Baby often starts crying during meal times
Longish post alert!
Baby turns 7 months next week
We started introducing solids to baby at 5 months. At his 6 month appointment his weight dipped a little and the ped asked us to offer meals 3 times a day. I wanted to do more finger foods but due to the weight dip we got scared and now doing 2 purees (lumpy rather than flowy) and 1 finger food. For purees I load the spoon and hand it over to him sometimes close to his mouth and let him control. Regardless, as expected, there's a lot of mess at every meal time with food every where, in his ears, hair, eyes, chair, floor and what not.
Lately he has started resisting food. He would start great, take the spoon and eat a couple bites but then starts screaming and crying with the spoon in his mouth. I stop the meal time at this point and take him out of the high chair to wash. But I do get disappointed if he doesnt eat. More importantly, my inlaws are staying with us for a couple months and they get even more disappointed that he didnt eat and want either me to try again in a few mins or MIL wants to try. Sometimes on 2nd or 3rd attempt he would eat a little more and then start screaming again!
- What am I doing wrong? Why does he seem to enjoy the first two bites and then start screaming with spoon in his mouth (he is the one holding spoon, I'm not forcing him)
- Is it okay to try again in say 10 minutes after a screaming & crying episode?
- How many times should I be trying?
- What are some long term possibilities if we keep retrying frequently after rejection?
The last two questions are so I can educate my in laws, I wanna stop after the first try and wait at least 30 mins but they dont wanna give up.