Any tips on getting DS (almost 11 mths) to eat table food?

[skuttle]

DS will be 11 months on June 2nd. He still only eats babyfood. We've tried cheerios, gerber veggie puffs, biter biscuits, wagon wheels, and diced peaches. He rarely puts anything in his mouth...and if I put those foods in his mouth, he gags. I just tried the peaches last night...thinking he'd like them since they are softer (he only has one tooth) and sweet...I put one in his mouth and he gagged. He had a french fry at a restaurant before...he actually put it in his mouth and we were all excited...but then he gagged and threw up. I'm not sure what else to do...should I just wait it out?

 

[Dan Murphy]

How about trying a little beignet or some cajun shrimp?? From the pictures, Allison, he ain't missing many meals. He'll do just fine, in his own time.

 

[janette]

He is just so cute!

Mine loved table foods so it was no problem. I think I'd just keep offering them, something like cheerios are good because they aren't too messy.

It's probably the texture he's objecting too, does he try to feed himself at all? Maybe give him a spoon and see if he'll eat his cereal, most won't make it to his mouth though.

 

[Miss Cleo]

I see he will be eating baby food at 30 - Don't worry he will have an understanding wife and a blender.

 

[staylor]

You might want to have an evaluation done by an Occupational Therapist. Maybe he has a texture issue that can be addressed.
It worked for my DS when he was little.
Just another idea!

 

[Lewski709]

He's too young. He's telling you he is not ready!

Give him another month or so. I would keep giving him small things, but don't expect much. Small, and I mean like tiny, pieces of bread. He'll get into it soon enough. But I would let him do it himself.

 

[skuttle]

LOL, Dan...I'm not sure if that's the best to start with.

DS does not really try to feed himself. He does hold his bottle and, recently, started finally drinking juice from a sippy cup. He'll swat at the spoon when he doesn't want anymore, but other than that he doesn't try to feed himself. He's NEVER been one to put stuff in his mouth (other than his hands) so I think that's part of it...he's just not used to the textures. I'm just not sure what else to do...or if there is even anything I can do.

 

[skuttle]

Wow...a bunch of y'all replied while I was typing! Thanks for the advice. I do try to offer him things as often as I can...but he never puts anything in his mouth. *sigh*

 

[Beth76]

Not to sound negative, but if you just started, you may have waited too long. I used to work in childcare and we had a baby's whose parents were so afraid of choking that they wouldn't let us give him "real" food until much later. He had a really hard time with it.

Are you trying pureed versions of the jar food that he likes? If he really likes green beans baby food, puree real green beans and gradually make them a little chunkier. Also, try just giving him table foods. If he doesn't eat it, then don't give him baby food. He won't starve if he skips one meal. Now, of course, if he's going to absolutely refuse EVERYTHING at every meal you don't want to continue that.

What about the stage 3 foods, that are chunky? Are you trying those? I can't really see why if he's eating the chunkier baby food, why he wouldn't even try the real stuff.

I definitely wouldn't "wait it out". Keep giving him something and try to avoid the baby food if possible. If he knows that he's going to get the baby food, he'll probably won't try the real stuff.

Good LUck!!


edited to add: He IS very cute!!!!

 

[Lewski709]

Neither of my kids ate stage 3 baby food. They puked on them. Maybe applesauce, regular..not baby and some Dannon yogurt with fruit on the bottom. It'll be sweet and a tad chunky. I don't think you waited too long at all. All kids are different. If you are truly concerned, ask your pediatrician. I think he's adorable and just fine!!! Does he have any teeth?

 

[skuttle]

No, we've been trying since around 9 months...we kept trying cheerios and he wouldn't eat them...never even tried to put them in his mouth. So we'd wait a few days and try again...same thing.

We've tried stage 3 meals once and he gagged and threw up...haven't tried it since. I think he gets confused with the soft texture and chunky stuff all in one...he just tried to swallow it all and then chokes.

