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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

8 month old not eating much solids

9 replies

Cosmicnightmare · 20/01/2023 19:54

Hi, my 8 month Ds was doing really well on solids. He was having a full Weetabix in the morning with milk and fruit and a home made tea with finger foods. I started to introduce lunch a couple of weeks ago. He's not a fan of any lunch I give him. He nibbles on toast but not much is actually eaten. I've tried scrambled eggs, soft pancakes but it's a no. He seems to have regressed a bit last 2 weeks. Not sure if hes just getting picky but he won't eat my home made food. I've been making him home made dinners and he takes one bite and after that closes mouth and moves his head away while crying. He's started to do this with his breakfast as well wether it's porridge, Weetabix, shredded wheat etc. I give finger food but again he only touches it if it's fruit or cucumber. He's eating snacky finger foods fine (like the melty sticks). Today I made him jacket potato without the skin and tuna and cheese thinned out with a little milk and no salt butter for his tea. But he took 2 spoons then wouldn't eat anymore. When I got a jar out of the cupboard a heinz one he ate it all so he's hungry same with fruit puree eats it all. Is this just a phase? I used to love having mealtimes together but now it just seems stressful and takes a whole hour like he doesn't like my cooking. Any advice how to make it better. Should I just give him jars and melty sticks as he eats it. Also should I stop trying with lunch and just give breakfast, tea and his milk feeds. Also any recipes that may help aswell Thanks. X

OP posts:
Hiddenvoice · 20/01/2023 20:01

Hi my 9 month old dd went through a phase of this. She has no teeth but has been teething for a while so puréed hard were easier to swallow than trying mashed foods and finger foods.
I’ve since changed the meal times and left different textures of food on her plate tk allow her to feed herself. That way there is a mix of puree, finger foods and a slightly more solid texture. She now is happy with me feeding her again but also likes just helping herself and mixing between the lot. I’ve also got different flavour profiles so have added some fruit or custard to her plate, just a small amount but she likes the mix of sweet and savoury.
How much milk is your baby having? I found when I introduced a third meal we ended up dropping some milk as it was too much.

Hiddenvoice · 20/01/2023 20:01

Meant puréed jars of food rather than hard 🤦‍♀️

Cosmicnightmare · 20/01/2023 20:20

He has 7oz 3 times a day and 5oz at night if he's hungry. He has the 7 month + jars and has 2 teeth although I think he is getting more his cheeks have been red for the last few days. Thanks I'll try to mix it up with the sweet and savoury.

OP posts:
Hiddenvoice · 20/01/2023 22:26

I do think this is a little phase they go through, plus he might be hitting the 8 month regression. My niece has started refusing foods too and my nephew will only eat flavours and tastes he likes.
It’s exhausting but you’re doing a good job of trying him with different things. I’ve just started leaving the foods out for my dd to allow her to play with it. I play music when shes eating to try make it a nice light feeling atmosphere

Cormoran · 21/01/2023 00:59

You are looking at the issue from the wrong angle @Cosmicnightmare . It isn't so much about finger vs puree but all about processed food vs homemade food.
You can't compete against baby junk food (the melty stick are Cheetos for babies) or the sweetness and taste of processed jars. The high heat and pressure make baby ready food taste completely different than their real food equivalent. Taste it and you will soon understand why your baby is refusing anything but highly palatable processed food.
By offering the alternatives he wants you are unknowingly making things worse. As long as there are these processed foods, the taste preference will go towards those. Stop them for a week. Make simple homemade dishes and persevere .

PritiPatelsMaker · 22/01/2023 08:33

Personally I'd stop the jars and processed snacks. He's getting the message that if he refuses to eat, something processed will appear.

It really doesn't matter if he eats much right now or not. Some babies just don't get that solids fill them up for a while.

Just keep offering normal family food and remember that it's your job to provide the food but it's entirely up to him if he eats it or not. And if he doesn't, you can just assume that he's not hungry Wink

Cosmicnightmare · 25/01/2023 17:10

Just an update Ds is allot better with his solids now. I made him home made cottage pie and he ate the lot. He's even picking up toast and nibbling on it. Must have just been a phase. He's eaten a homemade dinner for the last 3 days so I am very proud of him. He's even back eating breakfast.

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 25/01/2023 20:41

That's good news Cosmic.

Cormoran · 26/01/2023 04:52

Great update!

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