Baby won't eat...

[hadababy]

Hi,

A newbie to this forum (hello!)...and I'm sure this has been posted a gazillion times...but I have a DD who won't eat!

She's nearly 7 months old and is exclusively breastfed. She has been sitting unaided since she was 5.5 months. I started her on solids when she got to 6 months - initially tried baby rice mixed with expressed milk but that was rejected. Have since tried all sorts of fruit and vegetables but the vast majority get given to the dog (who is delighted!). The only thing she has willingly opened her mouth for repeatedly is pear (but even this is not failsafe - it will work sometimes but not others!).

I am not keen on pushing her to eat as I don't want it to become an issue, but at the same time I'm concerned that she's not eating! She has started to wake earlier in the mornings (she was sleeping till 7am but is now waking closer to 6 - am dreading tomorrow with the clocks going back!).

Has anyone any suggestions or is it just a matter of perservering and hoping she will eat eventually.

Thanks in advance!

Are you spoonfeeding her? Some babies, particularly when weaned at 6months, prefer to feed themselves straight away. DD was one, only ate finger foods. Maybe it might be a better idea to try those. Try www.babyledweaning.com for ideas of what to offer.

Hello

So, you do know when they start out they only eat about a teaspoon at a time don't you? Only I've seen lots of parents with whopping great bowls of stuff worrying because most of it gets spilled or rejected rather than feeling chuffed because their little one ate a bit?

Personally I think you may have put her off with the baby rice it's bloody horrible. Try finger foods instead - toast, ricecakes, etc. She may just want to do it herself - DD refused to be fed but would happily hand feed herself spag bol at 7 months (precocious little madam that she is!)

Thank you both! I am spoonfeeding but have also given bits of banana in her hand which seems to go everywhere BUT her mouth!! I will have a look at that site - babyled weaning might just be the way to go! I look forward to the mess!!

My daughter also hated being fed. Soft fruit was what she liked best at first, or breadsticks and toast. If you have frozen cubes of puree, you can always spread it on toast or let her dip bread in it.

Thanks - would she be able for toast at this stage? It hadn't even occurred to me that she might be able to eat it! I tried her with some peach earlier and she mushed most of it in her hair, on her dress and dropped loads on the floor (dog happy yet again!)...but I'm pretty sure she managed to eat some too. Seems like it might be the way to go. Thanks for all your help.

Toast is fine

Toast was really popular with my daughter at the same age (still is). You can put a little butter on it if you want to or mushed fruit or whatever.

I started weaning at 6mths and was advised about baby led weaning. I have so far tried DD with toast and although you can't tell how much she has she certainly crams it in her mouth. Have also given her lumps of cheese and crusty bread. Didn't do the baby rice thing, started on pureed carrot and then added courgette. I did try and give her banana to eat herself but it kept sliding out of her hand!

Best advice I read about weaning was 'food is fun before one'. Kept me sane while dodging the flying bowls.

Your breastmilk has more calories than almost anything else you can give her, so solid food is for exploring and joining in at the table. Took me 2 kids to work this out though.