Advice on Introducing Table Food

The blender is a wonderfull tool. Especially since you can change the settings to make the food more or less coarse.

I have an 11 month old. She used to put the food in her mouth then act like she was gagging. It took her a while to actually swallow it. I started with foods like mashed potatoes, spaghetti o's, grits, oatmeal, mac & cheese.. those worked best.

Just keep trying! He'll get the hang of it. I would also start giving him things like Cheerios that he can pick up himself!
GOOD LUCK!
K.

Yes it does take time. We just went through this same thing, my son is 14mon, and it does take patience and vigilance. We started with the fruit puffs that dissolve (Gerber) and biter biscuits. Hope this helps. Be ready to give it a month before he is good at it.

S.-

Each baby progresses at their own speed, so follow your baby's lead not anyone elses experience with their child. Some babies go to the cereal or table foods early some don't.

Just because a baby is a certain age doesn't mean he is ready for table food.

When our son transitioned to table foods we started giving him mashed bananas, cheerios, and those dissolving puffs by Gerber. We gave the puffs, not because they are very nutritional but rather to get him use to more solid or crunchy foods and to teach him to chew or gum it, but they also dissolve so there isn't the huge fear of choking. Our son seemed to move slow when a new "texture" of food was introduced, so I would just let your baby guide you.

Doctors give advice based on the general societal norm, but every baby moves at their own pace. Keep offering and the baby will eat "table food" when he is ready.

Here are a few web site discussions on the topic you may find useful.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyfeeding/113.html

www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/solids.html

http://lalecheleague.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=35259

My DS is Breastfed (and still is at 13 months for most of nutritional needs...and we plan to for as long as we both are happy doing it). He just scoffed at solids for quite a while...not *that* interested at all. Around 9 - 10 mo, I could finally get him to eat a little but I could tell it was a novelty to him. He wasn't a big fan of the soft food on a spoon. He'd just grab or bite the spoon.

I did have the best luck with the Gerber puffs. I'd break them in 1/2 or 1/4's and just put them in his mouth, and he'd smile and they would dissolve in there. Sweet potato and banana puffs were the best! Small diced up bananas and avocado were his favorites when he finally got the hang of it!

Good luck with this! Keep trying and he'll get the hang of it. Some babies skip the soft, mushy food on a spoon "baby food" and just go to the finger foods when they develop their pincher grasp around 10 to 12 months. It's more fun to feed oneself right? Babies under a year need all their nutrition from rich, nutritious breastmilk preferably, or formula if they are not BF. Solids are just something for them to get used to and they will all develop at their own pace. You know he's really READY when he starts grabbing at your food and stuffing it into his mouth! LOL

Have fun with it and don't worry!!!
:-)

It sounds like he isn't hungry. Is he drinking a bottle before the meal? More importantly, babies develope at different paces. Just continue to feed him a thick baby food and offer small bites from time to time. One day soon he will gobble it up! My friends' babies all walked between 8 and 12 months. My two children did not walk until 13 1/2 months! All were normal.

My suggestion is to keep trying. It may seem frustrating, but eventually your baby will get it. I have a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old. Don't give up.

S.

Try old food and new food togeter.While you are feeding baby food to him let him hold a cracker or a goldfish cracker. There are so mamy finger foods to try,and let him watch you eat.Give him some cheese off of your pizza.Let him pick up cherrios off the feeding tray.He is still young and will get on to the people food before you know it.How about ice cream?Or the little pudding cups and give him a spoon to try and help him get it to his mouth,them give a big hummmmmmm or big eyes and say wow or good. Cut up banannas are good too.But,let him see what you are eating and offer to share.Either way,don't be in such a hurry-before you know it you'll be wondering where he is putting all that food.It'll happen soon enough and believe me some drs.are great for being sick and advice but do what you feel is right for you and him.It will all work out.God bless you----sl

We had good luck starting with the baby rice cereal...mixed (really thin) with breast milk or formula. The taste is bland....and will be easier for him to adjust to. The texture is a little thicker than the liquid he's been used to, but not much. Use a small spoon and expect to make a mess. .....and yes, it takes awhile.

Also, if he eats just a couple of tablespoons of cereal at a sitting when you're just starting out.....consider the meal a success. The first meals are really small...just a couple of tablespoons in the beginning....

