My 6 month old stopped eating

[monaza]

Hi - Just wanted a bit of feedback. Have been an avid babywhisperer since my dd was born (she's 6 1/2 months now) and everything seemed to be going smoothly until a week ago. I had started her on solids at about 5 1/2 months as she really needed something more than just formula (I still bf once or twice a day and formula the rest). She took to everything really well. We gave her baby rice, Farley's rusks, apple, pear, banana, carrots and sweet potato - sticking to the rule of trying a new food every 3 days. Everything was fine til one fine day she woke up and decided she didn't want anything in her mouth. It's actually since she's started crawling (not sure if that's related?).She now clamps her mouth tight when I offer her anything. I tried new food (mango) thinking she was bored of the old but no joy. Then starts crying, so I give up. She'll still have formula or breastmilk but nothing else. Should I leave food for a few days??

[L76]

Hi there

Sorry you're having problems. Not sure I can help but thought I'd post as I've had a few similar problems but with the veggies. When it comes to yogurt, fruit puree, porridge my LO will gobble it up - can't get it in fast enough for her but with veggies its a different story... started exactly the same as you (my LO is also 6.5 months!) at 5 months and did the whole baby rice, veg first etc. introducing a new food every 3-4 days. All was well too - she ate everything I tried with her but now is clamping her mouth shut when I try to feed her veggies. Its not like she's full either as if you then try fruit or yogurt, she's fine.

So I wait to see what replies you get with interest as I'd love to know what to try next. Have given her grated cheese and also incy pieces of bread this week and she couldn't get enough of that either so am wondering if I need to progress her on to some other foods such as fish in a sauce etc.

Fingers crossed its just a little phase for both of us!

xxx

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Hi there (to you both 

I wouldn't worry too much about her sudden lack of interest in solids. I think you will find that this will go in phases for a while (for a long while, sometimes), where sometimes she might be very interested and other times not. I do think the crawling is related. I mean, she can do such cool stuff now! Who wants to sit in a boring high chair and eat...again?! 

The important thing to remeber is that at her age, solids are for trying out and milk is for nutrition. Developmentally her body isn't depending on solids until she's about 1 year old, so for now you can completely relax about them, and just go at her pace. Just do be sure she is getting all the milk she needs.

What I would do is continue the eating ritual at a time when it's not dragging her away from practicing her new tricks. Offer her one or two things. If she refuses, fine. Otherwise leave something on her tray until you think she wants to be picked up.  Also, you said you've given her rusks, can you leave one on her tray so she can try picking it up with her fists? Even if she doesn't eat it at that moment, it's good to get a feel for food and associate it with the high chair.

Leanne, if she will only do fruits and yogurt maybe stick with that for now and offer veg in a week or two?

[clarriebear]

Hi just had to reply. I had exactly the same problems, I quit giving anything for a couple of days, and then started again  - if she refused, I just left it, very important not to react at all. After about 4 days, she started eating again, no problem, not a huge amount but enough so that she could try out new tastes. Tea time tends to be her best meal.

Good luck and don't stress about it. 
A

[kel2y]

Hi there to you both.
I'm having the same problem with my DD. I can't believe they are so young and already have strong minds of their own, LOL!!!
I have been reading about Baby Led Weaning, as my DD loves to feed herself with rusks, toast and bananas thought of trying her with veg and other savory food and see what happens. Anything is worth ago!
As Jess, Lukeys mom said as long as our LO's are getting enough milk they will be fine. I understand that's about 500 ~ 600mls a day???
Let me know how you guys get on, maybe we can share ideas to get our LO's eating veg again!! LOL

[monaza]

Thanks soooo much...great to know that you're not on your own. Will def try the rusks thing. I peeled a banana and she sucked on it for a while which gave me hope. I hadn't really tried finger foods yet - I suppose I was worried about choking and stuff, but I def will be more adventurous. Milk is fine at the mo so I'll try to stop stressing. You're def right about the crawling - she's loving every minute of it so eating is not on her list of priorities! THanks again!

