technique. She loves fruit and creamy sweet things but that's it.

I don't want to do the disguising vegetables in fruit thing, because a) that sounds rank (someone suggested putting cauliflower in steamed pear and I nearly did a vom) and b) I know she's only 7 months old, and she's getting most of her nutrients from formula just now, so I'm really trying not to worry. But it's difficult, and I'm wondering what to do to make food a bit more interesting for her.

I did think of more of a baby-led weaning approach - do you think this would be a good idea in our case? I think she might enjoy food more if she has the freedom to explore it herself - I'm beginning to suspect that she just doesn't really like being fed.

Sounds exactly like my daughter - used to love all my savoury sruff then went off it...now doing BLW and she is far more interested! I can now sit her in her high chair and she will quite happily try things....even manage to get a few spoons of savoury stuff in as well...give it a try.

Thanks karen - that's reassuring. What sort of finger foods do you offer, and what did she like best to start with?

I started off with fingers of toast and she loved it - still does. I give her things like

Cheese on toast
French toast
Fingers of peppers (cold from the fridge which she likes as I think its nice on her gums)
Fingers of apple/pear
Pasta shapes
Biscotti's
Organix carrot sticks (crisp like puffs)
Sticks of carrot

Am going to make pizza this weekend and try her on some of that.

Yesterday I put the savoury stuff I had made on her tray in the high chair and she stuck her hands in it but ate it!! Very messy but at least she was eating it.

On a Sunday she sits with us and has a roast dinner. Strips of chicken, roast potatoes etc. I have really just started slicing things and letting her try. It's quite messy as opposed to feeding them from a spoon but she clearly loves it and its funny to watch her try all the new tastes.

oh that's brilliant! You're really inspiring me to get started. How old is your wee girl? do you reckon must of the things you've listed would be suitable for a 7 month old?

My dd is 9 months today. She is on soya formula as did have bad excema so I had to be extra careful about introducung stuff. I have kept a food diary and as yet (touch wood) nothing that I have given her has had a negative impact.

I started giving her finger foods when she got to 6 months. Toast is a good one to try. Try not to worry if she gags as this is common and as long as you are keeping a close eye on her she will be fine. I started in the morning (at breakfast time) as she is always well refreshed and raring to go. She liked sitting at the table with us and I think she felt like she was joining in with us.

Already she is a better eater than my 8 year old!!

Has your daughter tried any finger foods yet?

yes, I give her unpeeled orange segments and she has worked out how to hold them to her mouth and suck out all the orange juice, which is well cute. But she's not actually having to chew and swallow much with those. I have given her a portion of banana and she did gag and cough a lot, but some seemed to go down, and she didn't seem unduly concerned. And some cooked carrot when we were out for lunch once, which she seemed to suck at, but presumably she'd work it out.

Sounds likes she is already getting the hang of it! If you try her on toast, tear off tiny bits for her and pop them in her mouth. That is what I do with my daughter. I giver a bit to hold and suck and I pop bits in for her...

excellent advice, thanks. ANother thing - babies and salt. I know salt is a no-no. But some things that are apparently OK to eat, like cheese for example, have quite a high natural salt content. So what about giving her foods that we eat? I love cooking and make most things from scratch, and pretty much everything has some salt in it. Not loads, but you need seasoning in cooking. So does that mean I'll have to try to do her a portion before putting any seasoning in?

I have started leaving salt out when I am cooking and season after. I just find it easier to do it that way. Or sometimes just take out a portion before you season. Whatever you prefer. I don't think you are meant to use herbs before 6 months but after that it is ok.

My dds (both of them) skipped the stage inbetween initial purees to full on finger foods and normal meals.

Neither of them like to be fed and rathered to suck on a bit of toast themselves. As soon as they were able i let them feed themselves, i had a spoon and they had a spoon. My spoon collected the drips and helped a little and they did the rest.

With regards to salt, i think a little seasoning is acceptable. Its not like your letting her have crisps or something that is bursting with salt.

My best advice, is not to let yourself get too hung up on the food issues. If you do, like i did at first, meal times will become strssful events for you and lo. It will lead to battles at the dinner table.

I mean, of course encourage the healthy stuff, but it wont hurt every now and again if you give her something she shouldnt really have.
You cant do everything by the book imo. A little discretion and flippancy IS allowed.

My dd skipped purees, did not like mush at all. Went onto well cooked brocoli which she loved and cauli and asparagus. I think some babies just like to have a go themselves. Once I got over the inital stress of her not eating the tons of purees I had prepared I let her take the lead. With my dd it took until nearly 8/9 months before she was really eating anything. Now shes 13 months and will pretty much try anything. I personally prepare food without seasoning and add later if needed.Oh roast chicken was always a winner, she pulled of strips and devoured them.
Good luck.

thanks so much ladies - it's such a relief to read your experiences. I know it doesn't matter if she won't eat loads just now, but it's good to have that confirmed.