6.5 month old doesn't put things in mouth

[Zinky]

I'm not sure if I should be worried yet. Basically DD doesn't mouth any objects/toys but she does put her hands in her mouth and sucks her fingers. I wanted to do BLW and obviously can't because she won't put the food anywhere near her mouth! I tried spoon feeding and she clamps her mouth shut.
The only success I have had is that she once gummed and sucked on a bit of toast that I held to her mouth.
I know she's still young and it's very early days but how do I go about introducing solids? Will it hinder progress if I hold the food for her?
I know bringing objects to the mouth is a milestone but when is the latest they should be doing this?
She is completely different to my first who took to BLW like a champ at 6 months!

 

[staralfur]

I would just keep offering things and continue with BLW until she takes to it. My LO was pretty disinterested until 8 months.

 

[the why bird]

I'd just keep offering things, it's too early to worry.

I don't think it will cause any major problems if you do hold the food for her, since lots of babies are spoon fed. But I also don't think you need to stress about it.

Does she touch the food? At this age babies learn from every experience. Touching, squishing, smelling and playing with the food are all good things too, because she's making new brain connections and getting more comfortable with the food. At that age I used to let my daughter fingerpaint the highchair tray with pasta sauce and yoghurt and squish banana pieces etc. So messy, but she turned into an adventurous eater and I think just letting her play and do it in her own time really helped.

 

[Rachel_C]

If you wanted to do BLW and believe in the theory behind it, just continue to offer food as you started off. If she isn't ready to eat it, she isn't ready to eat it. The big advantage to BLW is that you let LO let you know when she's ready - if she isn't eating, she isn't ready, that isn't a reason to try something else because she'll still not be ready but you'll be tricking her body.

 

[Zinky]

Thank you for your replies, you have all put my mind at rest.
She doesn't even play with the food when I put it on her highchair tray. she doesn't try to pick things up which are within reach but will hold and examine objects if you put them in her hands.
I will continue to offer food and just wait for her to show some interest in it and hopefully some of it might end up in her mouth

 

[Pink Petals]

No advice, but my LO has been the same. He is JUST in the last few days bringing food to his mouth a little bit, but then he spits it out.

 

[sevenofnine]

My LO didn't eat much solid food until 9 months.

My nephew was BLW and he flat out refused anything except breastfeeding until 10 months. Not one single bite of food. When he decided he was ready, he ate like a champ!

 

[MindUtopia]

Yes, like others have said, just keep offering things and give her time. I know at our 8 month development check, that's about when they expect them to be able to bring things to their mouth, so she still has plenty of time. If she isn't doing it yet, offering finger foods rather than spoon feeding is a great way to encourage that skill, so you're doing exactly what you should be!