Feeding FAQ: 6-9 months – Weaning/Solids

My baby is nearly seven months and weighs 7.7kgs. We introduced breakfast when he was six months, gradually increasing it to 4.5teaspoons of cereal with fruit puree. However, over the last few days he has absolutely refused solids at breakfast, and his milk intake has also dropped

My baby is nearly seven months and weighs 7.7kgs.
We introduced breakfast when he was six months and have managed to gradually increase the amount of gluten free oat cereal to 4/5 teaspoons with fruit puree. However for the last few days he has absolutely refused his solids at breakfast and his milk intake has also dropped too. Today I managed to get him to eat a small amount of Weetabix.
Is there a reason for this behaviour? Is there a solution? Might I be over feeding him at lunch?

My son feeds at 7.10am, 180-200mls formula taken with a 10 minute rest after two thirds. Now he refuses the last 60-80mls.

4-5teaspoons oat cereal and 1 cube of fruit, now refused.
11.40am, 6-7cubes of protein such as chicken casserole with 1 cube of vegetables, ½ baby yoghurt, mango sticks as finger food, a little water.

3.00pm 150-180mls formula
4.15pm, offered water, takes a little, sucks on a crust of bread and fruit stick
6.00pm 200-240mls formula, 6tsp baby rice mixed with 40mls formula, 2 cubes fruit puree.

My son naps at 9.15-10am, 12.40-2.15pm and 4-4.20pm.

Now that your son is established on protein at lunchtime and taking good amounts it is time to move his tea to 5pm. The baby rice and fruit he has been receiving after his 6pm feed can begin to be replaced with a carbohydrate rich vegetarian tea.

To make this change easier for your son begin to offer him his rice and fruit at 5pm for a few days. Once he is used to having solids at this new time, begin to introduce some of the recipes found in the 6-9 month section of The Contented Book of Weaning. These include thick vegetable soups, pasta and rice dishes.

Having received his daily protein allowance at lunchtime, tea becomes a carbohydrate rich meal to help your son sleep well at night. Look at the notes about making this change on page 49 of The Contented Book of Weaning.

Your son can be offered a drink of water at 5pm once he has eaten at least two thirds of his solids.

Your son still needs to have a good bedtime feed so watch he does not begin to cut back on this too much through overfeeding or drinking at teatime.

Once you have made this change you should notice that he is hungrier at breakfast time again.  Use the “tier” method to feed him at breakfast. This is explained on page 25 and also in a question and answer on page 36 of The Contented Book of Weaning.

From your notes it appears you are using Hipp 2 formula which is classed as one of the “follow on “milks. As this milk contains higher levels of calories, proteins and some vitamins, some mothers do find that using this milk can cause their baby to cut back on their food intake.  Providing your baby is having a well balanced and varied diet and you are using iron enriched cereals it is fine for you to continue giving first stage milk until your son’s first birthday, when he can be weaned onto cow’s milk. See page 83 in The Contented Child’s Food Bible for information about “follow on” milk.