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amother
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 Thu, Jun 06 2024, 12:34 pm
I'm curious what the normal range of feeding skills is for that age. I suspect my baby may have some feeding issues but I'm not sure.
I introduced solids at around 5.5 months. She does great with very soft purees, especially from a pouch. She loves feeding herself with a preloaded spoon but ends up playing around with the spoon a lot. If I try spoon feeding her, aside from the fact that she's not super interested and just wants to grab the spoon from my hand, if I do manage to get it in her mouth she often bites down on the spoon with her teeth/gums instead of closing her lips around the spoon to slide the food off.
When I give her large chunks of soft food (avocado, sweet potato, meatball, pancake, carrot from the soup), she's great at bringing it to her mouth and biting off pieces. But she doesn't seem to swallow much. It seems like 99% (not exaggerating) comes back out of her mouth either right away because the piece is too big, or after working on it in her mouth for a bit.
She does better sitting on my lap eating small flattened bites of food off my finger (kugel, soft chicken, mashed potatoes, kugel) but needs to be really tiny bites or it comes back out.
She's pretty good with chunks of juicy fruit but mostly sucks out the juice and leaves the rest.
I introduced a straw cup at around 6 months also and she immediately figured out how to suck liquids up, but 99% dribbles right back out of her mouth. I tried a straw cup with an x cut straw to slow down the flow but it didn't help. She can't seem to figure out how to take a sip, swallow, take another sip. She never took bottles if that makes a difference.
Open cup: she LOVES drinking from one, I got one of those adorable little silicone ones, but again she doesn't seem to close her lips around it, more like closes her gums and tries to bite/slurp up the liquid, or I end up pouring little bits into her mouth for her to swallow.
This is all aside from the fact that she loses interest in actually eating very quickly. She's happy to play around with the food though.
Does this seem within the range of normal or not? One of the things I'm noticing is that she hasn't really gotten any better since I introduced solids. She's doing the exact same thing with chunks of food and straw cup she was doing 2 months ago. But maybe that's all they do for a while?
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tichellady
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 12:58 pm
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My kids were good with solids but some do their friends were not. I think there is a big range. Some kids have stronger gaf reflexes as well. Definitely ask your pediatrician. I think 8 months is still pretty young
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 12:59 pm
Just for the record, what you're doing is not BLW. With BLW, you would not be feeding her food off your finger, nor would you be giving her small pieces. Which is absolutely fine if it's working, I'm no purist, but then it's hard to know whether your expectations should be where a BLW baby would be at this age, or where a traditionally weaned one would. I've tried both, each with several kids, so here are my thoughts.
Try to do actual BLW for a day or two, letting her eat things herself, large things that she can hold in her hand. Stay away even from loaded spoons for those days. And then check her diapers. Do they look like they looked before you started solids? (All liquidy, sort of sweet smelling, maybe with little seedy things in it but nothing more than that.) Or do you see small pieces of food in them, do they smell more stinky, are they thicker and less liquidy? That's the best way to tell how much food is getting in. It's very normal for a lot of food to come back out in the early BLW stages (and yes, this is still pretty early), but as long as you're seeing diaper changes, it shows that she's digesting food.
If her diapers look like they're mainly regular breastmilk-poop (or formula poop, if she's taking formula), OR if your mommy gut says that something is wrong, there's nothing wrong with taking her to an evaluation with a speech therapist who specializes in feeding therapy. Either they'll evaluate her and say that what she's doing is totally age appropriate, or they'll evaluate her and say that they see some weakness and can help her. Do some research, though, and find someone who specializes in this field and is known to be good and actually helpful. There's a good chance that insurance will pay for this evaluation, too, so there's really no downside other than the time it takes for the appointment and for finding someone good.
If she's digesting food and you decide to take a "wait and see" approach, I don't think that's irresponsible at all at this point. (This is probably what I would do, unless my gut feeling was really strong.) Give her another six weeks or so. As she nears 10 months, if you still don't see any improvement, I think at that point you should really bring her in to be evaluated. I do think there's a good chance, though, that you'll see her eating improve at this time. Two months in (and change) is still really the very beginning of the BLW journey, even if you're following it 100% correctly, and although some kids pick it up right away, others take a bit longer. I think waiting until 4 months after you started is completely fine, assuming that she's ingesting food, just not as well as you'd like yet.
Hope that helps!
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LovesHashem
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:01 pm
Solid starts is a great recourse! Go there and see how they reccomend you to give food for that age.
They can have pretty much anything except honey, raw milk, raw fish/meat and chocking hazards like candy and popcorn.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:07 pm
| amother Peach wrote: | Just for the record, what you're doing is not BLW. With BLW, you would not be feeding her food off your finger, nor would you be giving her small pieces. Which is absolutely fine if it's working, I'm no purist, but then it's hard to know whether your expectations should be where a BLW baby would be at this age, or where a traditionally weaned one would. I've tried both, each with several kids, so here are my thoughts.
