Nearly 8mth old prefers shop-bought jars over my loving creations - teething?, end of tummy of bug? or....

[fettle]

Hi

My nearly 8 mth DS has always loved his solids since I started him slowly at around 5 months (was breast-feeding every 2 hours day and night, so something had to give!).

Anyway, he had a tummy bug last week and up until 2 days ago was still being sick whenever he gagged and had very runny nappies still, but seemed well in himself. He seems totally uninterested in any food I've cooked (and well pureed) myself, but does eat shop-bought jars (all organic obviously!).

His top 2 teeth are breaking through and his gums are bruised and bleeding, so am basically wondering if anyone has had similar whether this is just a phase with his eating brought on due to recovering from a tummy bug, he may prefer very bland food, his teeth are really sore and therefore only wants really smooth purees, or whether I should be offended that my offerings are not as tasty as Organix's finest!

He's still breast-feeding every 4hours lots (it's starting to kill me with the night wakings, but you can hear his stomach rumbling, so he is hungry and he's only put on an oz int he past 5 weeks.

Outside of this, he's perfectly happy, alert and apart from his teeth seems normal, so I just want reassurance that this is phase that will pass sooner, rather than later!

Thank you (and sorry for the epic, not very good at being precise!).

My 8 month old DS has just started to get fussy as well - refusing all sorts for the first time. I wouldn't be too offended that your lovingly cooked fare is being refused! I had to mix brocolli with strawberry fromaga frais the other day

It sounds like a mixture of tummy bug/teething. I would take him to the doctors if it doesn't sort itself out fairly soon though, especially as he has had a bad tum.

Will be interested to see what advice you get here!

My DS did the same at nearly 8 months. We were going on hols to Egypt and as I was concerned at not being able to provide suitable food for him there I introduced him to a jar or two to ensure he would not reject them entirely when offered them on hols. He then refused my fabulous purees every time and only wanted the jars. I spent hours and hours pureeing bloody butternut squash and he wouldn't touch it.

I've been through the same and in the end decided to quit trying to make meals for DS and give him jars. After awhile I reintroduced my cooked fare and he now prefers that to jars?! I did notice that my food need to have loads of sauce or he wont touch it.

Hi Fettle, I will watch this with interest! I am having a similar experience to yourself at the moment. DD nearly 8 months, she was doing great with all my lovingly prepared mashes and purees up until about a month ago. She caught a horrible gastrobug and was just on milk and water for about 6 days, then a week after that her first tooth popped up! her affection for food has never been the same. She will only eat the plum baby cartons or finger foods but will only have one or two spoonfuls of anything I have made before turning her head away and blowing a raspberry to spit it out. Also the quantities that she is eating is nowhere near what she used to (resulting in at least one night feed!!) She just doesn't seem as interested in food as she used to.

feel better that others have gone through similar phases - must be something in the age he is at on top of everything else!

I'll stick with the jars if that is what he wants for the time being - but they are so expensive! He used to be such a good eater, with salmon being his favourite! I suppose if he used to be, it will come back with perserverence, but I wont' push it!

Wasabipeanut - my 4 yr old DD still mix and matches her food. Finishing her main course after her pudding etc now - I think it is because I gave her such bizarre combinations when weaning her that she thinks it is normal!!!