BLW...when will she "get it"? vent

aliska · February 2012

I know I just need to be patient, but we're on the 3rd week of BLW, and DD doesn't eat a thing. I've tried avocados, bananas, and carrots. It took her an entire week to touch the food. She hates being wet (went through 15 diapers a day for a while and hated baths). She puts all of her toys in her mouth, but when she accidentally gets the food in her mouth, she acts like she just poisoned herself. If anything, I think BLW is teaching her to avoid putting food in her mouth...lol. When did your baby "get it"? Any other food suggestions? Thanks ladies!

nosoup4u · February 2012

It's still really, really early. Be patient. My first son wasn't super into food until he was almost 14-15 months. He'd eat yogurt and fruit sometimes, but would just play with everything else we served him. He's now almost four, and eats plenty. Eating really "clicked" with my second son around 9 months, which I think seems to be closer to the average age. Maybe back off for a few days before trying again, or wait for her to ask for some of your meal. I really like roasted/steamed sweet potatoes cut into fingers, bananas, cooked broccoli trees, a hunk of soft meat. Salmon is a good one, too, as it just sort of disintegrates, and is really good for babies.

pixieprincss · February 2012

DS did fine with BLW from the start, but he didn't actually start consuming much until about 9 months. My niece was one who acted like most food was torture at 6 months. For her, she started getting into food at 7 months. I've heard of some kids who don't get into solids until 9 months or even a year. What you are doing is letting her eat on her terms and that is just fine if she isn't ready. It will happen eventually.

As for food suggestions--give her versions of whatever you are eating. Having a sandwich? Give her the lettuce and tomato. Eating chicken? Give her a strip of the flesh inside that doesn't have spicy stuff on it. Eating Indian food out? Give her some mild spinach curry. Eating pizza? Give her your crust.

terri_doula2010 · February 2012

We started BLW a week before DS turned 6 months. He was excited about putting food in his mouth from the start, but didn't start actually ingesting it til he was 7 months. All babies are different! You are doing a great job of letting your LO go at her own pace. It is frustrating, but it will happen!

sucredee · February 2012

We started with DD @ 6 months and it is totally just for fun. If they get some food great but if not it is no big deal. My DD loved slices of cantaloupe, sweet potato fries (just cut them up and throw them in the oven) and bread early on. She is 20 months now and still doesn't eat large quanitities of food like some kids. She still loves nursing too. Around 11 months it seemed like she was starting to eat much better and then she went on a 2 week solid food strike and only wanted to nurse. No idea why ( there were no teeth in sight) but I didn't push it. I just kept offering. Now she is a big pasta and rice fan and loves fruit. Veggies not so much. I try giving her pouches occasionally but she doesn't get too excited about those (or any "baby food" for that matter). She really will only take those if we are on the run and then only part of one. I figure she will get there in her own time and at her own pace. She loves indian food and thai food but won't eat a PBJ sandwich. Go figure. I wouldn't stress about how little she is taking. She is still young and she will do it at her own pace. Milk should be her main source of nutrition still anyway. Just view it as practice and don't force it. She will get it soon enough!

3003girl · February 2012

sucredee:
We started with DD @ 6 months and it is totally just for fun. If they get some food great but if not it is no big deal. My DD loved slices of cantaloupe, sweet potato fries (just cut them up and throw them in the oven) and bread early on. She is 20 months now and still doesn't eat large quanitities of food like some kids. She still loves nursing too. Around 11 months it seemed like she was starting to eat much better and then she went on a 2 week solid food strike and only wanted to nurse. No idea why ( there were no teeth in sight) but I didn't push it. I just kept offering. Now she is a big pasta and rice fan and loves fruit. Veggies not so much. I try giving her pouches occasionally but she doesn't get too excited about those (or any "baby food" for that matter). She really will only take those if we are on the run and then only part of one. I figure she will get there in her own time and at her own pace. She loves indian food and thai food but won't eat a PBJ sandwich. Go figure. I wouldn't stress about how little she is taking. She is still young and she will do it at her own pace. Milk should be her main source of nutrition still anyway. Just view it as practice and don't force it. She will get it soon enough!

Very similar to us.

LO didn't really get into food until 14 months or so. She started out liking banana but the hated it. She liked sweet potato, then hated it. She went on a grape binge for a while. But she has never been a three meal a day kid. I was lucky to get a few bites of food in her each day until a few months ago. Luckily broccoli has always been a go-to food for her.

If she isn't eating anything by 12 months I'd bring it up to your pedi, but wouldn't be concerned until then. I know it's frustrating. You could mention it at your 9 month appt. If you think she has an aversion to textures or something of that sort. But I think it's perfectly normal for some kiddos to have a slow start or just totally not be interested.

radak · February 2012

There wasn't ever an "ah ha" moment. I feel like she is still improving even now. But, it has gotten a whole lot easier. Easier said than done, but just relax. Eating is a natural thing, like sitting up, crawling and walking. You can be a stressed out, freaked out parent, pushing your kid to reach milestones, or you can relax, encourage, and enjoy.

We never pushed with BLW, and whiles sometimes I did worry that she wasn't advancing with eating fast enough, I reminded myself that it was just practice, and that her nutrition came from her bottles. I told myself if she wasn't eating by close to 1 y.o. then I would worry.

She is an awesome eater now. She eats everything we put in front of her no matter the flavor. In hindsight, I am so glad we did BLW, and I would recommend it to any parent.

pepomntpat · February 2012

DD loved tasting the food, but didn't really start eating well until 8 months. Just keep nursing and have FUN! That is what I liked about BLW, it isn't stressful. It's about variety and fun and experimentation not about number of ounces consumed. I could never answer that when EBF and I never could with solids either.

Is LO growing, happy and filling diapers? If yes, that is all that matters. Have fun!

aliska · February 2012

Thanks ladies! Somehow I thought that she would get it earlier, but it sounds like she is doing it normally.

vanfox · February 2012

DS was putting food into his mouth right away, but I don't think everything "clicked" with it until almost 8 months. Don't worry; 6 months is just meant to be an introduction and play time for food. She'll totally eat it when she's ready.

WildcatPrincess · February 2012

We started at 6 1/2 months, but she was close to 10 before she was really eating. Now I couldn't slow her down if I tried, the girl eats 24/7.

Amitchell0626 · February 2012

DD is exactly the same! She doesn't like flavor I think. She'll eat mum mums. We tried apple slices tonight, she loved sucking on those! That's about as close as we've gotten.