[Wisdom]

My DS is 10 1/2 months now and won't eat anything but pureed foods (except thick oatmeal). Anything with small lumps, chunks or any texture he absolutely won't eat. He cries, spits it out and what he doesn't get out he gags as though he's choking ( which of course freaks me out). I gave him yams and peas tonight, mashed well and I even added some water so it wouldn't be too thick. He's had sweet potatoes and peas in puree form (Earths Organic) and loves it but this he hated. He gagged like he was choking and the food wasn't even chunky. It wasn't pureed though so it did have texture to it, especially the peas. He didn't want any of it so I fed him Earths Organic pureed green beans and rice and squash instead and he was fine. I was joking with my DH that our son will be in kindergarten taking Earths pureed food for lunch. Has anyone else dealt with this? If so when did your baby start eating chunkier foods? Any advice for me?

[melissa_bear003]

Originally Posted by Wisdom

My DS is 10 1/2 months now and won't eat anything but pureed foods (except thick oatmeal). Anything with small lumps, chunks or any texture he absolutely won't eat. He cries, spits it out and what he doesn't get out he gags as though he's choking ( which of course freaks me out). I gave him yams and peas tonight, mashed well and I even added some water so it wouldn't be too thick. He's had sweet potatoes and peas in puree form (Earths Organic) and loves it but this he hated. He gagged like he was choking and the food wasn't even chunky. It wasn't pureed though so it did have texture to it, especially the peas. He didn't want any of it so I fed him Earths Organic pureed green beans and rice and squash instead and he was fine. I was joking with my DH that our son will be in kindergarten taking Earths pureed food for lunch. Has anyone else dealt with this? If so when did your baby start eating chunkier foods? Any advice for me?

I'd talk to his ped. It might be that he has a sensory issue.

On the other hand, my kids HATED the chunkier food...they wanted what was on my plate, period. Does he eat any solids at all? Have you offered him anything off your plate? I've found with my kids that I could give them EXACTLY the same food as I had, and they'd toss it to the floor...but feed them off my plate, and it was gone.

[Tigger2]

Wisdom~ We are having a similar issue with DS. He just turned 8 months last weekend. I tried mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. He spit them out while making the funniest face. I know it is a texture thing- He gags when I gave him the banana puff snacks and cheerios. I had broken them up so small that I know he wasn't actually chocking, but it did scare me none the less. We have tried the baby teething toast and cookies and he has done just fine. I am going to try the stage 2 foods just to get him used to the thicker textures.

I guess we just keep trying ; )

[OakShannon]

Just curious about the gagging. Does it seem to upset or bother him? (I know the food does - but I just mean the gagging itself.) My son is almost 11 months old and I do remember that when he first started self feeding, he gagged a lot. It made me really nervous! But it didn't really phase him and a few other moms told me that it was normal and their kids did it too when they first started eating solids. So I tried not to worry about it too much or to react like it scared me. (Even though it did!). Sure enough, with a little practice, he stopped gagging.

I know that D had an easier time than a lot of babies transitioning to solids. But I wonder if that bit, at least, is normal. As far as reluctance to try new textures - Melissa may have a good idea about trying to feed him what you are eating if he tends to watch you eat and seems interested. I also remember a mom whose son had a strong aversion to textures saying that she started by giving him completely smooth foods - like yogurt - and then slowly adding something like ground up graham crackers to add texture until he got used to the feel. Maybe you can try giving him the pureed Earth's Organic food that he likes and gradually add in very small amounts of finely diced, or mashed vegetables that increase the texture a little bit at a time. I guess the best strategy depends upon just how strong his aversion to texture is.

[Rubi]

My ds turned 1 yr last week. He just want to eat pureed food....But he DOES eat hard cookies, chips, my older sons cereal, bread, ect. He just doesn't lik soft food with harder pieces in it!....If your son was sensory sensitive he would not want to mouth other things, like furry toys, materials, teething rings, ect. My oldest was like that and even today (he is 5 now) he will not drink cooldrink with gas in it....My youngest, eats EVERYTHING, except mashed food!!!He- he -he....He ate a bug the other day and I cought him eating hard bird poo outside today!

[Stormster]

E still prefers pureed at 16 months! He eats other things of course but he is very picky about textures. He gets better every month. I don't think it necessarily means sensory issues. It's just easier and what they are used to.

Initially, E went straight from pureed to cheerios, goldfish and pirates booty. He still won't TOUCH stage 3 yuck! (to him) and believe me he is thriving!

