Baby is hysterical when trying to wean…

[Poppybloom55]

Hey Mamas

I’m looking for advice. My little one is 6 months and we started weaning 3 days ago. I’m not totally confident in BLW so to begin with, I steamed and mashed some veg. Mostly carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnip, peas etc. and then have stored them in the little pots ready to try a new one each day.

I wanted to start with a lunch time feed as it’s the quietest part of the day for us and I’ve been waiting about 1.5 hours after my baby has his bottle to then try food.

The 3 times we’ve tried now, it’s gone exactly the same. The moment the spoon touches his mouth, he gets hysterical and we end up having to stop. I have let him pick the spoon up to feed himself and he will bring it straight to his mouth but again breaks out in tears and we have to get him out of the chair.

He has a smaller chair with a tray table that he often sits on so I tried day 3 with him sat on that instead of a high chair but we had the same reaction.

It’s taken about 30 minutes to settle him from hysterical crying each time so I’m wondering if we should break for a few days or maybe even longer as perhaps he’s not ready?

He isn’t able to hold his sitting position on his own on the floor but with support or s chair, he can hold his core well. He has great coordination with getting things into his mouth and we’ve waited till 6 months so thought on this basis he was ready.

The last thing I want to do is overdo it and him develop a negative association to the high chair and feeding routine whereby he’s refusing before we’ve even started.

We’ve been to the doctors a few times over the last month because he’s not pooing. They prescribed Laxido to give him daily and told me once we start weaning it should iron itself out. I’m finding it super frustrating because he hates drinking the Laxido, it’s a daily battle. I don’t massively feel comfortable that he has to take laxatives daily but it’s what the doctor has recommended. He takes about 7 days before it works and he finally goes and when he does go, it’s completely explosive rather than a constipated poo so I’m not really sure what’s going on there and had hoped we’d get somewhere with weaning so feeling a bit deflated right now!

I'm not sure about the constipation but for the weaning I'd take a big step back. Maybe try having the baby at the table when you're eating and just letting them share and investigate food- safely of course. I think this stage is more about introducing different tastes and textures and letting the baby hold the food themselves it will automatically be brought to the mouth. Then gradually introduce the spoon and more runny things or if ur ok wit mess let the baby put their hands into the food and examine it that way. Maybe try some fruity things to help with the constipation. Just my thoughts

It's more about exploring than getting food in!

I'd stop now and try again in a week or two, maybe with him sitting on your lap instead of in the high chair? Also - just let him play with the food and spoon and squish it with this hands - it doesn't have to go in his mouth. Let him become comfortable with the concept of food before trying to put it in his mouth.

On the constipation - I wonder if it's time to go back to the GP? Doesn't sound like the Laxido is a great solution atm

And let him try the food right after the bottle - he should be getting most of his nutritive needs meet with milk still at this age, so do that and then let the food be a fun thing to play with while you eat

my daughter wouldn't eat any solids until around 10 months - it's only with hindsight I realise it's just how she was. Even now at 26 you couldn't force her to eat if she didn't want to. You could wean at 4 months back then. When my ds came along 5 years later it was 6 months age and no way would he have lasted till then - at 4 months he was desperate for food! So I wouldn't worry and just periodically offer food in a quiet non stressful way

Take a step back and try again in a few days. Not every baby is ready at 6 months.

The best advice I got with weaning was to start with breakfast as you're always at home. You can also give a cereal with their milk so it's quite a similar taste.

Just stop for a few weeks there’s no urgency

Yes similar @Ravageur !! I remember my mother telling me she should be eating proper food at around 7 mths but she wouldn't! OP hope you're not too stressed try not to worry and let the baby take the lead you will never get him eating if he's not a happy baby

I agree with pps to leave it for a bit before trying again. Perhaps also try solids 45 mins to an hour after a milk feed so baby is not getting tired when trying solids. Also agree with a pp that another doctor visit might be good as the constipation needs to be sorted out.

Does he show interest when you are eating? Maybe sit together at lunch time and have some basics on your own plate - strips of chicken, some scrambled egg, toast fingers, and eat them and see what reaction he has - if he looks interested, let him take some things from your plate.

Cereal with milk first - it's rather soon to try different tastes. Back in the day Farleys rusks were the perfect choice when weaning (at 4 months). But now it's all healthy food!

Is baby rice no longer a thing? Mine all had that to start with, off a spoon

Its just got zero nutritional value. Literally a pointless food product. I know they get barely any food in in those early months but surely better to try with actual food.

I don't think it was done for the nutritional value, more getting used to a thicker texture with a bland taste baby wouldn't object to.

Sorry to jump on this thread as I can see it’s a few years old. I was just wondering if you got to the bottom of fhe constipation issue. My 7 month old is the same, 7 days between bowel movements and needing laxido to go (although give it every 3 days rather than daily else it’s literally like water), uncomfortable between them.

Did the eating improve?

Thank you!

@docmamma you might need to try an @ to see if the OP will come back.

Just wondering though if CMPA has been ruled out as that can cause constipation and diarrhoea?

Thank you! Interestingly my LO is CMPA and is already on the hypoallergenic formula. This strange bowel movement pattern began about 3 months into being on the hypoallergenic formula (she did have constipation before going on this).

@Poppybloom55
Sorry to jump on this thread as I can see it’s a few years old. I was just wondering if you got to the bottom of fhe constipation issue. My 7 month old is the same, 7 days between bowel movements and needing laxido to go (although give it every 3 days rather than daily else it’s literally like water), uncomfortable between them.
Did the eating improve?
Thank you!