[xhw1]

Hello everyone....I am begging for help.

Our son is now 14.5 months old. We recently adopted him from Guatemala. He came home at 12 months with never having ever had anything but a bottle. Absolutely no food. Needless to say, he doesn't want anything but the bottle. We have been able to get him to eat any #2 jar food, and some #3 foods, but he doesn't care for the textures and he doesn't want to gum or chew anything. With four top and four bottom beautiful teeth and some healthy gums you'd think he would love a cracker or noodle, but he doesn't like any of them at all. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated in how to get him to transition to regular food, chicken, vegetables, bread, etc.

[nancynic]

Hi ~

Here are a few tips for introducing foods to an infant ... I hope this helps ~

Start with rice cereal with a small spoon - offer 1-2 teasspoons (in a tiny amount on a baby spoon) 1-2 times/day.

After several days, begin introducing a pureed or mashed fruit or vegetable, allowing 3-4 days before introduction of each new food. Feed with a small spoon. Don't coax to eat more than the child wants.

Always start new foods with only one or two teaspoons; add one new food at a time and wait for 3-4 days before adding another.

Let us know how it goes.

NancyNic
Parent Forums Moderator

[Sienna3]

Hi,
Has your child been evaluated by an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration? Some children adopted internationally have problems with food textures and smells that differs from the normal toddler dislikes.Basically they don't know how to chew versus not liking what you are giving.

sinetwork.org has some good info about that.

[xhw1]

Thank you for the recommendations on food. It's weird which foods he will and will not eat. Some days he'll munch on a Ritz cracker then the next he won't touch it.

We are going to an occupational therapist next week, I will let you know how it goes. Thanks.

[HappyMomAnna]

Our son is now 26 months old and has always suffered from dislike of food textures--he gags on mashed potatoes and oat meal!

Some days he will eat something and the next day he will not. He has a mouth full of teeth.....sometimes he will only eat ONE food for days and then switch to another food.

A few weeks ago I had him evaluated for early intervention with the Public schools and it does appear he had sensory integration problems.

My best advice is to slwoly introduce new foods and when you find something he does like offer that food to him often and add a new food....