[mommamarci]

My older son has severe sensory issues. He is 2 1/2 and still completely on stage 2 baby food. He has been getting therapy for the sensory stuff for more than a year. Pm me if you have questions or want specifics.

[Fran27]

Mine don't like my homemade food either... They gag. They're fine with cheerios and puffs though. Have you tried those? I'm still trying to figure out what the next step will be, considering that them putting the food in their mouth is more miss than hit still.

I might try stage 3 purees today...

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by mommamarci

My older son has severe sensory issues. He is 2 1/2 and still completely on stage 2 baby food. He has been getting therapy for the sensory stuff for more than a year. Pm me if you have questions or want specifics.

I hope I didn't seem like I was dismissing this issue. (sorry!) I just think 10 1/2 months old is on the early side to be expecting all textures to be accepted.

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Fran27

Mine don't like my homemade food either... They gag. They're fine with cheerios and puffs though. Have you tried those? I'm still trying to figure out what the next step will be, considering that them putting the food in their mouth is more miss than hit still.

I might try stage 3 purees today...

As i said E HATES stage 3. I would try cubed waffles, cubed whole wheat toast, cubed grilled cheese, Annies (or similar) Mac and Cheese (very smoothe), cubed cheese,

and if you want put some of the puree they like on the waffles or toast! The familiarity of that flavor might make it easier for them to be comfortable with it!

E also LOVES hummus!

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by Stormster

As i said E HATES stage 3. I would try cubed waffles, cubed whole wheat toast, cubed grilled cheese, Annies (or similar) Mac and Cheese (very smoothe), cubed cheese,

and if you want put some of the puree they like on the waffles or toast! The familiarity of that flavor might make it easier for them to be comfortable with it!

E also LOVES hummus!

My kiddo liked that better, too. I don't feed him jarred baby food - but he likes it better than anything I mash or puree. He prefers to be in charge of what goes in his mouth! D likes cubed tofu, rice that is sticky enough to make small balls out of (just over cook it a bit), wild blueberries (too small to choke on), chunks of melon or banana, pieces of sweet potato or squash. . . And he's agrees with E on the hummus! He loves it. He'll eat tons of steamed broccoli, cauliflower and carrots dipped in a little hummus.

Maybe pick one or two foods they are familiar with pureed and focus on that. Try a small amount at every meal until they get used to the idea of picking it up and eating it in another form.

[karla-k]

My son is now 25 months old and didn't really take to table food until over a year old. He liked baby food, period. None of my kids cared for the stage 3 foods.

I too think that it is a tad too early to worry about sensory issues. Just feed him what he'll eat and introduce other things along with it. He'll get there.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Wisdom

My DS is 10 1/2 months now and won't eat anything but pureed foods (except thick oatmeal). Anything with small lumps, chunks or any texture he absolutely won't eat. He cries, spits it out and what he doesn't get out he gags as though he's choking ( which of course freaks me out). I gave him yams and peas tonight, mashed well and I even added some water so it wouldn't be too thick. He's had sweet potatoes and peas in puree form (Earths Organic) and loves it but this he hated. He gagged like he was choking and the food wasn't even chunky. It wasn't pureed though so it did have texture to it, especially the peas. He didn't want any of it so I fed him Earths Organic pureed green beans and rice and squash instead and he was fine. I was joking with my DH that our son will be in kindergarten taking Earths pureed food for lunch. Has anyone else dealt with this? If so when did your baby start eating chunkier foods? Any advice for me?

You could be talking about Tyler. We just stuck with it. He is a MASTER gagger. He can smile, gag and cry all at the same time. I found that trying food more frequently, so he wasn't as hungry was best. Tyler never really liked chunkie food that I fed him off a spoon. He ended up going right from puree to a little chunkie, to finger food. He did a lot less gagging when he fed it to himself. I just gave up and let him control the meal times. There were meals when he ate almost nothing, but he slowly learned and got the hang of it. I would say only the last couple weeks he's enjoying eating. Now if he drops something he searchs around in his high chair till he finds it and then he eats it...

Ty's also a hummus fan. And raw peppers. *I* gag when I cut up the raw peppers...

[finallyamom0310]

DD was the same as others, hated stage three and went from stage two to table foods. She loved cheerios and bananas and canned carrots. Now of couse I can rarely get her to eat any of those.

[mommamarci]

Originally Posted by Stormster

I hope I didn't seem like I was dismissing this issue. (sorry!) I just think 10 1/2 months old is on the early side to be expecting all textures to be accepted.

No problem!