8 month old solids struggle

[CMRS]

Hi all. My daughter is 8 months old. We introduced solids at 6 months and I feel like we are getting nowhere. We have done a mix of purees/mashes and finger foods, though more of the first so far.

When spoon fed she used to first do a funny face but if she like the flavour she would go for the spoon, now as soon as she sees the spoon and I put it to her mouth she gets angry and clamps her mouth shut. I tried singing songs, being silly, giving her toys. I can get her to eat some bits but it’s 45 minutes of her mostly whining and getting angry/throwing things on the floor to eat two tbsp.

Finger foods she plays with, makes a disgusted face at and throws on the floor, but has not once put in her mouth, despite me showing her how to do it in the hope she would copy me. I have been doing these on and off.

I have tried feeding her/giving her foods whilst I eat or on her own with my full attention, doesn’t seem to make a difference. I have tried one food a day or different foods a few times a day, doesn’t seem to make a difference either.

She always liked drinking water from the sippy cup, but now she gets angry when she sees it and I put it to her mouth, though when I eventually get it in she drinks it as she does like it.

I know food is just for fun/discovery until 1 year old but at the same time I know from
then she shouldn’t be drinking formula (she is formula fed) past 1 and I doubt there is a switch at 1 year old from mostly milk to mostly solids.

She is doing great in every other aspect but her food, and I am just getting so frustrated because at least the mashes/purees I know she can eat as I have seen her taste it and swallow it, but it’s like she flatly refuses to do so 99% of the time.

Does anyone have any advice? Tips? Success stories?

Thanks in advance from a first time mom.

Honestly there’s nothing wrong, some kids just take longer. Mine is only now eating consistently at 14 months. I know what it’s like! Mine was / is Breastfed so don’t know about reducing formula, sorry. It’s boring to prep / clear the mess but you just have to keep trying. Don’t worry about the water; mine has never drunk much water. Mine has never let me spoon feed so I stopped trying, now she can feed herself with a spoon / fork, she has mosty learnt this as nursery. I’d recommend Sarah Ockwell Smiths book about gentle eating, it really helped to step back and stop forcing it / worrying about it. I trust my daughter eats what she needs to

Your LO is still very new to eating and a huge amount will change in the next few minutes months. My second is now 16 months and has had some points of being really into food and then off again, on again, etc. I'd say she barely ate any solids at 8 months xx

I wouldn't worry too much at 8 months. I certainly wouldn't try to force it or you may create longer term issues.

One of mine quite liked those baby food pouches and would suck straight from it if we were out and about (eg a yoghurt and fruit one so it is like thick liquid consistency.) They aren't ideal nutritionally once the child is more dependent on solids, but it might be a hybrid approach to get her trying. But just give it to her and let her see you do it - don't push it towards her mouth or wave it in her face.

All of this sounds perfectly normal OP and not really worth getting worried about just yet.

How would you feel about not offering solids for a couple of days? If you don’t want to do that is there someone else who could offer her the food and you go out?

You have my sympathies about the spoon refusal too, my DC2 was a total spoon refuser. My advice would be to not give her things that you have cooked or prepared just for her very often but offer a bit of what you’re having.

Also sitting her on your knee whilst you eat and then blithely ignoring her might result in her reaching out and taking some food.

Blithely ignoring any protests around food and never, ever offering any alternative is the way to go though.

Sorry forgot to ask, does she go to Nursery/CM or do you take her to a playgroup and how does she eat there?

Hi all. Thank you for your replies. 11 months now and still in the same place. Just an angry attitude towards food that I cannot seem to change. All advice from health visitors hasn’t made a difference. Recently went through a week where she consistently ate yoghurt for breakfast and pureed food for dinner (took a few attempts of getting the spoon in her mouth but when I did she ate it all) and from one day to the other she went back to zero and flatly refuses to eat anything. As soon as she sees the food she gets angry and screams and throws herself backward. She doesn’t yet go to nursery, she is starting next month.
I honestly don’t know what else to do :(