My 8 month old will not eat any solids

[Peppermint25]

Hi there - any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have now been trying to wean my LO since 6 months we tried the purees/rice to start off with and she would not take anything from the spoon, as soon as it came near her would close his mouth and flick away the spoon.

So we have now tried the BLW route (thinking that she was independent and stubborn) this started off OK she would pick the food up and play with it and some would even end up in her mouth, although immediately she would spit it back out. She was consuming tiny little bits as I could see from her change in more solid dirty nappies and bits of food coming out. ... but now she is picking up the food not really playing with it and not putting much to her mouth and instead just throwing it off the high chair to the floor. She still refuses the spoon and gets angry if I offer her anything on it. I am still persevering three times a day and go through the normal routine but as well as creating lots of mess and waste, it is also starting to stress me out. I am also concerned as she is 2 months behind on weaning and with me going back to work soon I'm stressed thinking that she's not eating and not using a sippy cup yet so without my boob how the heck can I leave her! :/

She is still fine with nursing and milk intake. We have tried feeding at different times of the day. She's up about 6-half 6 and nurses at 8.30, 11.30, 3 and 7. I try solids at 8, 11 and dinner at 5. I have had her mouth checked out by the doctor and all is good, no signs of reasons she's not wanting to swallow. I have the HV on the phone constantly saying have you tried this cereal and that, which I keep telling her yes and LO won't take a spoon! Argh!

Has anyone else had this experience and have any advice.

 

[Peppermint25]

I should also say that she wakes up 5+ times in the night. Normally about 3 of them to nurse x

 

[Rachel_C]

She's not behind, she's at a perfectly normal stage of weaning for her age. It's not like there's a switch flicked at 6 months and they're supposed to eat three full meals a day She's exploring, playing, sometimes tasting - all sound fine to me.

If you're getting stressed about it, she will pick up on that. I'd suggest a week off! Or stop 'proper' meals and just offer her some food to play with every now and then. Make sure she sees you eating - if you want a snack, sit on the floor and eat a bowl of something like cucumber sticks or whatever (healthy-ish) snacks you'd normally have. Don't offer her anything and don't be fake about it but a few "ooh this is rather nice" sounds won't hurt as long as it's genuine. If she wants some let her try but don't praise or really say anything about it. Or you could sit her at the table with you while you eat but don't actually give her any food, just let her watch and ask for some if she wants it. Just take the pressure off you both.

 

[MindUtopia]

I think that sounds perfectly normal for an 8 month old. If you are offering finger foods, it really takes time for them to work out how to eat them and to eat in large enough quantities for you to really notice a difference. That's completely fine and normal and nothing to be concerned about. They do go through phases of just playing and chucking everything on the floor. It's just part of the process and you have to hang in there and not let it stress you out too much. Try not to think of it as 'wasting food' and more as a process of 'exploring food'. She's still benefiting from the learning experience and the feel and tastes (even if she isn't swallowing much) and that's what she should be doing. We started BLW right at 6 months and it probably took until about 9 months before my daughter ate most of what she was offered. Until then, she tasted, played, chucked some on the floor, etc. but she wasn't eating a huge quantity of food. I could tell she was eating some, but it was more just tastes than enough to satiate hunger. It just takes time. As long as she's getting plenty of milk, she is doing fine. If you just keep offering it to her, she'll eventually start to eat more and more and solids will become the bulk of her diet, but it really will take awhile. It was at about 10 months for us. In the meantime, you might also try giving her a bowl of yogurt or porridge or a blended soup and letting her play in it with her hands. Having my daughter learn to scoop wetter food up and lick her fingers feed herself (as opposed to picking up sticks of finger food) was a real turning point because she didn't have to chew in order to eat lots and it encouraged more of an interest in food. Also, like the PP said, they really do pick up on stress! Try to relax and not overthink it too much (or even busy yourself around the kitchen if you have to so you aren't hovering around her). It makes a huge difference. Even now, at 13 months, if I'm stressing about getting her to eat (say, we only have 10 minutes before we have to leave for nursery), my daughter won't eat as well as if we're all relaxed. Also, try not too worry too much about her when you go back to work. Babies eat surprisingly well for other people when they don't eat for us. Whoever is caring for her will find away to encourage her to eat.

 

[Peppermint25]

Thank you so much for both your replies. They have made me feel a lot more relaxed and better about feeding.

I do try and not get stressed, and do hide well in front of her. OH has never been a huge fan of BLW and wanted to spoon feed and do TW from the start. So when the place is a huge mess and LO hasn't eaten a thing and is covered head to toe he makes a big point of saying I told you so, we should have done spoon feeding. And I know he thinks because iv pushed got the BLW route this is why she is not eating avid refusing the spoon. That just adds to my stress levels!! :/

Going back to work is constantly playing on mind, but as you say LO will hopefully just adapt. I would feel so much better if I just knew that she would eat something when I'm not there. As I'm not confident that she will drink much milk from the sippy.

I guess I just need to be patient though and go at her own pace.

 

[Peppermint25]

I think that sounds perfectly normal for an 8 month old. If you are offering finger foods, it really takes time for them to work out how to eat them and to eat in large enough quantities for you to really notice a difference. That's completely fine and normal and nothing to be concerned about. They do go through phases of just playing and chucking everything on the floor. It's just part of the process and you have to hang in there and not let it stress you out too much. Try not to think of it as 'wasting food' and more as a process of 'exploring food'. She's still benefiting from the learning experience and the feel and tastes (even if she isn't swallowing much) and that's what she should be doing. We started BLW right at 6 months and it probably took until about 9 months before my daughter ate most of what she was offered. Until then, she tasted, played, chucked some on the floor, etc. but she wasn't eating a huge quantity of food. I could tell she was eating some, but it was more just tastes than enough to satiate hunger. It just takes time. As long as she's getting plenty of milk, she is doing fine. If you just keep offering it to her, she'll eventually start to eat more and more and solids will become the bulk of her diet, but it really will take awhile. It was at about 10 months for us. In the meantime, you might also try giving her a bowl of yogurt or porridge or a blended soup and letting her play in it with her hands. Having my daughter learn to scoop wetter food up and lick her fingers feed herself (as opposed to picking up sticks of finger food) was a real turning point because she didn't have to chew in order to eat lots and it encouraged more of an interest in food. Also, like the PP said, they really do pick up on stress! Try to relax and not overthink it too much (or even busy yourself around the kitchen if you have to so you aren't hovering around her). It makes a huge difference. Even now, at 13 months, if I'm stressing about getting her to eat (say, we only have 10 minutes before we have to leave for nursery), my daughter won't eat as well as if we're all relaxed. Also, try not too worry too much about her when you go back to work. Babies eat surprisingly well for other people when they don't eat for us. Whoever is caring for her will find away to encourage her to eat.

Thanks for your great reply. It has been very helpful to read. That's really good to know, thanks I will start trying to offer her more wet foods as that might appeal to her more.

 

[Kinsa]

Hi , i am exactly in the same boat and starting work in 2 weeks time when my Dd turns 9 months , just wanted to know how did you go after starting work did your Lo start eating or drinking milk from sippy cup?? I am very worried tht she will dehydrate and she is already on the smaller side. Any help will be great.