Food Suggestions for 14 Mo Old

Whatever you do don't give into his picky eating habits! Give him an option eat what he is given or don't eat. I promise he will not starve because he misses a meal or two. I know this sounds harsh but the more you give into him now the harder it will be to break the habit later. Try cutting up the food in to pices that he can handle on his own.

That said my sons (12 and 7) came close to living on chicken nuggets and french fries at one point in there lives. Eventually they got tired of them and were willing to be more adventerous with food.

I have always liked this article - http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&...

It applies to more than just peas and tells how to desensitize kids to new foods. Good luck!

My son had a similar problem. He had trouble with cereal at first and from then on food was a challenge. What my doctor recommended to me was to go the opposite route. Apparently some kids get confused about chunks in stuff that is mushy. He didn't know whether to chew or swallow so he would gag and choke. My child was never able to eat Gerber stage 3 for instance. We either fed him baby food stage 2 or went straight to bite size pieces of our food. Grilled chicken, peas, hamburger, anything we ate I would cut up into really small pieces and he would eat it with his hands. He loved eating what Mommy and Daddy were eating and he liked doing it all himself. Now he is 21 months old and the best eater ever. He will eat anything with no fuss or fight. It is has been really an amazing transition. So stick with it and soon it will be better. Good Luck!!

.

Hi Cherl,
I have a picky eatter since day 1! Around that time he seemed to like scrambled eggs, regular oatmeal- not the babyfood- and I'd puree fruit and mix in it. You could try grits, pancakes cut up. Or you could hold off on new stuff until he masters what you've already had success on.

It sounds like you have the same problem that I had 4-5 years ago. My six year old gagged on everything that had chunks in it. We tried the mashed potatoes and that ended in a mess. I would love to tell you it got better. He just turned 6 and we are still having problems. He seemed to do better with the things he had to chew more (meats, steamed veggies and all the other stuff like that). We were never able to use stage 3 baby foods because of the chunks so we kept him on stage 2 for longer. We also gave him ensure. He is still afraid to try new foods, but is getting better. He only gags every once in a while, but he is prone to heartburn (3-4 times a week). Your child may have a hyperactive gag response and I hope your doctor eventually listen to you better than ours did to us. We kept getting "as long as he is growing there isn't a problem". Good Luck and just slowly introduce new foods. Always have some of the foods he likes around so he doesn't starve.

just keep trying, you have to try the same thing several times before a child, especially a picky one, will accept a new food. and if he's eating good at day care, but not for you, maybe he's not hungry when you are feeding him dinner or he's just being stubborn. lots of kids will refuse to eat for mom or dad as a sort of power play. if this is the case, just say ok, you don't have to eat it now, but no treats. once he starts acting hungry, give him whe left overs from ealier. if he's hungry enough, he'll eat. jsut don't get into the habit of fixing one meal for the family and something special for your son, becasue this will only encourage the behavior. and if he refuses to eat, so be it. he's not going to starve from missing a meal every now and then...especially if he's eating good the rest of the day. as far aas the gagging goes...just make sure everything is cut up small enough and he's chewing well before he swallows. or maybe he just has a strong gag reflex. has the doc looked at his tonsils...sometimes if they are enlarged it makes it hard for kids to swallow.

Hi C.,
Don't stress out about it too much. I feel the same way about my son...sometimes he likes a certain food and other times he just spits it out and won't eat it. Have you tried cottage cheese or egg salad (hard boiled eggs mixed with a little mayo). Usually my son will eat this. Try to be creative. If you think your son probably won't like a certain food...try it anyway. I thought for sure my son would not like blackberries or raspberries and he LOVES them.
Good luck!

I have found with my daughter that if I feed her something I know she likes for a few bites (like mashed potatoes), then give her something new or doesn't like it as much (like carrots), she tends to take the new thing or less liked thing better. You could try mixing foods together, and I've even dipped other veggies in something like mashed potatoes and she takes that pretty well.

Keep offering a variety of foods, but don't try to force him. Most children like the familiar, and it can take numerous tries for something to become familiar.

I think you may have a picky eater. I would try the you eat what every one else eats approach (within baby reason ;)) For instance you are having baked chicken for dinner, make peas and carrots also and maybe some rice. The baby can eat all of that and the only thing you need to cut up is the chicken. He just isn't use to the texture. Applesauce is also good because it has a gritty texture to it, not like baby applesauce. If he can eat grilled cheese without gagging...he is working you into being Chef Mommy who fixes different meals for everyone. I have 3, so I don't have time to play that. At 14 months he can eat almost anything everyone else eats except peanuts, chocolate and honey unitl age 2! Just put it on his high chair tray, don't make a big deal about it, and see what happens. It will take a few meals for him to see that if he is hungry, he needs to eat! Good Luck Mommy!

