BLW: need advice

pb_bride

M is 8 months.

We started with puree/spoon-feeding when he was 4.5m; switched to coarser texture/spoon-feeding when he was 5.5m. At 6.5m, we switched to mostly BLW b/c he started refusing the spoon.

Everything was going quite well - when he was spoon-fed, he ate everything I gave him and didn't reject any foods (I make all his food and give him a varied diet).  

With BLW, he was willing to try almost everything I put on his tray.

However, in the past 2 wks or so, M started to refusing foods that aren't "familiar" to him, or simply showing much preference to foods he likes.

For example, we do fruits for breakfast. I've been offering him strawberries, cherries and mangoes every day. His favorite is mangoes. I start off with strawberries and cherries on his tray, and he'll just stare/play with them without putting them in his mouth (even though he's eaten those before).  I then give him the mangoes and he'll eat a ton of it.

At dinner, it's even more difficult.  He'll eat any sort of noodles (pasta, soba, egg noodles), or bread.  But for other foods, he might try a taste but then spit it out. Sometimes he'll eat a few bites, but nothing to the amt of noodles or bread he eats.  I don't want to just feed him carbs; we've tried cukes, spinach, b'nut squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, kale, swiss chard, carrots... He's had all those before.  One day he might eat spinach, but when I offer him again the next night, he won't eat it.  Some nights he won't even try - he just flings everything off the tray.  Eg, last night I made a crustless quiche with Swiss chard, eggs & cheese.  He loves all of those but he wouldn't touch the food at all.

I know I should just keep offering and not worry.  I cook a varied menu, he may not "see" the same foods for 1-2 weeks, so it may not look familiar to him by then. 

Another thing is that I usually BF him 45 minutes before dinner; so perhaps he's not hungry enough at dinner time?  However, DH always offer M pieces of banana after dinner.  Even when M didn't eat anything at all at dinner, he always gobbled up that banana.

Any suggestions or pointers?  If M doesn't want to try/eat anything, do I just let him be (he sometimes will be quite whiney)?  Or should I "give in" and heat up some bread just for him, even if we're not having bread that night?  

All I want is for M to eat a varied diet and open to new foods.  I was a picky eater when I was young ( I grew out of it but it took years), and I don't want him to turn into one! 

imoverit

I could have written this same thing. M is now 2 and I still give him lots of differ choices but he usually eats the things he likes and plays with the other. I would keep doing what you are doing. Just offer him what you have made since he already BF.

AKB090609

Keep offering, I try to offer the new or rejected food first before she sees the stuff she likes. I think that I read that it can take up to 15 times for kids to accept the new food.

ccam

AKB090609:

Keep offering, I try to offer the new or rejected food first before she sees the stuff she likes. I think that I read that it can take up to 15 times for kids to accept the new food.

This!

DS did the same thing you are describing.  He would inhale it the first time I offered it, but would just poke at it or push it aside the next few times.  After a handful of times, the food would become familiar to him and he'd eat it again.  Obviously, they're not going to like everything, but I would keep offering those foods. 

TJ1979

Just keep offering. Food before one is just for fun. If he eats it, great. If not, fine. I would say not to do something special for him since he's really getting his nutrition from milk. But I often make some veggies for E if we are eatin something special that I don't want to share, like our favorite expensive dumplings, haha.
I think with BLW the key is to not stress. It's a learning game for them and it doesn't matter what they actually consume.

amandaleigh1

I am having some similar stuggles right now. I think it is all pretty normal stuff, so take heart.

I think if you don't already have the book, Child of Mine: feeding with love and good sense (https://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Feeding-Revised-Updated/dp/0923521518), it is worth it, because it gives strategies for dealing with toddler eating and how to make it a positive experience.

 That said. I think it is easier to get them to eat when the are actually hungry, so I don't bottle feed anywhere near the time of meals. I am not sure how old your LO is, but Dexter between 9-11 months started having 3 bottles a day-- before each of his naps and before bed at night. So my suggestion is that if you already nurse your LO to bed, try to get feeding to spread out and happen mainly at that time. That will free up more time (and more stomach space) for eating solids.

Dexter is still not really digging the spoon yet and I hate it when yogurt goes flying, so I have started putting stuff like yogurt in reusable pouches. He will pretty much suck anything out of a pouch. That is also helpful for snacks on the go as it is pretty much mess free. Though I do worry about breaking the pouch habit down the road and I also worry that he will suck at using cutlery since I rarely give it to him.

