Tips on How to Start Lumpy Foods

I am having this problem too. My son is 9months and has 4 teeth. I still give him Gerber 1st and 2nd foods. When I've tried cheerios and puffs, he makes himself gag - a texture issue. I was worried at first that he was choking but now I realize its only because its different.

I know he likes grown up foods - he is constantly trying to eat my food. Last night he wanted my meatball and sauce. I gave him a nibble and he did fine. He's also lurched forward for my pizza and my fruit - cut mellons - which I used to let him suck on until he started biting chunks and then I got worried about him choking.

I was going to ask the Pediatrician tomorrow at his 9mo visit. I think the gagging thing is normal but I want to check. I also wanted him to give me some advice on what and when to offer foods.

E.,
I used to make my son's food from scratch because everything was trial and error. I heavily relied on my mini food processor and i would customize the chunks for his age or when i felt that he would be ready for something thinker or chunkier. I would only use the jarred food when i was in a hurry or i would add it to what ever i was making. If your child is spitting out the food chances are she is not ready for the chunks. i would put it in a food processor and blend it to where there are less chunks in it. 9 months seems a little early to be ravioli bites and such and i think that stage 3 is more for 12 months and up. I would check out gerber.com they have the chart for when your baby is ready for such foods. also if you want an alternative brand. My son would devour things from www.healthytimes.com they are not anything that i have ever tasted and much more appetizing than what's in the stores.
Good luck.
L.

9 months seems really early for chunky table foods. There's no reason why she has to eat them now unless she wants to, which she clearly does not. My son eats everything off the table now (12 months). At 9 months, he was eating 2nd foods, cheerios, and puffs. He never really liked 3rd foods, so I never gave them. You could stop the chunky foods, continue giving her what she likes, and then try again in a few weeks. She may be totally into it by then.

Try a little at a time my daughter is like a garbage disposal and will eat anything and everything and askes for green beans some days and others she wants nothing to with the food she just wants her puffs and her wagon wheels or her go-gurts. It all depends on what they feel and if she sees you giving reaction to when she spits it out...they may also be the issue because that is when my daughter does it the most is if I acknowledge it. Every kid is different. My daughter ate off a spoon at 2 months and started eating table food at like 6 so like everyone is saying..relax!

My son didn't like any of the Gerber graduate stuff either. I wouldn't worry too much, just keep trying soft fruits and veggies. I had the most luck with bananas and zucchini. Squash and zucchini get very soft once you microwave them. My son still loves them. I also got one of those food mills - $12 at babies r us. It was better than a processor, it got the food much smoother. That might be something to try too. Then at least you can give her some of what you are eating and get her used to different tastes.

When they spit it out, it usually means they are not ready for the lumpy stuff. It took my daughter a while to even eat the little chunks. Each baby is different. Instead of buying the gerber stuff you can just mash up whatever veggies or dinner you are having that night. It'll save you a lot of money. You can also control the consistency of the food better. So you can mash it to the lumpiness she would eat and slowly increase it. Hope this helps and good luck.

Y.

The puff snacks disintegrate in their mouths and don't require any chewing, so I wouldn't look to that as proof that she can chew. If she's not ready, she's just not ready, and just because you "can" start table foods doesn't mean you "must" start table food. I say relax about it and try her again every couple of weeks and she'll let you know when she's ready.