My daughter is 7.5 months old. I started her on solids 1.5 month back. Developmentally, she goes on her fours and moves around...but cant sit unassisted. When i Started her on solids i used the rocker (in stationary mode) to feed her as i hadnt got my high chair out....she happily took to her solids and even now is very keen on what i eat and opens her mouth willingly to experiment. However, 3 weeks ago i got my high chair out (the same one i had used for my 3.5 year old son when he was her age), and she yells when shes put in it...i tried all the levels....went to the lowest level while i squatted on the floor...but she hates being in it...i cushioned it with a cushion on the back and sides for support but no luck.....ive being leaving gaps of a day or two before retrying, but still the yelling happens...even got my son to demonstrate sitting in it but she wasnt interested in copying him (she adores him otherwise and loves being with him).
Am currently feeding her while she sits on my lap and has her hands on the dining table...however its not the best position as shes not facing me and its a challenge to get the spoon in her mouth. Finger feeding is also getting to be a challenge as shes on my lap and not very comfortable for more than maybe 10 minutes before she starts squirming and wants to be lifted....sometimes i lift her in my arms and feed her (while still sitting at the dining table)...which i dont quite like as shes not engaged in her eating then.
My questions:
1) Is there anything i can do to get her to like her highchair?
2) She still prefers pureed food. Im a bit fanatic abt it this time around as my son even at 3.5 yrs is a picky eater and sticks to a single meal format for all meals....im still grappling with his eating...and maybe will post his case separately...however, thats the reason im a little more aggressive with getting her to eat soft pieces of food...she prefers the puree...tho i mash a banana well and then leave a few soft pieces in for her to gum on. Currently she has no teeth but a good jaws...she chews on raw celery sticks and carrot sticks. At her age is pureeing a bit ok...or should i only go with soft pieces of vegs, fruits etc.
3) Ive been breast feeding her largely from birth...with maybe a dozen or so bottle feeds (formula or express) to tide her when i away at school with my son. Right from the begining she had to be coaxed into taking the bottle...but took it sometimes. Today i tried topping up the night feed (post breastfeeding) with a bottle and she chewed on the nipple like a celery stick. however each time she saw the bottle she opened her mouth willingly to take it....sucked a bit and then started chewing again. How can I get her to take a formula bottle again?
Thanks.