13 Month Old Won't Eat Solid Foods

Updated on June 24, 2009
M.L. asks from Euless, TX
14 answers

My 13 month old eats solid foods (baby foods), but won't eat any type of solid foods. He hates the texture of it. I am stumped as to what to do. It would be nice to stop buying baby food all the time.

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So What Happened?

My son is gradually tasting table foods, so when he is ready for solid foods he will be ready. I am not going to force him because he will only reject it. I appreciate all the advise that I was given.

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M.S.

answers from Lubbock on

I just wanted you to know that you are not alone and that apparently it can happen to a lot of kids. My son is 15 months and Im still buying baby food. He has a strong gag reflex and sometimes even gags on baby food! My advice is dont rush him. I have been told that. Some kids just take a while adapting into their own. I heard that boys are slower as well. Ive leared not to stress over things like that and to just come to terms with him being his own person and taking his own time to do things. He will eventually get the hang of it. Hang in there!

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

It sounds like he may have some sensory issues. My daughter who is 3 1/2 is adopted (from China) and while we didn't have this particular issue, we've dealt with a host of other issues...other sensory issues and more...all healing nicely with appropriate therapy. It's very, very common for adopted kiddos to deal with sensory dysfunction especially if they spent time in an orphanage or even foster care (foster care in China is usually quite horrible at best). Here is a link that might be helpful to read...a wealth of information on this topic.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/oral-sensitivi...

Best to you,
J.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I adopted my daughter from China when she was 12 months old. She also rejected solid food. I think she was not introduced to solid food until I adopted her. I would find her favorite food, like apple sauce or pudding and dip something solid into it. She started eating instantly. It worked quickly for me. Also she only ate Cheerios at first, nothing else. She's 4 years old now and eating up a storm.

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

You may have to find a Vietnamese mom to help you with that. I know they eat a lot of rice, but I don't know how/what they wean their babies to. You may have to start with really tasty stuff (regardless-for the most part-of nutritional value): tapioca pudding, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, french fries, etc.

If you have other children/ grandchildren/ neighbor children, perhaps they could eat together. When he sees them eating things and enjoying them, it may encourage him.

I had the same problem with my son and had to go back to 'junior' baby foods for a few minutes. I would sneak in some adult food too. It took several months, but he finally transitioned. Part of his problem, too, was that he was teething .... the pediatrician said that his gums were sore - the teeth were not broken through yet and some of the foods I was trying to get him to eat (toast & jelly, peanut butter) were not comfortable.

Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Dallas on

He likely has sensory issues which is quite common for adopted children. I don't know why I'm just familiar because my son is autistic and also has severe sensory issues. Ask Early Childhood Intervention for an evaluation of occupational therapy and read the book The Out-of-Sync Child. Also soemtimes children coming into the US are vaccinated again even though they have already received shots. Please watch for other signs of a vaccine reaction such as unexplained screaming and fevers and bowel problems. And carefully chart his milestones. If he isn't already doing it, he should be pointing and waving goodbye soon.

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

Buy 4-5 differently textured SOFT toothbrushes. Ten times per day, lightly brush every surface in his mouth---NOT JUST THE TEETH, but the tongue, under the tongue, between teeth & lips, inside cheeks, roof of mouth, ie EVERYWHERE.

It may be a struggle at first, but just keep doing a bit more each time. Over time, this should help him. There are further steps for this---let me know if you'd like more information.

D.
www.parentswithpurpose.com
____@____.com

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J.V.

answers from Dallas on

No freight ... I have a 21 mo boy who JUST began eating "adult" food. He LOVED his baby food. I asked my pediatrician and she said, baby foods are an excellent nutritional source and to continue feeding them to him. I starting giving my son Kashi Bars (the soft ones) at age 15 mo, then graham crackers and now we are on soft fruit chews. I now am making him toast his with breakfast portions. The funny thing is, he eats whatever daddy eats, with the exception of string cheese! Last night I tried chicken nuggets, he liked them! He only ate two but he ate them and then I still gave him his fruit for nutritional source. I was a little worried he didn't get enough to eat and he would wake up during the night or really early but he slept for 12 hrs!
Some mom's will say it is a palate disorder and you need to get your baby tested. The best advice I have for you is for their 15 mo check up, ask their pediatrician. Remember EVERY baby is different and are not going to follow the same patterns as other babies!
Stay positive and don't stress.

