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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

How can I persuade my 7 month old to eat something, anything in fact?

12 replies

whyme2 · 05/03/2009 22:02

Anyone have any secrets.
DD eats a few spoonfuls and then clamps her mouth shut. She isbreast fed but often wakes in the night 2 or 3 times for a feed. I am desperately sleep deprived but can't work out how to encourage her to eat more in the daytime.
All my other children took to food so easily.

OP posts:
Penthesileia · 05/03/2009 22:07

Has she shown any interest in what you're eating? Can she sit up unaided?

Maybe she's just not ready for food yet? Could you wait a bit, then try again in a couple of weeks?

Have you offered her finger foods? Maybe she'd be happier putting food into her own mouth, rather than taking it from a spoon from you?

Original poster
whyme2 · 05/03/2009 22:19

I@ve tried her with finger foods aswell. She can't quite sit unaided - still too wobbly.
The only she ate well was homemade trifle at in laws house last week.

OP posts:
Penthesileia · 05/03/2009 22:36

The BLW book (not that I'm trying to push this on you, it's just the source of my info, IYSWIM ) argues that babies are ready for solid food when they can sit unaided (it's one of the markers of readiness for food). Perhaps your DD just doesn't want to get going on solids yet. Could you hold out a little longer, perhaps, until she starts to grab food for herself? Maybe just try putting some finger food in front of her everyday: one day she may surprise you.

LOL @ trifle! No surprise she likes that! Yummy and sweet!!!

And maybe the sherry!

Dalrymps · 05/03/2009 22:36

I'd say don't worry. It's still really early days and they're all different.

My ds is very very difficult to feed and has been ever since we started weaning him, he's now 16 months!

Things that have helped for us is to leave a gap of 30 mins between milk and food so he's not too full.

Also distraction techniques such as giving them a toy to play with/singing/reading a book whilst feeding.

I would say even though it can be stressfull just try to stay calm and keep gently offering the food.

A speech and language therapist told me that their development can affect eating also. This means that when they can sit unaided then the muscles in their face are stronger for eating. Ds didn't sit unaided properly until about 10 months so this was one issue.

How many breastfeeds does she have during the day?

Original poster
whyme2 · 05/03/2009 22:40

she has 4 bfeeds, and then a bedtime feed at 7 and a feed at 10pm. she is happily guzzling now.
I know she is okay weight wise but i do need some sleep as I've 3 older dcs.

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 05/03/2009 22:42

whyme2 I'm in exactly the same boat - DH can get DD3 to feed a bit better than me but I seem to get nowhere, finger food OR purees

I think I might let it take a bit of a back seat for a wee while

Original poster
whyme2 · 05/03/2009 22:46

Yes, I am thinking that she knows what she wants. she wont take anything from dh. I only started weaning because she wanted to feed all night.

OP posts:
Dalrymps · 05/03/2009 22:47

Hmm, it's a tough one. Does she have more feeds during the night or is it 6 in total?

It might just be that she's not quite ready or has a small appetite...

I saw an episode of 'the baby whisperer' where a little girl was bfing loads through the night and they cut all night time bf and she ate more during the day. only thing is, she was 14 months and your dd is 7 mo so a lot off difference.

Anyway, i'm just babbling really cause I wish I had some good advice cause I know how frustrating is!

I would just say take things at her pace and give it a bit of time

Dalrymps · 05/03/2009 22:48

I'm sure she does know what she wants, my ds certainly does!

Original poster
whyme2 · 05/03/2009 22:49

She has at least 1 feed around 4am and sometimes wakes for more at 6ish.
Thanks for your help. My mum said I should only give her water at night.

OP posts:
Dalrymps · 05/03/2009 22:59

She may be going through a bit of a growth spurt? Good luck anyway, i'm sure things will improve if you keep at it, my ds is an extreme case!

Bambinocino · 06/03/2009 14:13

I had a similar situation, my dd has really only taken to solids enthusiastically in the last few weeks and she's nearly 9 months. At 7 months she just shut her mouth and wouldn't let a spoon near it. She was fully breastfed and waking often in the night, I found it incredibly tiring catering to all her requirements myself!

What worked for me was starting by offering her some expressed milk on a spoon - she would open her mouth for that - then after 5 spoonfuls or so mixing in a tiny amount of baby rice, then a bit more, then after quite a few more spoonfuls add a little bit of vege. Very slowly (over a period of weeks) we got to the point where she would be happy to start with some veges mixed with milk, and eventually she ate the veges on their own! Might be worth a try.

Good luck, it's a frustrating business!

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