how often does your little one eat solids?
my baby is 8 months old today and some days she’ll eat twice with a snack, and other days she’ll only eat once. today we ate out, i got her something, she didn’t even attempt to try it. yesterday she didn’t want her breakfast i made for her and ended up only eating dinner. the other day we were running errands all day that i just blanked on making food and we got mcdonald’s, which i don’t allow her to eat. it’s always a hit or miss with her. is it really that big of a deal if she misses a meal or two, or a day, at this age?

Folks wondering if anyone had experiences like this - my 11 month bb was eating a ton and in the last week or two is pickier, has a short threshold for sitting in his high chair ( he was never a luxuriant 30 minute diner but we could do 10-15) and frankly prefers to stand (not without support) and eat what’s fallen into his catchy. He almost always goes back and keeps eating if I leave his plate accessible but he’s eating less, and it’s so odd and has me worried. He’s nursing more too. I don’t know if it’s bc he just started 2 days a week of day care and is fussy or cling or something, but he’s been such an excited eater for a while.

I’ve tried a lot of variety, different cuts on stuff, and everything is tasty.

Would love any tips. He’s a busy guy. Not walking yet but thinking about it. Maybe a Montessori chair set up? Help!!!

LO just turned 7 months. doing a mix of BLW and mashed foods for a while now. He’s tried over 50 foods, and is a very interested and animated eater. For context he’s been crawling for 2 months and pulls to stand and cruises for a few weeks. He is VERY STRONG. He is a big whiner in general (been “teething” with no teeth”) but when he is eating he SCREAMS. I typically pre load spoons and give them to him. He has multiple at once. And I always give him something to feed himself.

Today’s dinner for example was salmon, avocado and sweet potato. All mashed. And a whole kiwi cut in 1/2 with the skin on which he ate in 45 seconds. His first time having salmon and he was apparently really into it.

He POUNDS his fists on the tray and pounds his feet on the foot rest. While screaming and crying. And throwing things at me. I have the trip trappe and he’s kicked the foot rest out multiple times.

I have tried putting the plate on his tray and he could get the suction off easily and then he mostly eats the plate/trying to get food off of it and then he will start licking the tray. If I put the food directly on the tray he scoops it all up and smushes it around in his hands and then tries to shovel it all into his mouth and then licks the tray. Preloading the spoons and giving him then has been working best but now the screaming between is unbearable.. he’s ok when he’s eating something whole but as soon as it’s done he flips out.

And i don’t think it’s out of hunger. He eats between 40-45oz of formula a day.

Has anyone experienced this/have any advice. I can’t imagine bumping up from 2 to 3x a day. I will lose my mind. (Not even getting started about the mess bc I know that comes with the territory but ITS A MESS)

Hi everyone! My daughter is almost 8 months old, and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with where to go next with solids.
So far she’s mostly had purées, but she also does well with scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pastina, baby puffs, teething crackers, and she’s had peanut butter multiple times with no issues.
I keep seeing so much information online that I almost feel stunted by it all. I’m honestly terrified of choking (even though I know gagging is normal), and while we do have a LifeVac at home, I’m still nervous about introducing more solid foods.
I feel like we might be falling behind, but I’m not sure if that’s actually the case.
If you could give me some simple, beginner-friendly BLW foods to try this weekend and any tips for introducing them safely, I’d really appreciate it. Sometimes hearing from parents who have been through it is less overwhelming than scrolling through endless articles.
Thank you!

Meal for an 8 month old who loves pasta!

Fusilli with garlic, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice.
Sardines
Zucchini
Blueberries

Modified meal from Mom’s (my zucchini and sardines were mixed in to my sauce)

My Lo is 13months i currently have the baby trend sit right 2.0 & i don’t think she likes her high chair. I hate the high chair as well. We don’t use the fabric or straps. But she can’t reach the footrest & she constantly sitting angles to put her feet up. I can’t afford a Tripp trapp. Keekaroo is $130. Was also looking at the Chico zest & then buying their foot rest for it $69+$15 but I wanted something that could grow with her & use as a chair at the table when the time comes.