Try to do actual BLW for a day or two, letting her eat things herself, large things that she can hold in her hand. Stay away even from loaded spoons for those days. And then check her diapers. Do they look like they looked before you started solids? (All liquidy, sort of sweet smelling, maybe with little seedy things in it but nothing more than that.) Or do you see small pieces of food in them, do they smell more stinky, are they thicker and less liquidy? That's the best way to tell how much food is getting in. It's very normal for a lot of food to come back out in the early BLW stages (and yes, this is still pretty early), but as long as you're seeing diaper changes, it shows that she's digesting food.
If her diapers look like they're mainly regular breastmilk-poop (or formula poop, if she's taking formula), OR if your mommy gut says that something is wrong, there's nothing wrong with taking her to an evaluation with a speech therapist who specializes in feeding therapy. Either they'll evaluate her and say that what she's doing is totally age appropriate, or they'll evaluate her and say that they see some weakness and can help her. Do some research, though, and find someone who specializes in this field and is known to be good and actually helpful. There's a good chance that insurance will pay for this evaluation, too, so there's really no downside other than the time it takes for the appointment and for finding someone good.
If she's digesting food and you decide to take a "wait and see" approach, I don't think that's irresponsible at all at this point. (This is probably what I would do, unless my gut feeling was really strong.) Give her another six weeks or so. As she nears 10 months, if you still don't see any improvement, I think at that point you should really bring her in to be evaluated. I do think there's a good chance, though, that you'll see her eating improve at this time. Two months in (and change) is still really the very beginning of the BLW journey, even if you're following it 100% correctly, and although some kids pick it up right away, others take a bit longer. I think waiting until 4 months after you started is completely fine, assuming that she's ingesting food, just not as well as you'd like yet.
Hope that helps! | Thanks, I really appreciate this response. Most days I do end up just giving her large chunks of food, and that's definitely what I was doing for the the first month or so before I decided it wasn't "working". She's not a great nurser (yes, part of the reason I'm on the alert for feeding issues) so sometimes I'm just desperate and need to get food in her whatever it takes, which is why I didn't stick it out indefinitely.
I guess I'm really just wondering if she's supposed to be eating more seriously by now. Like if I hand her a wedge of avocado or sweet potato, I would kind of expect some or most of it to get eaten for real, instead of what looks like constant experimentation?
Her poops have definitely changed over from yellow liquid breatmilk poop to more solid brown poop. She hardly has that breastmilk poop anymore. So if that's anything to go by, I guess she may be getting more than I think she is.
What about the straw/open cup thing?
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:08 pm
| LovesHashem wrote: | Solid starts is a great recourse! Go there and see how they reccomend you to give food for that age.
They can have pretty much anything except honey, raw milk, raw fish/meat and chocking hazards like candy and popcorn. | I have the app and use it a lot, but like I said the large wedges/chunks are just mostly getting played with. At least it seems to my eyes.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:12 pm
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This is not BLW. I just put finger length food on their tray and they decided how much to eat. A lot of it is learning. It’s ok for them to explore and play. If you spoon feed at the same time you confuse them and they are less likely to explore the food and they just wait for the spoken. At 8 months my kids ate the full regular meals with us just in smaller portions.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:13 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | I have the app and use it a lot, but like I said the large wedges/chunks are just mostly getting played with. At least it seems to my eyes. |
It takes a time to maneuver and learn to bite off pieces. Do finger length pieces it’s easiest to hold and fit in their mouth.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:13 pm
| tichellady wrote: | | My kids were good with solids but some do their friends were not. I think there is a big range. Some kids have stronger gaf reflexes as well. Definitely ask your pediatrician. I think 8 months is still pretty young | She's not gagging a lot. Good to know there's a range and she's still considered pretty young. Thanks !
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:15 pm
| amother Denim wrote: | | It takes a time to maneuver and learn to bite off pieces. Do finger length pieces it’s easiest to hold and fit in their mouth. | Been doing the whole time. She's been great at bringing to her mouth since day 1, and biting off pieces a little while later. But doesn't seem to be making progress past that.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:17 pm
| amother Denim wrote: | | This is not BLW. I just put finger length food on their tray and they decided how much to eat. A lot of it is learning. It’s ok for them to explore and play. If you spoon feed at the same time you confuse them and they are less likely to explore the food and they just wait for the spoken. At 8 months my kids ate the full regular meals with us just in smaller portions. |
I sort of agree with the bolded. The point of BLW is that you don't watch how much they're eating. It's also a skill that they need to practice. Swallowing goop is much easier than BLW, so if you're doing both, it makes sense that she's taking a longer time to learn the skill. You might want to either move completely to traditional weaning (if it makes you feel better to know that she's getting food into her) or completely to BLW (if she does have an oral motor issue, it will probably show up sooner if she's doing BLW and can be addressed earlier and maybe more successfully...and if she doesn't, you'll give it a chance to actually work).
