Turning up his nose at anything other than baby rice!

[SlummyMummy65]

My DS is six and a half months old and we've been trying to start the weaning process for a couple of weeks now. So far it's been a dismal failure. He now manages to eat about a teaspoon of baby rice with bottle milk at each 'meal' (ho ho) but keeps his chops firmly shut when I offer pureed apple, pear or carrot. They are all fairly sweet as I've had a little taste myself. I know jars tend to be sweeter but want to stick to home made nosh if I can.

Any ideas on how to get him more interested? His spoon is the one thing he doesn't open his mouth for!

Thanks, SlummyMummy

how is he with finger food?

Give it time. I started weaning DS just before 6 months on purees and for a couple of weeks he just was not interested. He'd have a teaspoon or so of a variety of things but I ended up throwing most of it away. I kept offering though and his appetite did pick up and he ate more and more! With hindsight, I probably just started a little ealier than he was ready for.

It's a lot for them to get used to, new flavours, taking food from a spoon etc. If he's still having all his milk, you needn't worry about it, he'll get there. It's not a dismal failure if he doesn't start eating loads, he's still young really and has a lot to learn!

You can always let him play with the food. Put some purees on the tray and let him put his hands in them. Or give him some finger foods (bits of soft fruit would be a good start) and see how he gets on with that.

Haven't tried finger foods yet - have to confess am very nervous that he'll choke! He already gags a lot on just baby rice! I don't remember it being this slow with his brother, now 11 years old. And he was weaned from 4 months!

i used to mix the fruit into the rice--try just a tiny bit to start with

Don't bother with the baby rice.

Try finger foods, if he can do it all himself he's ready to wean.

If he's just not bothered or ready then save your blood, sweat, tears and frustration and try again in a few weeks.

Oh and remember that gagging is not choking. Gagging is normal.

Good luck

have you considered blw?

Thanks maddylou - your advice really helped... I remember being really naughty with DS1 and 'hiding' more unwelcome food in the petit filous! Hope I won't have to resort to that this time...