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S.C.

answers from Dallas on

I would say that he may have some sensory issues like others have said. I do not know how you feed him (highchair or where) But with my own children I feed them at the kitchen table with a chair that attached to the table and we ate dinner at the same time that I would feed them so they ended up wanting what we were eating it made it there idea that they wanted the table food. It worked out well for all three of my children including the one that I have with sensory issues. Good Luck.

Not sure how far you would like to go with this but at Our Children s House at Baylor Hospital they have Feeding therapist that will help with all feeding problems.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

My son was the same way - I thought he'd never eat real food! We just started trying adding some really soft foods like mashed potatoes to his diet. Then when he started eating those I would grind up some chicken and hide it in there. Pretty soon he started eating more things and now he's a pretty good eater. At the time I kept him on the Stage 2 formula just to make sure he was getiing all the nutrition he needed. We also found the Gerber Graduates Lil Crunchies - he would not even eat Cheerios - but once he discoverd those things he started eating things with more texture. We also gave him some freeze dried apples and pears (Brothers brand - found them at Costco or Whole Foods) that are a little crunchy but melt in their mouth - those seemed to help too. If you're worried about it definitely talk to the doctor.

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G.A.

answers from Dallas on

I got a preemie baby about a yr old when he would not eat anything but baby food. It was a battle. I should have charged a lot more. Really considered special needs. I had to keep puree table foods to get them down him. He also now at 3 still pockets food in his mouth and just sucks it and will not swallow. It took me over a year to get him to eat. Then kept making it more course ands time went on. He finally is eating without out my help but what I did find was he actually was getting better food as I pureed veggies into meats and such. Meat is the one food hard to get strained enough. He has grown to be big boy and healthy as far as growing. So Just keep trying. One day I decided that little tiny pieces I would pull apart a give it to him. I had a baby bird one time and a small amount he would and could swallow. So keep trying. G. W

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

You may just want to continue to offer table foods. He will get acustomed eventually. I know my little one liked peas and green beans to start. I noticed that you adopted a Vietnamese boy. Withouth knowing the history. If he was breastfed by his biological mother, then he may be acustomed to Vietnamese tasting food b/c that was his mother's diet. Additionally, she was supplying the food while in the womb. Just a thought and something that you may want to try. Good luck!

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H.D.

answers from Dallas on

try mashing it up and adding it to the pureed baby food that you've purchased. Little by little add less of the puree until he is just eating mashed up solid food. Then add whole small chunks to the mashed up stuff little by little until he is eating all small chunks. good luck

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R.H.

answers from Dallas on

My son did the same thing-I had to puree everything to get him to eat. He either hated the texture or didn't want to chew, who knows! Anyway, it was the one request I made of the mamasource ladies and as most of them said "boys just take longer" some talked about sensory issues. One day he just decided he didn't want baby food anymore and decided to eat solid food. Be patient, he'll do it when he's ready. My son was ready at 18 months I think. The title of my Request was almost identical to yours-feel at ease-there is nothing wrong with a 13 month old wanting baby/pureed food, my guess is that it is better for them and they know what they need.

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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

It could be that he isn't ready for solids yet. I have two daughters. One started baby food at 6 months and was well on her way to solids by 1 year. The second refused any baby food until she was 10 months and wouldn't eat any solids until 15 months. As long as he is growing, I wouldn't push it.

If you have a little time, making your own baby food is really easy. Just steam veggies and puree with a little bit of water or milk. You can do the same with meat and grains - cook them and then puree in the blender or food processor. You may find that as he eats baby food that actually tastes more like the solid food, he'll be more interested in eating them in solid form.

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