HELP! Just turned 6m and won't eat won't drink

[LadyLotty]

I started weaning my little boy at 20 wks after a really bad episode of mastitis and thrush and for the last month he was a perfect puree eater. We went through all root veggies, fruits, greens etc. Then last week I thought I'll encourage him to chew, so gave him a banana (whole), and a potato, and a couple of bits of boiled carrots. He seemed really keen but at just under 6 months, he still can't hold and feed himself. He also struggles with the chewing/swallowing lumpy stuff. But now he is refusing purees altogether and point blank refuses to be fed. He is also breast fed and won't take a bottle, and whilst I've encouraged him to drink from a cup and he used to manage to down 3oz per feed he now also refuses me feeding him milk in a cup. (I'm trying to reduce breast feeding)

It is so frustrating and each meal now takes about 2 hours, ends in tears, food and liquid everywhere and both of us totally distraught and exhausted. Has anybody experienced the same and come out the other side? Any helpful advice here? I'm worried about just doing the BLW simply as he isn't ready to feed himself, won't eat enough solids and certainly won't drink enough liquid.

forgot to add, he is so far well in terms of health and not teething or in pain etc...

go back to basics.
he is still just a little baby, and if he isn't hungry he won't eat so there is no point trying to make him

i would certainly go with the BLW. offer him food. if he wants it he'll eat it, if not it doesn't matter.

at this age food really is all just about learning to chew, and textures and tastes.

he knows what he needs... follow his lead and you'll be fine

Only wanting milk could also mean that he's fighting off/going down with something. As thisis said, follow his lead - he's the expert on what he needs (until he meets sugar etc)

Gosh you guys are so right I think he is trying to fight off some allergy! Thanks for your thoughts, really grateful

Was just going to post a very similar message and found this thread. DD2 is 6 months - started weaning 3 weeks ago and it was all going swimmingly, she was eating decent sized portions but then she got a virus and a cough and now whenever I manage to get anything in her mouth she gags it back out and is sometimes sick, even the simplest foods like baby rice and pear puree

She only wants milk too. I am telling myself that perhaps she's got a sore throat or is phlegmy and so the only thing that she can get down comfortably is milk.

I've decided to abandon solids for a week, then try again and if it's still not working then will take her to the docs as it will have been 3 weeks of illness....

Do get your DD checked out by the doc, but lots of babies just aren't that into food at 6 months. My DD only ate tiny amounts of food and barely drank water - it was milk milk milk until she was almost a year old.

this is a time of huge changes for them, and big growth spurts as well; so they turn to what they know will satisfy their hunger more, and that's milk at this stage! also, teething could have an impact as well and hard cups and spoons in a sore mouth might cause some discomfort.

I would just relax about it, try between milk feeds so they aren't too hungry or too full of milk, and if they eat, fine, but if not try not to worry.

It's difficult if you are trying to cut down BFing and they won't take anything else though. I had similar issues with my Dd and drinking from a cup, and she would only take an oz or so at a time, but it gradually built up. I'm going throguh it with DS2 as well at the minute, and it's only in the last few weeks that he has really taken a cup of milk (and he is 13 months old)

BLWing is a good way to go, as they won't eat what they don't need and won't eat until their body is ready for it in a nutshell. Gill Rapley's book is very good and reassuring that if your 6mo old isn't scoffing three square meals a day AND snacks it's nothing to worry about!