Struggle to get baby to eat

[Stellie]

Hi,

My little girl is now seven months old. She started on solids at about 5 months and everything was going just great.

Lately she has started to refuse to eat, especially at night. She also refuses to eat anything new and prefers the bottles veggies to my homemade ones. This is causing such stress as I don't know how to get her to eat. Surely she can't just continue to eat bottled butternut ans sweet potato? But as soon as I give her something new she has one bite (a struggle to get her to take that bite) and then she clamps her mouth shut.

Please help!!

[rachaelmae]

Dont stress, honestly. They all have stages of not eating/being fussy.

Milk is the most important thing at that age. Just keep offering what you want her to eat.

Maybe try finger food?

could it be shes tired in the evening? try bringing the meal forward?

Good luck

[Blaithin]

Yep, tiredness would not help. Also is she getting much non milk drinks close to her meals...they may be giving the illusion of fullness to her.

How much milk is she getting?At 7-9mths they need 540-600ml...if getting alot more than this(often because stil night feeding) she wil lose her appetite for solids. Milk is still the most important part of her diet, but she does need to be eating solids so as milk alone will not be enough from now on.

Finally, she could be like my little one...in need of taking control herself...they all get like this around nine mths but some sooner. I offered her finger foods and her own spoon, allowing her to take the loaded one off me if she tried and using the other one to insure some of food made it into her mouth!! As well I have to let her put her hand in the bowl of food herself and offer her different dishes with various colours and textures. This is extremely messy but totally worth it as stressful fretful meals have become happy meals where she actually eats a decent amount of food. I have read that it is also the best way to progress towards healthy eating habits incl. self feeding for the future.
Persevere with the home cooked foods as if she keeps taking jars alone she will prob be a fussy eater later on.
Good luck!!

[emilyteacake]

Absolutely don't stress - until they're one food is really secondary to milk. Let her make a mess and give her a spoon to wave about, and try eating with her - she'll try and copy what you're doing with your spoon.
In the evening try giving her just stewed fruit and yoghurt, or baby porridge. She's probably too tired for much else. Lunch can be a good time to introduce new foods, when she's feeling frisky and more adventurous! Good luck, stick with it, they go through constant phases and I'm sure in a week or two she'll be eating like a horse x