8 months old won’t eat solids

[JustAnotherBoyMama]

Ok, it’s not as awful as it sounds but it’s so frustrating and makes me dread meal times.

Our baby has just turned 8 months and meal times are a disaster 8 out of 10 times. He’ll have one spoonful to start, then pierce his lips shut for all future spoons I try and feed him.

I don’t know if this is a coincidence, but he seems to eat more when we’re anywhere but home. In pubs, in restaurants, at friends, etc. I thought maybe he didn’t like the high chair or kitchen, so even changed locations within our house, as well as a different seat, but made no difference.

The strange thing is, sometimes he’ll really go for a meal and have like 8-10 spoonfuls (that’s a lot for our standards), but others will just refuse. If I give him a Melty stick, he tries to eat it, and I sneak a spoonful into his mouth just as he opens, and he’ll happily eat the food then, so it’s not that he doesn’t like the food. I then thought maybe he just hate spoons, but then other times he’ll eat off a spoon, and we even got the spoon attachment for the Ella’s pouches which has been a success in the past. Like I say, it’s so hit and miss.

I have tried to feed him before milk, after milk, before nap, after nap - just to see if it makes a difference to his appetite but there’s no rhyme or reason to his behaviour.

I know you shouldn’t look at other kids but they all love food and eat every single bite at every meal, and I don’t understand what’s wrong with our baby.

We cook loads of healthy delicious homemade meals, but also offered readymade pouches and jars, but it seems to just be catching him at the right mood (which isn’t very frequent).

I try and stay optimistic but it brings me down 3 times a day and the mess after is killer for no reward.

Someone said to reduce milk cause then he’ll have to eat, but that also seems cruel and like I’m forcing him as he’s starving and desperate.

Anyone have any ideas, tips or advice? Or been through something similar?

Thanks so much!

You only need 2 products to get your baby eating lumps.

First one is a tin of Ambrosia semolina. The price of it has shot up in recent years but babies love it - it is smooth, sweet and great from 4 months plus.

So - i'd be really surprised if your baby rejects that.

The next thing you need is a tin (or little pot) of Ambrosia rice pudding. Once you know your baby likes the taste of semolina, any rejection of the rice pudding will be due to the texture.

IME though, the rice pudding is VERY well loved by babies. It's soft rice and the thicker milk just makes it slip down without any chewing needed really. But they get used to that feeling in the mouth.

Don't get a cheaper brand. Some are too liquidy - then your baby will have the liquid slide down the throat and be left with the rice on the tongue.

If the rice pud is going down ok, you know your baby can do lumps. Don't bother with any more bought baby foods. Just use a blender/processor to get the perfect consistancy.

Start with pasta - home made maccy cheese is another good one.

You can start with blended and then process it less and you can start adding veg into it.

Start with the ambrosias though for best results! Good luck!

Ps yes, milk contains a lot of calories. If you still use formula, you can watee it down for some feeds (make it up more diluted) to reduce the calories.

Don't forget finger foods as well - you can give banana, bread, cheese etc just to hold.

Broccoli florets are great to hold too.

Try to just take a bit of what you're eating and process down or keep a bit for baby so you're not making food specially and stressing out.

If you're having broccoli yourself, hand baby a bit and he chucks it away, it doesn't really matter. Whereas if you cooked broccoli specially, that would be annoying if it all was wasted.

I think you might have a good experience with the ambrosias though😉

I would stop spoon feeding completely and just let him feed himself. Look up blw for ideas. Try sitting him on your knee or within reaching distance when you’re eating - he will start eating your food.

Please don’t dillute formula that’s dangerous advice.

How many meals his he having a day?
If you’re feeding him them he should only be having 2 but as he isn’t really eating much I would offer 3. No need to offer snacks until they’re a year old.

Offer food 30 mins to an hour after milk. Food is not just for fun before one but the vast amount if his nutritional needs will come from milk at this age.

