[nikkianni]

DD is now just over 12 months old. She graduated out of baby food (except for bananas, she LOVES those) about two months ago. Since then she eats teensey peices of some foods: Bread, steamed carrot, fruit, etc. The rest we grind up.
Here's our problem. DD eats like a bird anyway, and she's a terrible gagger on top of it. If she gets something in her mouth, she immediately thinks she's choking. Often we can still see the food on the tip of her tongue. Sometimes she'll work through it and swallow but more often she ends up making herself throw up. This happens at least once a day and often at every meal. What in the world do we do?
She's a string bean as it is, 31 inches long at her 12 month check up and only 20 lbs. And I understand that they lose weight when they start walking. If this kid loses any more weight she'll disappear.
Any thoughts or ideas?

[bajj]

Did you ask the pediatrician?

Maybe see an SLP and see if it's something that can be helped.

My ds gags very easily. He has reflux but it's not as bad as when he was a baby (he's 3 now).

Good luck!

[OnTheJourney]

First, I'd check with ped to be sure it is just 'learning to eat' issue and nothiong more.

My guy was barely 20lbs at 12 months but we have never had any eating issues with DS so my advice may be off but here are some ideas anyway!

There is nothing wrong with moving SLOWLY into big kid food. Pureed foods don't have to disappear. Especially if you are worried about nutrition and weight. You can offer chunky foods to help learn to eat but still give purees for food value. I made some 'Transition Food' to start ds eating. ex - some really soft cooked carrots or other fav veggie in a favorite puree. Both being familiar, plesant flavors so the only thing new is a bit of texture. Also, because DS is a skinny kiddo and I worry about nutrition, I kept him on formula until 18 months for my own piece of mind. He is just now off it!

Along with his 'chunky' foods (my toddler creations for lunch) and table food at dinner, (he eats whatever we do just cut up) he still (at 19 months!) likes his pureed food, espcially when he is teething or not feling well or just in a hurry to go play. I make my food and keep his fav purees on hand - appplesauce, squash, sweet potatoe with chicken breast.

DS started eating bits and pieces quite early and when I would offer them to him, I'd tuck them to the side of his mouth so he almost had to chew. Now at 19 months, he still often tucks his food to the side which helps with chewing.

Not sure if this helps, but good luck with eating and I hope the gagging goes away soon for you!

[mondk]

I myself am a gagger and have to chew my food really well and make sure my food immediately goes to my cheeks. They can't even get dental x rays on me because every time they stick that x ray thing in my mouth I throw up. Same with swabbing my throat for strep...they have to give me a barf pan first.

I have no idea what causes this...just a very sensitive throat maybe...and I only occasionally have reflux issues.

If her weight is a concern to you and her Dr. check out Pediasure and add that to her diet...it has all the nutrients in it for tough eaters.

Keep us updated and let us know what the doc says.

Blessings, Michelle

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

I agree with OnTheJourney. My little guy was the same way. He will turn two next week and is only 35 inches tall and 30 lbs. Very tiny but he eats well. But he did stage 3 foods til he was 15-18mo. and he still likes the stage 2 fruits.

He even got his teeth early (although he was a preemie and has consistently been 2mo behing on everything else) but we had to continue to tell him to "chew" "chew with your teeth"

He does just fine now with anything but it just took him a few extra months to get the hang of moving food back WHILE chewing.

Kim

[hopeful-4-twins]

My son is now almost 3 years old and is 36 inches tall and 32 pounds. They said he is great!

Here is what I would do, everything that she gags on grind up, make it so it looks like baby food or pudding. It does not hurt them to eat baby food consistancy at her age...my son loves it still! If she has anything she loves in chunks leave it and continue like you have.

Every week make her food just a little bit thicker. This will get her more used to the consistency. My son was really picky, he started eatting peaches and baby food when he was only 2 months old. By the time he was 6 months old he wouldnt eat anything chunky and he had been for a month really well. We have to grind up food for my disabled sister and I gave him some of her food and he LOVED IT, that was the most he ate at one sitting in over a month! He still ate cherrios but that was it.

She is just not ready for the chunks and its nothing to worry about, just take it slow.

[nikkianni]

Thanks everyone. DD is getting an evaluation from Early On for her chewing in the near future. In the meantime, we keep soldiering on. She gags on some pureed fruit, but loves block cheese- in little pieces of course. It's just strange.