[chipper26]

My dd has not been eating much lately... I'd say the change has been in the past 10 days. She''ll be 9 months old tomorrow and just started to crawl. She's a very wobbly crawler and is just learning. I also think she's teething. So, do you think these are contributing factors and this is just a phase? I know she's getting enough nutrition b/c she's nursing fine; I just didn't expect regression in the solid food area.

She doesn't really want to be spoon fed as much. She'll eat bites of banana or cherrios while sitting in the living room but is not big on eating in the highchair consistently. Foods she used to like are met with a look of disgust, even if I give her pieces instead of mashed up spoonfuls.

 

[Llyra]

Teething can put a child off their food. My DD1 would NEVER eat when a tooth was coming; that's how I'd know another one was on the way.

Also, by 9 months a lot of kiddos will start to refuse to be fed from a spoon. It's time to start offering her table food and letting her feed herself, maybe. None of my kids were much interested in being fed past about 8 months old, once they'd figured out they could do it themselves.

Try offering bits and pieces of whatever you're eating, as long as it's not a choking hazard or really difficult to chew. And just let her experiment with feeding herself.

 

[chipper26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llyra Teething can put a child off their food. My DD1 would NEVER eat when a tooth was coming; that's how I'd know another one was on the way. Also, by 9 months a lot of kiddos will start to refuse to be fed from a spoon. It's time to start offering her table food and letting her feed herself, maybe. None of my kids were much interested in being fed past about 8 months old, once they'd figured out they could do it themselves. Try offering bits and pieces of whatever you're eating, as long as it's not a choking hazard or really difficult to chew. And just let her experiment with feeding herself.

I've been trying to give her pieces but she usually just smashes them in her hands and 95% of the soft foods do not make it to her mouth.

Is this okay b/c eventually she'll learn to feed herself?

 

[Llyra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipper26 I've been trying to give her pieces but she usually just smashes them in her hands and 95% of the soft foods do not make it to her mouth. Is this okay b/c eventually she'll learn to feed herself?

Yeah. The messing around with the food is part of the process. Just keep offering, and she'll figure it out. Let her play with a spoon too. You can keep the quantities REALLY small to minimize the mess, for your sake. As long as she's nursing well, she's getting the nutrition she needs. When she NEEDS to eat for nourishment, she will, as long as you keep offering food.

 

[chipper26]

Thanks. I'm not going to worry about it too much, then. There have been several days lately when she's eaten almost nothing (solid food, that is) and it doesn't seem to phase her, so.... we'll see how it goes.