Spoon feeding takes some getting used to....and you'll probably use the spoon to "shave" each bite off his chin a couple of times and re-insert it into his mouth before it actually goes down the right way. Just expect it to be a mess.....and look happy the whole time, talking softly and smiling.....so he'll get the idea that this is something to look forward to.

Once he gets the idea that the stuff is intended for swallowing, you can try some of the finger-foods that he can pinch and pick-up....like green peas or bits of banana.....but I'd start with spoon-fed cereal first, and let him get the used to swallowing solid foods. A bit of mashed banana on a spoon can be good, too, or some STRAINED applesauce......but the bland taste of the cereal will probably be easier for him to receive right at first.

Once he's better at pinching and picking up little bits, noodles (cut up), green peas, anything small and pick-up-able will be great...but you may still want to use the baby cereal mixed with formula or breast milk for awhile.....and unsweetened applesause (we actually used the strained applesauce for awhile until our little guy was better able to handle the more grown-up texture of regular unsweetened applesauce).

Table food mashed up with a fork and spoon fed (squash, sweet potato, green beans, creamed pototoes) all came to be favorites, in addition to the things he could pick up and feed himself. Also, small bits of dry toast were a favorite.....and cheerios, of course.....but that all comes a little later....when he's better at the skill of feeding himself with his fingers.

Right now....and for the rest of his first year....his primary source of nutrition will continue to be either breast milk or formula.....so don't worry if he doesn't get a lot of solid food in his diet....this is just a time to learn to eat...and to fill in the gaps so he stays satisfied longer....(hopefully at night, anyhow.....)

Also, realize that a new food has to be introduced several times before he develops a taste for it....so if he rejects something, don't abandon it for good.....just give it a rest for now...and give him another try with it tommorow and the next day...along with some things that he does like....so he learns to enjoy a variety of things.

Good luck!

Hi S.!

How has your son been doing with baby food? Has he been eating baby food without any problems? Has he been introduced to baby food by stages and all the different flavors? If he is eating baby food without any problems, and is getting all the nutrition he needs, I wouldn't stress about the table food. I would just continue to try the different table foods, until he eventually begins to adjusts to the different flavors and textures, but continue the baby foods, so that he will get the nutrition he needs. It does take time, since table food is seasoned differently than baby foods. Everything with babies and toddlers is a gradual process. I have a three year old that still doesn't eat all the different meats and vegetables. He loves hot dogs, chicken nuggets, PB&J sandwiches, and cheese pizza. Put a pork chop, or roast, etc. in front of him, and he says "yuk". I just keep trying. In the meantime, I am giving him vitamins, in case he isn't getting all of the nutrition he needs, until he eventually decides he to eat other meats and vegetables. His 4 year old brother eats most everything.
Hope this helps.
Mom again-L.

S., don't worry... when he's ready to eat table food, he will. Just keep introducing it - just don't have any expectations... I highly recommend the books - "WHat to expect the first year" and " what to expect the toddler years" - they are part of the "what to expect when you're expecting" books.... Really informative.
Good luck and don't worry - you're doing great!
L.

I assume he does okay with baby food. You can try to thicken up baby food with baby cereal and gradually make it thicker and thicker or try oatmeal. Then you can start with mushed peas and carrots or mashed potatoes. If he learns to chew the thicker food then he can take that new skill and use it on partially mashed food and then finally small bites of food.
Partially mashed foods you can try are bananas, cooked peas, cooked carrots, sweet potatoes and numerous fruits.

S.,
Hi! I breast fed both of my children completely until they were at least 9 months old, much in spite of the "They will never eat if you don't give them something by 4-6 mo." Both of my children eat a large variety of food and have stable weights with no stomach/ bowel problems. I started with the baby safe feeders. They are mesh bags that you fill with whatever food you may be eating, minus allergens, and give to them to chew on. when they grind it up small enough they can suck it thru the mesh. It worked great for us. Peaceful dinner, they learned to chew and swallow and I had no choking fears. You don't have to chop it up except to fit. Watermelon , greenbean cassarole, rice were all favs! You can get them at Babies R Us, Burlington, I've even seen them at Wal mart, I think! Hope this helps! Trust yourself!
M.

