A Picky Eater

A., I raised six and they were all eating table food at six months. If they will eat it then give it to them. They will be more content.

I would try starting them with some basic table food- like rice, cheerios, pasta, or oatmeal. I think my son was around this age when he started rejecting all baby food, also. He took right to table food. Of course, now he is turned into the little picky eater with that... :)
Take a look here as a kind of guide:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

I have two children now 15 and 9. When they started getting a bit 'picky', around the same age actually, I began to introduce them to a sort of 'home cooking'. I would give them creamed potatoes or boil my own carrots and mash them without adding spices or butter. For some reason, the home cooked veggies have quite a bit more natural flavor than the baby food in the jars. I don't know if it will work for you but it did for me and both of my children would rather have vegetables and fruits than anything else. Even broccoli has never been an issue with ither of them. Maybe I got lucky or maybe I did something right for a change! LOL Anyway, good luck and congratulations on the twins.

No, that's not correct. What did babies do 100 years ago before Gerber? They ate regular food. One of mine has always liked really flavorful and even spicy foods; her favorite food is guacamole. I know a baby who was eating turkey legs at 9 months. Just give her something new. She could start trying to feed herself now. Just cover everything in plastic (including yourself) so the mess is easier to clean up. There are potential allergens that should wait until after 1 or so, so just don't add those.

My youngest is 10 months old, and he has been on "table food" consistently for over a month now. He got to the point where he wouldn't eat baby food either, and my pediatrician said that as early as 7 or 8 months you can start on age appropriate table foods. Just remember to avoid the allergy foods...peanuts (including peanut butter), shellfish, and egg whites, although scrambled eggs are o.k. Just make sure that the food is in very small pieces to avoid choking.

A., I think your babies are ready for some table foods. I also have 2 children ages 2 and 5. I would boil and mash some potatoes for them or carrots. Sometimes simple foods are just what they need. I would try smashed apples, smashed bananas, strawberries, watermelon things like that. Good luck.

The main things they shouldnt be experimenting with now are nuts, citric fruits, egg whites, honey, cows milk, and anything that is a choking hazard. I have a picky eater as well, but our pediatrician said he expected her to be eating food off my plate around 9 months. Look into it, there are so many other things you could be feeding them now. My daughter never ate baby food because of the texture.

they are probably getting tired of the same old bland stuff. do they have teeth yet. i started letting my daughter have table food when she was like 6 months old. she had several teeth so i just chopped everything up really fine. try ginving them some of the toddler food/snacks that gerber makes. it will introduce them to new tastes and textures.

I have boy/girl twins that are now 7 years old and I feel your pain. Mine did the same thing. My daughter always and still eats everything. My son is a different story. No it is not too soon to start table foods if they are ready. Mine were and each child is different. I am a pediatric nurse, and sometimes even the docs don't know it all. My son ended up having some sensory issues that involved textures of food and speech problems. He is still a very picky eater but getting better. My brother was the same way and my Mom worried so much about him. Now he eats everything. Hang in there and keep trying foods.

I think you can actually start adding table foods at 9 months. Every baby is different though. My son only ate baby food (didn't want table foods at all) until he was 14 months old. My daughter is very different ... she's incredibly independent, and only wanted table foods (and to feed herself) well before she was a year old! I think their taste buds will change as they age, and they might also prefer certain textures. My daughter really likes crunchy foods best (but will eat other things, too). She's been eating table foods only since she was 10 or 11 months old. See ... even my kids are different! Ha ha! You might try mixing it up a bit ... feed them a little baby food (the chunkier, more textured stuff with veggies in it), and also giving them some table foods and letting them try to feed themselves. They might just like that variety! Good luck to you!

I personly don't like the way that some doctors and "experts" give a specific age for doing anything. On the other hand juvenile diabetes and obesity are on a major rise and I believe that is their biggest concern right now. We live in a fast paced world and a lot of the foods available at our convenience isn't good for our families. As for my own children, I slowly started my first girl on table food as early as five months. The jar food wasn't keeping her full. My second one started around seven months. Her problem was texture. She wanted something she didn't just slurp down. She also just wanted to do it herself. As long as she could pick it up and it was still soft enough for her to smash with her gums she was happy. I made sure it was all healthful though. Mostly steamed veggies and mashed potatoes; adding one food a week, watching for allergies just as with the jar food. You know your children better than anyone else. Try a few things and see how it goes. As long as none of the new foods are junk foods your babies should be fine. And finally, if you have any doubts, call they're ped. and see what he/she has to say. Good luck.

Hey A.!
Sounds like she is ready to eat some new foods and textures. Kids are so good at letting us know what they do and dont want arent they?!? I am a feeding therapist and work with families all the time on transitioning from various food types. I just did a website over the Christmas holidays and I have an awesome link to information on "feeding milestones." It will give you some ideas on foods to try and at what age it is safe to attempt various food types. Hope this helps and feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Good luck.
J. M.
www.jennifermcveyslp.com