Fellow Moms: My son turned 9 months this week and while we've been on solids (baby food) since he was around 6 months, any time I try the chunkier baby food (Gerber Stage 3) OR finger food (Gerber puffs, banana diced fine) he puts in his mouth but spits it back out all soggy before chewing/swallowing. This has been going on for about a week since I've really introduced it. I will keep trying each day but any other suggestions for how to teach him the concept of chewing finger foods (vs. just the pureed stuff)? I want to cut down on the amount of formula he takes (as he's a hefty guy and I think if he ate more he'd take less of that stuff) so am eager to get him eating more regular food!
Do Not Use Jarred Food!
Your Baby has already shown he has more taste than that! Microwave a sweet potato and cut it into chunks that he can gum and swallow. Stay with him the whole time, preferably while he is on your lap while you are at the table with the family eating breakfast and dinner. Use real food that your family enjoys to introduce him slowly to good food.
Hi K., My thought is to start trying things like mashed potatoes, yogurt, maybe a banana cut up. Some foods with color might catch his eye like a few froot loops. The goal is to get him to try new things. My 1st born I gave all baby products to but truth neither of my girls ever ate a baby food product we went right to table food at about a year. I used to put broccoli the tops only on their high chair tray. What ever we were eating so were they. Even a grilled cheese cut up small was fine. Tiny bites of chicken macaroni & cheese was a favorite too. I remember cutting lasgna & spaghetti up tiny too. Good luck
My 9 1/2 month old was also uninterested in finger foods, other than cheerios. As soon as he put it in his mouth he would make gagging faces, although he would eventually swallow it. After continuing to give him finger foods; peas, tiny bits of chicken, cut up bannanas, etc... he eventually just got used to it and is now much more willing to eat finger foods. I'd say just stick with your present course of action. There's nothing to worry about, he'll get it as long as you just keep on offering it to him.
Have you tried giving him smaller bottles of formula first then the food? Absolutely the formula is the primary source of nutrition for the child at this point, but maybe cut back on it a little bit (by maybe a few ounces).
He might just not be a fan of the texture just yet. Keep offering it and before long he'll enjoy it. Sometimes it takes kids a little longer to get the hang of things.
About the weight - if your pediatrician isn't worried about it, then don't drive yourself silly over it! Our little boy was a roly-poly with a beer gut but once he started walking, running, moving more, and growing taller, he thinned out considerably.
Hi,
I'm also a stay at home mom of three under the age of 4. I have a 3 &1/2 yr. old daughter, a son whos 27 months, and a son who just turned four months. My advice would be, I think it may be a little soon for stage three foods, and finger foods, for your son at this time. Don't rush it, relax, he will get adjuted to the chunkier foods in due time. Have you tried baby cereal? It's an excellent way to fill up an infants large appeitite and it helps them to sleep. You can also use baby cereal as a tool in adjusting your baby into eating chunkier foods; just gradually add less liquid. don't worry though, boys are some times a little slower at this, meaning finger foods. Hold off a while, and try again in a couple of months. good luck :)
J.
