8mo on hunger strike!

[missbumpy]

Well, not strictly speaking on hunger strike as she's still BFing and nibbling on the odd piece of finger food. She's just refusing anything I try to feed her on a spoon. I've hardly got any food into her for days.

I'd say she's generally not a great eater. I've got friends with younger babies who eat far more than DD. Should I be worried? Should I call HV? Or is it normal? I don't want to make a big deal out of it in case it creates food 'issues'. But then I don't want her to starve!

aw he is a cutie

He's lovely!

I'm not a first time mum but DD2 has had lots of problems that have got in the way of her weight gain. She had an imperforate anus which meant she had a colostomy bag for the first six months of her life, she also had heart surgery at 9 weeks old (but after that could feed much better!). Since the reversal, we've just been told to give her the three F's (Fruit, Fibre and Fluids) and I'm really struggling to make sure she's getting the right balance. She's effectively 'normal' now but is underweight but then she's a dinky one too (17lbs at 9 months).

She takes squash (weak of course) and even moreso since she figured out how to hold the bottle herself. I've been trying to get her to use a beaker since she was about 4 months but she hasn't taken to any of them yet - I'll keep persevering!

Hiya, I've just come across this thread and could have written the original post myself! My DS is 8 months tomorrow and has been on hunger strike for almost 2 weeks now. Same as others have said, he is refusing anything from a spoon (although for some weird reason will take it off my finger as discovered tonight!) but will still take finger foods OKish. I have tried not to get stressed but TBH I am starting to worry a bit as he was weighed this week and hasn't even put on an ounce in 4 weeks (he has always put on 1lb ish every month) and his poo was back being runny. He is eating nibbles here and there but nothing substantial. I was making sure he got plenty milk (I'm BFing him) but my HV said to cut the milk feeds to get him more into milk- what do others reckon? I was told to not feed him milk after his food meals, only upon rising, at bedtime and mid AM & mid PM. HV also said it could be an independence thing, may also be teething as he's still not got any. It's just difficult when you are out with a whole load of other mums whose babies arte wolfing down grand buffets while my DS is ah-booooooooing at the spoon!

'cut the milk feeds to get him more into milk' - is that a typo? do you mean cut the milk feeds to get him more into solids? - I don't like the prescriptive sound of the advice you are getting (BF only at certain times etc). I would BF whenever LO seems to be hungry at 8 months - especially if they are not that keen on solids - milk is the primary source of food for them until 1 year don't forget. Lots of babies are not that interested in solids at 8 months - don't stress!

Ooops yes OMY that's a typo, I meant cut the milk feeds to get more solids in him! I agree with you, I wasn't sure how to take that advice as I know that breastmilk is best, but I worried about his poor intake of proteins etc. Although saying that, yesterday I fed him (or tried to) feed him his lunch and he only had a tiny bit, then didn't offer anything until teatime and he ate far better than he had in ages! Then this morn I made him scrambled egg (never had that before) and he ate most of it! He now seems to eat or not eat depending on his mood and whether he fancies it really, I'm not stressing now and just taking to putting lots of diff finger foods on his tray and he can help himself. This seems to work as he had roast chicken and veg tonight off my plate.

Sounds like you have it sorted. Breastmilk has plenty of protein by the way - as well as every vitamin and mineral your baby needs!