How do I get my 8 month old to eat?

[Bonney]

Hi 'Yall!
:eek: My 8 month old has been eating solids for a couple of months now and he doesn't like being spoon fed (unless there is custard on it!!). I have been spreading his food onto bread so he can feed himself. This gets messy, any ideas???

[mumofethan]

Hi Bonney,

what type of spoons have you tried?

have you tried things like "aeroplane" to get him to open his mouth...

have you checked for signs of teething...

my son is 8.5mths old will occasionally not eat if he has teeth coming thru (althou same as u custard seems to be an exception) and will also not eat if the spoon is to big or small.

:D

Michelle

[Chickadee]

Chloe has also preferred doing it herself since an early age. The mess never really ends (or hasn't yet at 18 months!). I tried to think of it as more of a learning experience for her at that age, that she's getting a taste, exploring the texture, and probably enough goes down her throat. But it's still frustrating and worrying sometimes.

You can try using two spoons, one for bub to play with and one for you to pop food in his mouth in between his attempts. I also found the tv a good distraction, Chloe would lose interest in grabbing the spoon if the Simpsons were on :D

If you trust that he'll chew at the food on the way down you can offer less messy options, that also develop his fine finger skills. Fingers of toast just with butter (or vegemite, but that's another mess!), small pieces of soft fruit, cubes of pumpkin or potato instead of giving it to him mashed, bits of ham, fingers of cheese. Chloe loves bits of tomato. Cooked pasta shapes. Cooked peas (from frozen, dead easy & quick).

[Bonney]

Thanks 'Mumofethan', he was especially fussy 2night, I didn't consider that he may have some more teeth coming through.
I am a bit slow on the uptake sometimes, there are so many variables with babies and their behaviour. I guess I have a lot to learn (1st time mum), but that's half the fun isn't it.

Bye for now :)

[mumofethan]

thanks ok bonney,

i have often been slow on the uptake sometimes... like the 30min it took me one nite to realise that i hadnt changed his nappy...

hope everything works out for you bonney

:D

Michelle