Hi S.,

Yes, it just takes a while for your son to get used to the food. I have boy/girl twins and my son took a lot longer to get used to textures and chewing (or gumming). My daughter quit all foods with a spoon and I have been giving her table food since she was 5 1/2 months. My son would gag on ANYTHING though. But, I read that the sooner you get them to trying textures the easier it is for them to begin eating table food. So, just keep going. It will be messy and feel like they are spitting it all out, but he is really just getting used to it. When you think it is not working and want to go back to baby food that is when it is about to change! Boys really do seem to take longer than girls. That was the only way I knew my son was going to come around. I did apple sauce (not baby food apple sauce) from the main isle in the store, oatmeal, cheese was a good thing to do, and thenand stage 3 green beans because it has small chunks and it is not too scary. I hope this helps! Email again if you have any other questions. My name is S. and my email is ____@____.com

S.

Trying new foods and textures is overwealming to a baby. Keep trying and encourage him even if he spits it out. Try smaller bites and try of the gerber puffs that dissolve. Eating is a learned behavior and it all takes time. Good luck and don't get discouraged!

I would suggest start feeding the baby with soft foods i.e. mashed potatoes, soft scrambled eggs and adding a little applesause. This usually helps and give a good taste. Every meal does not have to be table food. Just start to mix it. If he spits it out add a little something else like peaches. But be sure you mash the food well and maybe he just doesn't like it. This should help.

C.

Has your child eaten Stage 3 baby food yet? My pediatrician doesn't want my son (will be 9 months old 8/27) to even start on 3rd foods yet. I would say to try the Stage 3 foods first before going straight to table foods. How many teeth does your child have? I also have a 3 1/2 year old and it does take awhile for them to get accustomed to table food.

He just needs to get used to it. It is probably bizarre to him, as he hasn't eaten anything like it before. I think you are doing the right thing. Continue to do that and eventually he will respond. My twins are two and it took them a VERY long time to acclimate to table food. I was almost embarassed that we were still feeding them jar food for such a long time. Then one day, suddenly, no more jars! They also liked those Gerber fruit puffs, they dissolve in their mouths. Have you tried those? I know it is frustrating for you both. Good luck.

Don't be alarmed yet! I work for an early intervention program that works with children from birth to age 3. Table foods, baby foods should be introduced at this age, but it is normal for children to do what you are describing what yours does. It may take many tries and even a month or two for your child to get used to this different texture and knowing what to do and how to swallow. I wouldn't over stimulate and try at every feeding but at least once a day to see if he will learn to use his tongue and swallow reflexes together! It is recommended btw 8 months to 12 months. The wide age is normal/typical. If after 12 months your child still doesn't know what to do, or is not trying to finger feed then talk to your doctor about this! :) C.

Does he have teeth?? I have 4 kids and I gave them a taste of something here and there.... but never gave solid foods until 1 year old to supplement nutrition when coming off formula. -Id wait-so that he doesn't start to associate eating with gaging.
J.

Does he have enough teeth to be able to chew? Does he do well with baby food? Maybe the best thing would be to move up a stage in the jar baby foods so that it's a bit chunkier to get him used to the texture/consistency. He is not used to texture yet if he has been on regular baby food so it may just take some getting used to.

I'm with Linda to a large extent. If he doesn't know to gum it, move it and swallow it, then he's not ready for it. I'd revert to mostly bottle/breast feeding and try some pureed foods with him. Not chunks of any size.

That sweet potato suggestion was a good one. So are various types of beans, like Kidney and Black Beans or Lima Beans and Field Peas. Fruits will also do well. Bananas, which don't have to be steamed first, especially.

After steaming, put them in a blender or food processor. If they come out too thick, add a little formula or water. Then spoon them into empty ice trays to be thawed as needed. He'll probably only manage a few bites at a time, but it will give him the idea.

Until his instinct to move food to the back of his mouth kicks in, you're just not going to have a lot of luck.

Dear Married:

Our children loved flavored cereal mixed (Gerber) with #1 jar food (Gerber apple sauce or pears) with a little formula mixed in and they loved it...all 4 of them. If your baby is not ready for solid table food, then continue with something he is comfortable with until he's ready. I hoped this helped.