I may try to start making his food that way I can gradually work up to making it chunkier and chunkier.

The main problem, I think, is that he doesn't try to put anything in his mouth...and I'm not sure what to do about that.

 

[skuttle]

He only has one tooth...got it right around easter.

He's also just started crawling (now we can't keep up with him! ) He was born a month early so maybe that has something to do with it, too.

 

[Dan Murphy]

He can play the drums though, right??

 

[meandtheguys]

I suppose mixing chocolate with everything would be bad?

He might just have a heightened gag reflex. One of my guys still has a problem at 7 with some textures. He is adorable, I miss having a little one, although I remember how much situations like this bothered me!

 

[Lewski709]

Originally posted by skuttle
He only has one tooth...got it right around easter.

He's also just started crawling (now we can't keep up with him! ) He was born a month early so maybe that has something to do with it, too.

He should be having a check up soon, right? If you don't want to wait for it, call the PED. They may even be open today, some are...you'd know.
The call isn't gonna hurt. Don't be too concerned.

I used to work PT and OT as a technician. You are gonna get lots of different answers from the boards, I don't think there is a problem. I have a 16mo old (June 3) and a 5yr old. My 9mo old started table foods at 11mo's. My 5yr old did everything early. Kids differ.

He looks healthy. He isn't used to the texture is really ALL it sounds like, but the Dr's know best. Small bits of this n that, he'll get it eventually. The biter biscuits are too hard and big. Does he like a milk shake?

 

[janette]

The teeth don't matter, their gums are really hard so they can chew with them.

It's a mixed blessing that he doesn't put things in his mouth, my youngest put everything in but also wouldn't eat baby food after about 8mths. Once she was offered table food she wouldn't let anyone else feed her.

Have you asked his pediatrician?

Is it slowing him down at school? My DD's daycare didn't move kids to the toddler room until they ate on their own.

A funny story a relative told me, she is a pediatrician and her DH an allergiest. They have 3 kids and a live in person that cares for them. When one of her son's went to pre-school at 3 they told her when she picked him up the first day that he didnt' eat any of his lunch. She was embarrassed and realized that he was waiting for someone to feed him, he'd never eaten on his own. He got a quick lesson that night and was fine after that.

 

[Lewski709]

Originally posted by janette
The teeth don't matter, their gums are really hard so they can chew with them.

This is very true! The only reason I asked is because I thought maybe a tooth might be coming in and the gums may be sensitive.

 

[skuttle]

Oh, I'm not concerned enough to call his ped. He's eating his babyfood and formula just fine...it's not like he's not eating. And he just let me put a couple of pieces of veggie puffs in his mouth. He licked one on his own. It actually took him a while to get used to stage 2 meals...he's fine with him now but for a while he would gag.

He's actually going back to his ped on June 2nd for another checkup on his ears...he's been having ear infections and if he still does on the 2nd he'll be going to an ENT. I'll talk to her about it then.

We went to a birthday party a few weeks ago and he LOVED ice cream and the icing on the cake...I tried putting the cake in his mouth and he spit it out. I really think it's a texture thing.

I'm not sure when he'll be moved up in daycare...I'll have to ask.

 

[maps]

my daughter was the same way. she gagged on the stage 3.

we went to disney right before her 1st b-day and had a character dinner. she was so distracted by the characters that she wasn't paying attention to what i was feeding her. she ate pieces of chicken, turkey, pasta..all the while wathcing the characters!

we got it all on video tape to show her italian grandma back home. she was so worried because she wasn't eating---being italian and not eating do not mix well!

so here's a good excuse for you to go to disney! maybe you can get a doctor's note! it's therapy after all!

 

[Lewski709]

See, start saying he's not doing something and there he goes proving you wrong.

He's just fine. Keep trying things, he'll get it soon enough.

At least he likes the important things, ICE CREAM and CAKE FROSTING!