Help, struggling with 10mo & weaning

[Firsttimemummie]

Hiya mummas,
so I started the weaning journey a tad late ( from 6 months only had the odd puree) I was scared to wean because of choking, I have recently started adding finger foods and pasta meals and other varieties. I’m getting a bit lost because at most times he won’t even try the food I’m offering or maybe a spoon or two full if I’m lucky, I offer food when he’s hungry and he still isn’t interested. Am I right to give him his bottle of milk if he hasn’t eaten the food? It’s getting my down and frustrated because I feel like this is my fault, maybe if I did it properly from 6 months he’ll be eating like a champ? Feels like I’m the only one struggling with this, especially when you see other babies his age eating no problem TIA

Hi OP! Please don't beat yourself up about it, you could have started at 6 months and still found your LO isn't that interested in food.
how is your LO with milk, always taking all bottles?

Are you eating at the same time too? This could really help by modelling eating.
I would speak to your health visitor if you have any concerns. Still offer milk after a meal if LO hasn't ate much and only start dropping formula once they're having enough food!

I can recommend SR_Nutrition on Instagram. This is her specialty and she helped Joe Wicks and Stacey Solomon with weaning

@LifesABeachx hiya, thanks for your comment, yeah maybe he would’ve been just the same, I had ppd from six weeks pp but I’m all good now but I still worry about things and worry if I’m failing at things but I try not to listen to my demons anymore! Yeah I eat with him and he downs his milk, I spoke to a health visitor and said try dropping some milk as he is drinking a lot of milk for his age but I’m still not getting anywhere. Just sucks when you’re cooking thinking they’ll love this to find they won’t even touch it 😩

@Crispynoodle thank you! I’ll have a look

I'm so sorry that you've been so unwell, are you getting any help and support @Firsttimemummie?

Fear of choking can be worrying but there are some things you can do. I would have a read on the difference between Choking and Gagging, watch this video on how to help a baby that is choking and maybe book onto a local Paediatric First Aid Course?

Your HV might have a point over the amount of formula. You don't say how much he's having but the recommended amount between 10 and 12 months is 13floz or 450 mls. If he's having more than that I'd start by cutting out one of his bottles today then drop another next week.

@PolaroidPrincess , thank you I’m so much better now thank you! I’m no longer on any medication which is great, I’ll look into that but I’m sure I’m not the only one that fears the choking, scary stuff! Formula wise he’s on 7oz x3 throughout the day but he was going over because he was waking up through the night for and extra two feeds but that’s actually getting better now, I’ll just keep offering foods, we should hopefully get somewhere eventually 😅 I’ll just keep cooking my baby recipes 😂

So glad that you are recovering. And you're definitely not the only one to worry about choking but it is rare abc you can prepare in case it ever happens

Sorry pressed post too soon. If he's having a bottle in the morning, I'd offer breakfast tomorrow along with a cup of formula.

If he doesn't eat it just assume he's not hungry and do something else.

He'll soon get used to not relying on the milk so much.

Once he's 12 months you can try some gentle night weaning

@PolaroidPrincess thank you 😊, breakfast wise he has his cow&milk porridge and a beaker of water (water is offered with every meal) once he refuses food we go down from the table and try a bit later or we have a bottle when it’s nap time and that seems to work, he actually did so much better yesterday, he had a few bites every meal time, i don’t want to curse it but i think it’s gradually getting better! He even ate some puree when we were in a restaurant and he’d refuse to eat if we’re out! I didn’t think of milk in a cup! I’m going to have to start doing that so he changes to sippy cups

Is he having porridge every morning? I'd try a bit of variety, even if it's only adding things to the porridge like chopped banana or giving some fruit on the side as a finger food.

You could also try something like these porridge fingers, smooth nut butter on white toast, mashed avocado on toast with some halved cherry tomatoes on the side, omelette fingers or these breakfast cups.

If he doesn't eat I would bother offering something else. Babies and Toddlers are fantastic as self regulation with food.

As long as you're providing 3 meals a day and one or two snacks along with how 13.5 Floz of formula, he'll be fine. If he doesn't eat one meal or one snack, it's no worry at all. Try to look on what he eats over a week rather than worrying over a single meal