A.

My son wasn't very interested at first. So I'd just try it once a week or so and eventually he became interested and figured out what to do. I think he also became more interested when he was around and watching another baby who was eating table food. Now he eats everything!

What are you offering him? I know by 9 months, my baby was begging for food when we sat down to eat. lol She wanted what we were having, not what we put down in front of her. So I'd say eat in front of him and be very conspicuous about it for a couple of days. Get him interested and let him see you chew and enjoy your table food. If he acts like he wants a bite, give him just a bit - even if it's something you would not normally let him have (pizza, for example) because of nutritious content.

I'll bet he'll be eating anything you put in front of him in a couple of weeks. He just needs to realize you have have the good stuff on your plate!

Oh, and my rule of thumb is the food must be the size of a green pea or smaller. Especially hard or dense foods like apple, etc. That way I can rest assured if she swallows it whole it won't choke her. And by the looks of her diapers, I can tell she's definitely not chewing it all up. lol

I am sure he will eat when he is ready - I would keep ofering pureed foods - or other semi solid stuff like yogurt
My son was almost completely breast fed till he was 14 months old and bleive me not for lack of trying - he just was not interested - I used to feel very bad about it - but i just kept offering pureed foods and now he will even eat cut up pizza

I think that it's important to follow your instincts. Every child is very different. What works for one may not work for the other.

But I'm not surprised to hear that your baby is having difficulty with table foods at that age. We had that experience with our daughter, too...and though we didn't force it too much, we did keep offering it to her, and eventually, she caught on to table food.

It could be that he is not ready yet for these kinds of foods. I know with both of my daughters a favorite was pureed sweet potatoes, babies love those generally. And as they get ready to start learning to chew, you could cook them really soft in small bites, basically just scooping some of the potato with a small spoon works well. If you use fresh ones, the rest of the family can eat them too. If I can think of anything else, I will add to the post.

I have a nine month old daughter on Spet 2. She is breast feed and wasn't really into "food" especially table food. We were having mash potatoes for dinner one night and she was fussing so my husband just plop a spoonful onto her highchair tray. She dig in with both fist and we haven't had a problem since. Maybe it is the idea that she was doing it herself that got her to like table food, but now I am not have a problem.

Have you tried letting him do it himself? I just know I waited till my alomost three year son was over a year before I gave him table food and he is picky and won't eat veggies. Hopefully my daughter won't be the same.

Just don't give up, try something every day and one of these days he will like something.
K.

We just had the go-ahead from our Dr. too. I have actually had to show my daughter how to move her jaw up and down. she copies almost anything I do, so this has helped us a lot. we have tried the fruit puffs from gerber and i have broken them in two. these may be easier for your little one because when they get wet they melt- thus making it easier to mash and swallow. i have tried a few of these after mealtimes, when she is not as hungry, to get her used to them.
remember all kids do things in their own time, just keep trying and one day your little one will catch on.
hope this helps,
M.

I used cheerios with mine--they go to mush once they're in their mouths. I milk allergies are not a problem, try large curd cottage cheese--just put a little bit in front of him. small pieces of ripe banana wok well, too. Hope this helps!

yeah, he'll get used to it. i'd just give him things you know he likes along with table foods on the side for him to pick through(peas, soft potatoes, carrots, small diced peaches, etc.) good luck.

you want an honest answer? stop the table fooda and put him back on breast milk

Hi Shelly I have four kids and they all were different when it came to table food. Pick one food and just stay with it for a week or so this will also help with knowing if he develops an allergy.Gerber makes starter foods that are pretty soft.

S.

Hi Shelly,
Yes it does take them a few times to get the hang of it. I am assuming he has been on baby foods, so I would suggest starting with the foods that were his favorites in baby food. Like if peaches were his fav then get some that are overly ripe and soft and chop into tiny pieces. Just start off with things that are almost the consistency of the baby food and don't require alot of chewing. Jello (suger free) is a good one to get them used to "eating" it will melt in their mouth. Also you can try (if you haven't all ready) to just geve him some crackers or other things that will get mushy in his mouth, and just let him do it on his own. And make a big deal about him eating what Mommmy and Daddy are eating. HTH