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Weaning

Why would baby go off food?

6 replies

LMonkey · 14/08/2013 21:19

For the last few meals my 8 month old has had, he has been pretty much impossible to feed. He was ok for his breakfast, which his dad fed him, which is quite a runny baby cereal. He was also fine with yoghurt yesterday, but for lunch and dinner, which was thicker mashed up stuff like potato, he would scream the place down, and clench his lips together so that I couldn't spoon any food in. I basically had to prise his mouth open with the spoon! Didn't know what to do. It took ages to feed him and he only ended up eating a fraction of what I had made. I know he is teething atm, but the food I'm giving him is soft and doesn't have any bigs chunks in. He really hated it. Any ideas why? What I could do?

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 14/08/2013 21:33

Please, please don't prise his mouth open to feed him. Food at this age should be about learning to eat with the family and get the hang of plates, cups, bowls, spoons etc. His main source of nutrition should be his milk. Is he still taking all of his usual milk feeds?

What have you tried to help with the teething?

Tomorrow I'd give him some ibruprofen roughly an hour before his main meal and apply a teething gel like dentinox just before offering solids. That's what it should be though, offering solids. You have to offer it but its really up to him if he eats it. You have to learn to trust him to eat when he is hungry. If he does refuse food, just clear away and do something else Smile

It might also be worth seeing if your library has a copy of Ny Child Won't Eat by Carlos Gonzalez.

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TheFallenNinja · 14/08/2013 21:38

Be prepared for meals to take ten times longer, a sizeable amount to be thrown away and a lot of laundry.

You'll both get stressed if you start prising so just take a softly softly approach.

To a baby it's an activity of exploration, not a meal so don't sweat on quantity too much, once baby gets used to it you won't be able to shovel fast enough. Smile

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 14/08/2013 22:00

Oh and try giving him his own spoon and/or some finger food to distract him at mealtimes Smile

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LMonkey · 15/08/2013 19:21

Thanks, I think I was just so into the idea that he has a full tummy so that he sleeps well at night. Today's meals have been much better, we've taken our time and he has played around with the food and fed himself etc. I think it was probably the teething but you reminded me that up until 12 months meals for them are about exploring and getting used to eating, not so much about nutritional value - something I'd lost sight of recently. Thanks Smile

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bonzo77 · 15/08/2013 19:25

My 8 month old has been the same over the last day or so. He's otherwise happy and well so I've let him skip the solids. He's had a bit extra milk. He won't come to any harm if he misses a few solid meals. "Food is for fun until one" and all that! He just got a tooth so his mouth probably feels funny.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 15/08/2013 21:49

So glad things have calmed down. Agree with bonza, if you think he's hungry, a little extra milk for a few days won't hurt Smile

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