Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Weaning

My 5.2-month-old son seems to be losing interest in his solids

My son welcomes the first two or three spoonfuls of food but then starts to get fussy and turn away. When I distract him with a toy he will take more; usually about 3-4 cubes at lunch. At teatime he will only take about 3 teaspoons of rice and 1 cube of pear – we have been stuck on this quantity for a good couple of weeks.
We are starting to decrease lunchtime milk (down to 4 oz) and he is slightly increasing the amount of solids he has. He seems to hold food in his mouth for a long time before swallowing. It takes a good 30mins to feed him as her doesn’t open his mouth readily and wolf it down!!
At teatime I daren’t push his solids too much as he is prone to bringing it all up again.
Although (touch wood) he has not started waking up any earlier yet, he is starving in the morning and will usually take his milk really fast and then frequently bring it all up again. I am still giving him 2 oz at 10pm but plan to stop in the next two days.
Can you please give me ideas on how to increase his solids and try and get him to take them more readily? In addition, can you please give guidance on the texture and thickness of solids at this stage?
My son takes 6oz at 7am and 2 teaspoons of porridge, 11.20am 4ozs and 3-4 cubes of vegetables, 2.30pm 5ozs, 6pm 6ozs and 3 teaspoons rice mixed with 1 cube of pear. He weighs 16lbs.

Until your son seems to be increasing his solid intake a little more, it may be sensible to keep his 10pm feed in place, even if is only a couple of oz. Dropping this too early could lead to early waking – especially as he is already really hungry at 7am.
Don’t be tempted to increase his breakfast solids too quickly as this may well have the effect that he is not so hungry at lunch. You may find that decreasing this first solid meal for a week or so will make him hungrier at lunchtime. Begin to use the “tier” method of feeding him. Give him two-thirds of his milk first, then cereal and then the rest of his milk. Having solids sandwiched in between may help him keep his milk down better. If drinking his milk too fast remains a problem, consider giving a smaller teat size. A two-hole teat will slow down how quickly he can get the milk.
The meal in the middle of the day is the one he needs to take most at. Again use the “tier” method of feeding him at lunchtime. Give some milk first, followed by the solids followed by the rest of his milk. This should help him naturally drop the feed once protein is introduced at six months. Until then he does need milk along with his solids.
If he still does not begin to increase his solids at this time, try to offer him his milk at 11am and then have a break of 20-30 minutes before offering him his vegetables. By offering him his milk early he should be hungrier to take his solid food.
At tea time you could help him take a slightly bigger feed by splitting it. If he seems really hungry after his bath try moving things forward a little. Give him about 4oz of formula followed by his solids at 5.30/ 6pm and move his bath time on to 6.30pm. Once out and dressed, offer him a further 2-3 ozs of milk. Again, this may help to digest things a little better and so be able to increase the amount of baby rice and fruit he takes at this time.
A baby has a very sensitive mouth so will “taste” the new flavours and textures intensely. You can begin to make the purees a little less smooth and sloppy. Do this by pulsing them for a slightly shorter time when blending. As long as there are no lumps which may cause him to gag he needs to get used to a denser texture in preparation for mashed food which can be given after six months.
You may have to continue to coax your son to eat; using distraction usually helps. Giving him something to hold whilst you feed him may help. A spoon is the best thing as he may want to begin to try to feed himself in a few weeks. Have several beside you as they are likely to get dropped on the floor.