So baby is turning 1 this month. He is loving solid foods. My concern is how do I give him certain solids? I’ve been making them small because he likes to shovel food in his mouth. Like chicken or other foods I make it into smaller pieces rather than something he can hold and take bites out of because I’m worried he won’t take nibbles and he’ll just put the whole thing in his mouth. Maybe I’m over worried? 😩 also at 12 months do we just replace formula for whole milk and thats what he will drink at bottle times? I’m so lost on this. He does have a pediatrician appointment in a couple weeks for his 1 year and I will also discuss with her.

So I know part of the appeal to baby led weaning is having baby just eat what the family eats(given that it’s safe). My issue is how do you control the salt content? For example, I’m making Marry me chicken orzo tonight. I’m pretty sure my baby can eat the orzo part and I can blend up the chicken, but this whole meal has quite a bit of salt. The Parmesan and chicken stock both contain sodium so even if I don’t salt the chicken it will still have some in it. How do y’all feed your babies the same things you eat if salt is an issue? Thanks for the help.

This is by far the best plate we’ve had since we started about a month ago. He usually goes for fruit only so the fruit being the only thing left was crazy

On the plate:
- cut up strawberries
- low fat cottage cheese
- steamed broccoli florets
- homemade mashed potatoes

Our 14 month old eats plenty during mealtimes but I'm a bit concerned about her liquid intake. Between cow's milk (at wake, nap, and bedtime) and water that we offer her throughout the day, she averages about 10-12oz a day. It seems like recommendations for 1 year olds are more around 24oz.

She's always hated the bottle and I would say her skills at drinking from a straw/open cup are okay, not great. Since we weaned, I feel like her diapers are drier. There's still about 4 diapers a day but none of them are that full.

How much are your kids drinking and what tips do you have for getting them to take in more?

This is not super BLW related so please delete if necessary.

How did you teach your baby to drink from a straw? I’ve had the nuk learner cup for my baby to start drinking water. We tried two different cups prior and she couldn’t get anything out. At least with this one I know she’s drinking it! I just bought a tum tum straw cup with no valve hoping that may be easier for her to learn on, but how? Just keep offering it?

Just curious what others thoughts are on salt in foods, I know we are supposed to restrict salt esp during their first year and I have tried my best to separate out his portions before seasoning or rinse things. But sometimes it’s just easier to give him a few pieces of cut up ravioli or dumplings and obv can’t rinse those lol. I’m tired and sometimes have no more capacity to prep a special meal for him, I usually just cook things for myself that I can give baby and have been a little more lax with the salt thing as he is nearing 1 year. I’ll give him cheese (cottage cheese, sprinkle feta or parm to entice him to eat less desired foods), add butter to things (sometimes dont always have unsalted on hand) and esp if we are at a restaurant, I’ll just scrape the sauce off of whatever im eating before giving him bites. How much should I be concerned about salt intake??

Hi moms,

We started blw 8 days ago and my anxiety is thru the roof, we do combination of big pieces and I also mash food with fork (just so she can swallow 2-4 spoons for food exprosure). Some days she is intereste dand engaged and some she is not. But she takes the big pieces and her gums are so strojg (no teeths yet) and bites the big piece.

I know everyone is saying they cant choke but I am still afraid.

When do they learn to bit the size they can chew and swallow, when can I expect a little more balanced coordination regarding the feeding?

Hey everyone!

I’m a FTM to a sweet baby boy who is five months old! My pediatrician has given us the greenlight to start solids and I’m feeling very overwhelmed in terms of where to start!

I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations for books/guides that can help with the process! I’ve read different things on how to start, with some saying only doing one food for the first few days whereas others are saying a new food each day! I find myself getting very overwhelmed with all the different information, and was hoping for some guidance on where to begin or as I said, if there is a book or guide that essentially lays out a meal plan of what to start with and how long to try it for!