[L76]

Hi there

Thanks for the advice. She's definitely not staving - you should see her belly!!!!
She has dropped a few milk feeds recently - the DF and NF - so wanted to make sure that she is still getting enough milk as you said. She is EBF (except now introduce 1x bottle feed in the afternoon in preparation for nursery in 4 weeks) and now only has 4 x feeds per day but I think that has meant she is getting more at each feed and seems happy enough so am not worried there.

Will persevere with the veggies in a day or so - think I just need to find ones she likes best and experiement with the temperature too - at first I gave them cold but have been warming them so not sure how she best likes it.

Like the idea of BLW - will have a read up on it on here and perhaps start experimenting. What with her going to nursery v.soon, I can't have them having all the fun!!!!!

Thanks again

x

[jess, lukeys_mom]

I was too neurotic for total BLW but did half-half. In other words, shortly after the time we started weaning i offered finger foods at any meal besides breakfast, which i usually did some kind of porrige with flax seed and pureed something.

Oh - leanne i was just thinking, how about waiting about a week, then serving fruits she likes with a tiny bit of veg mized in, gradually increasing. i don't think you would be getting her too used to sweet tastes this way, it's just that sweet is sometimes easier on those little taste buds.

And by the way, congrats on no more night feeds. That's HUGE!!!

[L76]

I know, although the pain I suffered as a result when she first slept through was immense!!!! She decided to drop both the DF and NF the same night!!!! And all I can put it down to was a few spoonfulls of natural yoghurt!!!!! And the funny thing is, my DH absolutely HATES yoghurt with a passion - however, I think he is now beginning to love it!!!!! LOL

Think I will try the finger food - she loved the bread and cheese I gave her. What size pieces did you try? Don't want her to choke - when I've given her pieces of food before, most get chewed (no teeth mind you) then swallowed with a few gags every now and then when it goes down.

What sort of things did you give?

I think breakfast is her favourite meal - never any trouble getting her to eat porridge with some fruit puree mixed in.

Any other suggestions for veg to try that worked for you? Tried sweet potato, butternut sqush, parsnip, carrot, peas, broccoli.

Thanks x

[monaza]

Just thought I'd let you know that we had a major breakthrough today. Yay!! I decided not to stress and left solids for about 48 hours (did however persist with giving her a tiny taster of mango, just cos I had pureed and frozen it in batches). Then I started breakfast with Weetabix. I gave her some mango puree on the side and she really loved it! I couldn't believe it! She actually opened her mouth for it (something I haven't experienced in ages!). I didn't stress on her eating the whole lot, so I think she was a happier baby. Then I gave her lunch made some sweet potato and mixed it with some peach (I had given both to her before so I knew giving her both would be ok). She even ate that! I think she was actually put off solids because of baby rice...so I've totally binned that. I went puree happy and have made loads of combinations and stuck them in the freezer (mango/peach mango/pear sweetpotato/peach carrot/apple) - Will try brocolli in a couple of days so everything is not just fruit. Am so excited. Thanks for the advice, all!

[jess, lukeys_mom]

monaza - yay! so glad it is going well for you! enjoy this fun time and thanks for the update!

leanne, sorry, i just realized i didn't write back to you yet. courgette, cauliflower, red pepper and string beans were great ones for us. for many of these i would steam long sticks till they were really soft. (actually - never did that with string beans, always pureed). i took the skin off red pepper, roasted it and i don't think the skin was too good for him. when he started getting teeth and could break pieces off easily, then i changed these into tiny pieces. cucumber sticks were also a great first finger food. anything your lo can grab with her fists and experiment with putting in her little mouth. hth!!

[L76]

Hi there

Success tonight with sweet potato and grated cheese mixed in!

Jess - thanks for the advice. Will give the finger food a go.

x

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Yippee! Keep us posted leanne x