Problem Eater - Spoon refusal

[Peackle]

Hi All

This is my first thread and need some help and advice. My 9month old boy has been a really good eater until more recently. He refuses to be fed by me from the spoon unless it's a yoghurt! His seals his lips and shakes his head which is very frustrating.

I turned to finger food which was going well and he was loving the cornflake chicken, chucks of cheese, toast etc but he's stopped those now. Admittedley he's been poorly this week and not even wanting milk but I did manage to get him to eat some food from a spoon but not much.

What can I do to get him back to his troffing self again? I find it increasingly hard to come up with new ideas without going through everything in the cupboards, fridge and freezer before he'll eat something.

Ta
Paula

[isabellasmum]

I would just keep offering his usual meals, give a selection of finger foods and give him a little time.

My little girl always went off her food when she was ill or teething and it takes a while for them to get back to normal.

Don't forget that up to a year milk provides the main source of nutrition so he'll be getting what he needs from his milk.

Welcome to the forum btw

[emilyteacake]

Hello everyone,

My 8-month old little girl seems to be going the same way - she's gone from holding her mouth open like a baby bird, or grabbing the spoon and feeding herself, to throwing her head back and arching away when the spoon comes near her... Yoghurt and fruit purees are the exception, like with your little one.

She's teething, which could have something to do with it, I think. Toast is painful to eat, so have been giving cubes of bread and cheese, avocado, banana, meat, fish and tofu etc

Distraction seems to be the key - have you tried giving him a spoon to play with while he's eating? Or even a wooden spatula or small toy? I usually find that Eve settles down and eats really well once half-distracted by something else. You could even try (horror!) a bit of CBeebies in the background.

Everything with babies (speaks she of great experience, not!!) seems to be a phase. Hang in there, and after a few weeks he'll find a new way to exasperate you and all food issues will be forgotten!

Em
x

[isabellasmum]

Welcome Emilyteacake, I love your username!

[emilyteacake]

Hello - thanks! The teacakes in question are, I have to confess, of the Tunnock's variety. Although a couple of the traditional, toasted and buttered variety tend to go down very nicely, too...

Am going to miss being able to eat whatever I like when I stop breastfeeding!

x

[isabellasmum]

I don't think I've ever had a Tunnocks although had way too many of the buttered variety, they were my breastfeeding addiction.

[Peackle]

Thanks to you all for your advice.

Luckily Harvey is feeling a lot better and the past couple of days has been eating better. Today was a breakthrough with the spoon! He ate some cornflake chicken pieces while I warmed through some veggies and pasta. I left it in the pot instead of transferring to the bowl and he was fascinated by the lid and was opening and closing it while I held it. His mouth kept opening so I kept shovelling it in. BRILLIANT!

I'll see how I get on with Tea later but I'm gonna try the same pot again and see if it distracts him again!

P

[emilyteacake]

So glad he's taken to it again! Eve also seems to have rediscovered the joys of the spoon - was talking to a friend who has a baby a month older than Eve and she said he went through the same phase.

It's all development, I guess, but sometimes it feels like a step backwards!

Wonder what the next one's going to be?!?

Em
x

[otiliastocks]

My Lo was doing the same at about 7 months. this is when i gave up and start letting her eating by herself. Mainly finger foods and try and try to feed soup with the spoon.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/sta...abyledweaning/