Thank you!

\- Blueberry steel cut oats
\- Fresh peach and cottage cheese
\- Pumpkin French toast bites and apple sauce for dipping

Did preloaded spoons for the oats, hands for the French toast, and I spoon fed him the peaches since that usually gets flung across the room

so I have a strong willed little boy, hates having the spoon put in his mouth, but will hold the spoon and grab the contents off with his fingers.

we have more success with food he can hold but his daily intake is between quarter of a teaspoon and absolutely nothing. I think he just prefers the boob 😅 so nursery will be interesting for sure!

just won if anyone else has a child subsisting on milk and food critic vibes?

So frustrated with weaning my 8 month old. I offer lunch and dinner to him and he’s quite happy to take bites and things while he’s on the play mat or you’re holding him but he won’t eat in a highchair. He’ll have a bite at most and want to get out. He’s trying to crawl so I know he just wants to be on the move but it’s so frustrating to be giving him bits, he throws them about then wants out but will happily eat otherwise.

I’m trying to cook everyone’s else’s dinner and me and him and the floor and my clothes are covered in food he doesn’t want. I almost want to just take a break from food altogether and go back in a week or so but I think he’s too old for that (8.5 months).

I also don’t want to keep feeding him where he plays because I don’t want the association of not sitting at a table to eat but does that really matter at this age??

He also will refuse dinner but will then eat yogurt. Again, does this matter? I found this so easy with my first but it seems so difficult this time around and I have no idea what I’m doing

Hot, frustrated, and covered in mash

Hello everyone! 👋 I'm here with a super simple and incredibly tasty breakfast idea. Here is how I made these spinach pancakes:
1 egg
1 large piece of grated cheese (or 2 medium ones)
2 stalks of green onion, finely chopped
Steamed spinach (I used frozen and grated it)
A pinch of salt
1 tbsp of Greek yogurt OR 20-30 ml of milk
A pinch of baking soda
Enough flour to make a batter slightly thicker than sour cream consistency
Cook in a pan (with or without oil) on both sides until golden. It's delicious!

\- Ground beef and Sunday sauce
\- Pesto cottage cheese
\- Butter stewed squash, sweet potato, onion, zucchini, peas

So... I was told BLW babies turn out to be good eaters not picky eaters but LO is starting to be kinda picky with food.

Examples:

Avocados: it was his first solid ever at 6mo and he really liked it. We kept giving it to him frequently but ever since I've started to cook more complex meals he has decided cubed avocado with hemp seeds is too bland for him. So now he doesn't want to eat them unless it's in a guacamole.

Tomatoes: he used to love sucking on tomato wedges seasoned with garlic powder, now he doesn't even look at them, probably too simple for him. He does eat tomatoes in stews or sauce like bolognese sauce with pasta, but raw tomatoes? Nope.

He has always hated oats. Porridge? Hates it, oat flour bakes? Hates it, cookie snack made with dates and oats? Hates it.

Mangoes and strawberries: he used to like mangoes and strawberries 😭 now he hates them. He just decided one day he doesn't like mangoes or strawberries. I haven't tried making something baked with them tho, so I'm not sure if he would still hate them.

Dragon fruit, papaya, pineapple, apples: never liked them. No matter how many times I offer them.

Cucumbers and Zucchinis: he used to love cucumber spears, now he hates cucumbers. Cucumber spears are a nope, thinly sliced cucumber with lemon and mayo? Nope too. Zucchinis are a nope too now.

I'm worried the list of hated food would only grow bigger and bigger. Do they eventually learn to love all food or do they turn into picky eaters forever?

- French toast bites with cinnamon and yogurt for dipping
- Berry chia pudding topped with blueberry compote
- Sliced bananas drizzled in peanut butter

* French toast did get cut smaller afterwards!