I'm the same one who posted the megillah above, but the more I think about it, the more I think that this is probably the main issue. Or, if there's another issue, this is covering it up to the point that it would be hard to identify conclusively.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:17 pm
| amother Denim wrote: | | This is not BLW. I just put finger length food on their tray and they decided how much to eat. A lot of it is learning. It’s ok for them to explore and play. If you spoon feed at the same time you confuse them and they are less likely to explore the food and they just wait for the spoken. At 8 months my kids ate the full regular meals with us just in smaller portions. | I know it's not pure blw. However, I never sit and spoon feed and she definitely isn't waiting for me to do it for her, she wants to do everything herself! I sometimes just sneak a spoonful in here and there. And she loves exploring. I feed her lots of regular food but I wouldn't say she's eating a meal or even a small portion. Mostly still just playing.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:19 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | I know it's not pure blw. However, I never sit and spoon feed and she definitely isn't waiting for me to do it for her, she wants to do everything herself! I sometimes just sneak a spoonful in here and there. And she loves exploring. I feed her lots of regular food but I wouldn't say she's eating a meal or even a small portion. Mostly still just playing. |
It’s fine and age appropriate don’t worry about it. Food before 1 is just for fun.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:20 pm
| amother Peach wrote: | I sort of agree with the bolded. The point of BLW is that you don't watch how much they're eating. It's also a skill that they need to practice. Swallowing goop is much easier than BLW, so if you're doing both, it makes sense that she's taking a longer time to learn the skill. You might want to either move completely to traditional weaning (if it makes you feel better to know that she's getting food into her) or completely to BLW (if she does have an oral motor issue, it will probably show up sooner if she's doing BLW and can be addressed earlier and maybe more successfully...and if she doesn't, you'll give it a chance to actually work).
I'm the same one who posted the megillah above, but the more I think about it, the more I think that this is probably the main issue. Or, if there's another issue, this is covering it up to the point that it would be hard to identify conclusively. | I hear. The LC I've been seeing who also happens to know a lot about feeding babies is the one who told me to do a combo. I really doubt she's confused, but I guess it's a possibility.
I'm not so much checking how much she's eating, not like I need her to finish a certain amount or anything, more that it seems her progress has stalled iykwim.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:21 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | I hear. The LC I've been seeing who also happens to know a lot about feeding babies is the one who told me to do a combo. I really doubt she's confused, but I guess it's a possibility. |
Combo never works out great. It’s best to stick it one fully.
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miami85
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:25 pm
I don't like this rigid "Baby Led Weaning" mentality--feed your baby foods s/he likes and can handle. There is nothing wrong with purees--if your baby likes it, feed your baby your real food if s/he likes it.
I've had babies who hated pureed foods so I made muffins and they ate them, I had kids who hated the muffins and preferred all the weird flavored pouches.
I went through feeding therapy with my baby last year because she wasn't drinking anything from any vessel, and I learned that she had a very mature palleted for all kinds of savory and very unusual-for-a-baby. but it worked and I was finally able to wean her.
Babies are young people and each have their own palette and likes and dislikes. Some are more into sweet and some are more savory. I've had my kids be amazing eaters at 6 months and the pickiest eaters at 7years old. I have one kid who is extremely picky--but he also will put down candy and chocolate for carrots and celery.
There is really no one "theory" that works for every baby. If baby is happy and healthy just feed them what works for you and don't stress it.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:27 pm
| amother Denim wrote: | | Combo never works out great. It’s best to stick it one fully. | Interesting. I hear. I guess I'm not so familiar with blw but I didn't think they were opposed to all purees. Solid starts has plenty of ideas that involve purees and mention offering a preloaded spoon.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:29 pm
| miami85 wrote: | I don't like this rigid "Baby Led Weaning" mentality--feed your baby foods s/he likes and can handle. There is nothing wrong with purees--if your baby likes it, feed your baby your real food if s/he likes it.
I've had babies who hated pureed foods so I made muffins and they ate them, I had kids who hated the muffins and preferred all the weird flavored pouches.
I went through feeding therapy with my baby last year because she wasn't drinking anything from any vessel, and I learned that she had a very mature palleted for all kinds of savory and very unusual-for-a-baby. but it worked and I was finally able to wean her.
Babies are young people and each have their own palette and likes and dislikes. Some are more into sweet and some are more savory. I've had my kids be amazing eaters at 6 months and the pickiest eaters at 7years old. I have one kid who is extremely picky--but he also will put down candy and chocolate for carrots and celery.
There is really no one "theory" that works for every baby. If baby is happy and healthy just feed them what works for you and don't stress it. | At this point I'm not married to any method either, just whatever works and whatever helps baby develop the skills they need. Bh pickiness doesn't seem to be the issue, hardly every rejects food outright. I'm more suspecting oral motor issues.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:30 pm
| amother OP wrote: | | Interesting. I hear. I guess I'm not so familiar with blw but I didn't think they were opposed to all purees. Solid starts has plenty of ideas that involve purees and mention offering a preloaded spoon. |
Purées are pre loaded. The spoon feeding is the only thing that doesn’t work.
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amother
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Thu, Jun 06 2024, 1:33 pm
| amother Denim wrote: | | Purées are pre loaded. The spoon feeding is the only thing that doesn’t work. | Yes. So when I do purees it's mostly a preloaded spoon. I've never sat and fed her a bowl or jar of puree by the spoonful. At most I would take my own spoon and sneak it into her mouth while she was playing around.
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