For the next couple of weeks I'd give up the battle to ease frustration and dread on yourself. If they clamp shit after one mouthful, pack up and give milk. It won't 'undo' anything.

Cottage cheese was a big success with us as was hummus.

I meant to say you don't have to give 3 meals at 8 months old. Swap back to milk for one of them and build up to 3 meals by Christmas time.

I was baby-led weaning, so for me any solids were a bonus and just part of exploring textures and play. I offered bits of what we ate and eventually they ate enough solids to reduce milk. But I relied on milk until much later on. Both of mine were exploring solids at 8 months but definitely not relying on solids. I never pureed or mashed anything, although I did give pouches to suck on (not poured onto spoon). Maybe your little one is not fully ready for the textures? Perhaps the different environments mean that your DS gets excited by the surroundings when you are out and about and feels more adventurous with everything, from play to food to people. Have you tried to let him feed himself a bit? He might not like "being fed" or not have control of when the food goes in his mouth. It's very messy but in my experience, it works.

As everything, it will pass, they will adapt. Just follow their pace. It will be easier and less stressful. If I were you, I would keep offering but rely on milk and just let him increase his intake. There is some kind of "pouches" to put in soft banana and fruit, to encourage them to suck and mush and bite. I cannot remember the name, it was from a well known brand. We used them for a month or so with different foods and fruits. It has holes so as they bite, the food gets pushed out of the holes.

Mine was really similar. Weaning started great at 6 months then he seemed to refuse lots and it was really hit and miss. Sometimes eating loads sometimes crying and and banging table just at sight of spoon.
We did a mix of baby lead weaning and spoon feeding. And I think he just really wanted to be independent but couldn't so was frustrated at meals.
I know the advise is not to, but I had the TV on during meals and it did help to distract him.
Also I kept repeating ' food before 1 is just for fun' over and over when things got a frantic.
I focused on giving him as healthy meals as possible which was mainly just whatever we were having blended , mashed or finger foods. Normally a mix of all.
Also we would have a cycle of 1 great eating week, next one ok and then suddenly terrible eating week. So it definitely came in phases for us
His a year now and eats well. So please don't panic. Our weaning journey was definitely not a linear progression, it was very up and down.

I did not say dilute ALL the formula. Work out what his needs are according to instructions for age - and anything over and above can very safely be watered down.

In actual fact, babies over 6 months do not need formula or follow on milks. It is a marketing gimmick. Cows milk is fine for most babies over 6 months and additional vitamins can be given seperately.
Milk still does form a very important part of the diet up to 5 years of age.

Breastfed babies will still benefit from breastfeeding right up to 12 months; any continuation after 12 months is not nutritionally necessary though it obviously still provides comfort and pleasure for many babies and mums and can go on as long as needed.

Additional formula for an 8 month (additional over what's recommended amount) can be given in a cup.

Banana was a big hit with DS at that age. He used to love banana with little pots of ambrosia custard....

DC2 didn't really eat until one. He just really liked breast milk. I used to pump for him at the childminders and they were a little more successful at getting him to eat but he just wasn't interested at all.

I wouldn't worry too much as long as he is getting calories and nutrients from that, just keep offering foods and they'll get it eventually

You are wrong about breastmilk it's still nutrition after 12 months and still get the antibodies.

It's nutrition but it's not nutritionally necessary

A baby's own immune system is fully operational by 8 months.

I won't make further comment on this thread; I'm obviously not communicating in a way that people understand on this particular thread. Good luck to OP!

But it is necessary. And so worth to continue breastfeeding. Its helps them so much.

This is true but not the complete picture.

There is a good reason the WHO recommend breast feeding until at least 2 years. Say you’re in a supermarket and you and you’re sneezed on, if you’ve been exposed to that virus before then you will start producing antibodies to it before your child and the antibodies will be passed in your breast milk. Your milk also changes to contain more antibodies when you’re child’s saliva shows the child is ill has been exposed to virons/bacteria. Mum’s who both feed directly and express can often see by the changebun colour of their milk that their child will be ill within the next few days.