Your problem is not uncommon. I am a speech therapist in an early intervention program, and I work primarily with children with feeding and swallowing disorders. It sounds like you litle boy is having "food aversions". The gagging is a sign that "something is not right". Have you spoken with your doctor about the possibility of acid reflux. Food chaining may be a good way to start to help him to advance his food tolerance. You can look up some information on-line about this, but basically you start with a food item that your chil normally eats, and then you gradually add in foods that you do not normally eat. Also I would talk to your doctor about a possible referal to a pediatric feeding team if the problem continues. Based on their evaluation, they would be able to give you suggestions. These teams are normally found at children's hospitals.

just keep trying. if you are worried about nutrition, you can always use a food processor to puree what you are eating. a lot of children have very strong texture issues, and they generally just work themselves out.

Believe me, I am right there with you. There just isn't a whole lot you can do if they won't eat certain things. My son does the exact same thing as yours, but is SLOWLY getting better. We are having better success now that he is better able to feed himself. Just keep trying new things on him a little at a time (and over and over). I know how frustrating it is...

Hi C.,

Dont know if this will help but my son was kinda the same way. He would eat for his daycare and not me. If I let him sit with his tray and not try to force him to eat it and let him do it on hiw own, it seems to help. He trys more food that way, he may not always like it, but he will try it.

I'm wondering if it's more of an oral defensiveness thing where he doesn't like the textures since you mention he's gagging on foods, rather than him not liking the foods. I'll never understand the rush to get babies eating solids. You never mentioned if you are breast or formula feeding. My only experience is with breastfeeding and I delayed solids with all 3 of mine. With the breastmilk, I knew they were getting all the nutrients they needed and never worried about the food. I just took their lead and always started them with foods that we were eating; beans, rice, pasta, other veggies, fruits, etc. Is the doctor pushing the solids? Is it something you feel he needs? I suggest trying not to stress too much over what he's not eating. You did mention that he gets mad when you try to feed him. Could he be trying to assert his independence and wanting to feed himself? Hugs to you...you're doing all the right things. He'll eat those foods when he's ready.

Dear C., The gagging sounds like he has over active gag glands. try new things slowly, and repeat often. Also try placing new foods on Your plate and sitting down in a comfortable spot with him and just act as if you are snacking on that as well. I babysit a little girl who is doing exactly the same thing.Gagging and throwing up,too. Even her Mom has told me she does this with her at home.
Realize his little stomach is only the size of HIS fist; so space out his portions, and you can always try fruits cool or cold. My baby I babysit is going through this...she seems to eat her apple sauce and chopped fruits cold or cool better these days. Maybe its her teeth or it is just getting hot.
Keep trying ..Don't give up!!! The Blessings of the Lord on You and Yours!!! LaDonna

He will eventually stop spitting it out. Feed him the things he'll eat and don't get frustrated. My son is 2 1/2 now, and I have trouble even getting him to eat more than a few bites at dinner! He eats good at daycare, but at home, or even his grandma's.... not so good.
If he's hungry... he'll eat. I know that's old and kind of cliche, but it is sooo true.
Plus, if he's gagging on things, it will make him not want to eat it again because he knows what may happen.

Our 15 months old son is the same way which was a shock to me since our first born ate anything on planet earth from the very begining.We keep offering him what we eat, sometimes he eats it sometimes he does not.For the foods that our son does eat we started buying organic so this way I know that he gets the best.He refuses to eat yogurt, so we get the yo baby with fruit I put it in the blender with juice and he driks it from the straw cup.We also get "green goodness" organic juice that has tons of green veggies in it with lots of vitamins and he likes it a lot too.
Another crazy thing, the other day I cut up some tomatos for myself as a snack and while kids were playing I sat on the floor and started eating it. Our oldest came over and wanted a bite, so after I gave it to him the youngest ran and wanted one too .After he tried,he came again and again(he hated it when I gave it to him in the high chair) So as long as he eats it I do not care if he's not in the chair.
Do not stress out about it though:)

i had the same experience as a lot of people that have responded. It sounds to me that it's not so much that he is picky as far as taste goes, but texture is his problem. My son (just like all these others) had the same problem and we pretty much skipped over stage 3 foods altogether and went straight to "big people" food. He had problems with foods like mashed potatoes and anything else that was a similar texture but also chunky until he was about 20 months old. Somehow he all of a sudden figured it out. I think eventually they will learn how to process those things in their mouths, but for now I would just give him the things he knows and loves, and periodically just keep trying to introduce some of these others until he gets it. Good luck!