 Also the book I referenced talks about how many serving of what kinds of food make for a balanced toddler diet. I was shocked how much of the minimum diet recommendation consists of carbs-- 6 servings a day! Fruits and veg make up 5. Meats/beans and dairy make up 2 servings each respectively. a baby serving is like 1-2 tbsp. so the name of the game is to offer them some of each of the groups (ideally from what the family is eating) and let the baby/toddler decide what he/she needs to eat. 

amandaleigh1

I see your LO is just 7 months... this was still pretty early in the game of eating for us. Dexter did not really get going on solids with gusto right away. Your little one will start eating more when it feels right.

firewife9278

In the early stages of feeding solids to DD (6-8mo), we only offered solids once a day at dinner, and it was always bits of whatever we were eating that night. She got snacks of puffs/mum mums at daycare too. We never gave her solids and bottles close together (now that she's almost 17mo though, she gets a full sippy of milk at breakfast/lunch/dinner right along with her food).

As for types of food and rejection...just keep offering, like everyone else has said. Babies are just like us - they get a taste for something and sometimes it just doesn't sound good. Some things are always a hit for us (broccoli, green beans and tomatoes) and most other things are hit or miss depending on the day.

Just have fun with it!

pb_bride

Thanks all!  I have to keep reminding myself that mealtimes should be fun, and not to get myself worked up about it.  Sometimes I get frustrated when he flings the food (esp when DH & I both think it tastes darn good) - it's hard not to take it personally!!!  

I do always put the unfamiliar foods (or things he isn't too fond of) on his tray first, wait a few minutes to see what he does w/them, before adding his favorites.

Anyway, I'll try to sit back and relax at meal times.

BTW, after I posted earlier today, we had a good lunch. M ate a few cherries, and shared my ham & cheese sandwich.  

TJ1979

pb_bride:

Thanks all! nbsp;I have to keep reminding myself that mealtimes should be fun, and not to get myself worked up about it. nbsp;Sometimes I get frustrated when he flings the food esp when DH amp; I both think it tastes darn good it's hard not to take it personally!!! nbsp;I do always put the unfamiliar foods or things he isn't too fond of on his tray first, wait a few minutes to see what he does w/them, before adding his favorites.Anyway, I'll try to sit back and relax at meal times. BTW, after I posted earlier today, we had a good lunch. M ate a few cherries, and shared my ham amp; cheese sandwich. nbsp;

E actually does better with the opposite. If we let her eat the stuff she loves first [green beans and peas] she is more likely to grab a bite of carrot or meat while she's on a role. So try out different methods too.

amandaleigh1

TJ1979:

pb_bride:

Thanks all! nbsp;I have to keep reminding myself that mealtimes should be fun, and not to get myself worked up about it. nbsp;Sometimes I get frustrated when he flings the food esp when DH amp; I both think it tastes darn good it's hard not to take it personally!!! nbsp;I do always put the unfamiliar foods or things he isn't too fond of on his tray first, wait a few minutes to see what he does w/them, before adding his favorites.Anyway, I'll try to sit back and relax at meal times. BTW, after I posted earlier today, we had a good lunch. M ate a few cherries, and shared my ham amp; cheese sandwich. nbsp;

E actually does better with the opposite. If we let her eat the stuff she loves first [green beans and peas] she is more likely to grab a bite of carrot or meat while she's on a role. So try out different methods too.

 I second what TJ says. Dexter will fling the unfamiliar if I give it first. If I get him eating on things I know he will always eat, I can often slip in the new stuff and he will just grab and eat it. 

pb_bride

amandaleigh1:

TJ1979:

pb_bride:

Thanks all! nbsp;I have to keep reminding myself that mealtimes should be fun, and not to get myself worked up about it. nbsp;Sometimes I get frustrated when he flings the food esp when DH amp; I both think it tastes darn good it's hard not to take it personally!!! nbsp;I do always put the unfamiliar foods or things he isn't too fond of on his tray first, wait a few minutes to see what he does w/them, before adding his favorites.Anyway, I'll try to sit back and relax at meal times. BTW, after I posted earlier today, we had a good lunch. M ate a few cherries, and shared my ham amp; cheese sandwich. nbsp;

E actually does better with the opposite. If we let her eat the stuff she loves first [green beans and peas] she is more likely to grab a bite of carrot or meat while she's on a role. So try out different methods too.

 I second what TJ says. Dexter will fling the unfamiliar if I give it first. If I get him eating on things I know he will always eat, I can often slip in the new stuff and he will just grab and eat it. 

thanks for that advice. I'll change things up and see if that helps.  Thanks again, ladies.