If your baby shows no interest in weaning it could be that the time simply isn’t right. A lot of factors can contribute to this including, if your baby has been unwell or if there have been any changes in home life including mum going back to work. Your baby may just need some time to readjust. Try to pick the right moment to wean your baby to ensure minimum disruption. If your baby is showing no interest in weaning or having a hard time adjusting, it could be that baby just isn’t ready. Take a week or two to resume milk feedings and try again. Weaning can be a difficult time so patience is essential. Remember, it can take up to 15 tries before they accept a new food and if they refuse a food once, re-introduce it a week later. Try to be relaxed about it and remember as long as your baby is continuing to put on weight there is likely nothing to be worried about. When the time is right you and your baby will both begin to enjoy the excitement of weaning.
If, however, your baby continues to be stubborn, there are some steps you can take to encourage the process.
Try to distract baby while you are spoon-feeding, if they have something to look at or play with, it makes it easier to get them to take the spoon. Keeping little hands busy can also limit the food being knocked from the spoon by accident.
Allow your baby to just have a small amount of milk before their solid foods, and then follow this up with more milk. As the early stages of weaning is a combined process with milk and solids, it’s just about timing it right so that the baby isn’t totally full with milk when you are also trying to spoon feed.
Playing with your baby or otherwise lavishing them with attention could help detach them from the comfort they have come to associate solely with being fed.
If you are still concerned you should speak to your healthcare specialist.
