Weaning - Anyone else have a baby that is texture sensitive to food?

Jennifer - posted on 03/23/2010

Its difficult when they become fussy eaters. The only result for that is try and try again. The eventually master the art of eating properly. They learn from their mistakes. My daughter, now 14 months went through all sorts of stages, but I kept to my feeding plan and she soon fell into that. There were some days where she refuse to eat anything I give her, so she didn't eat. They'll eat when they want to. Especially when they are teething, they are at their worst... most of the time, they won't eat, only drink milk. So my daughter only drank her milk at the times she was suppose to have one. They're very fussy little people. *:)

Hannah - posted on 03/23/2010

She eats smooth food fine, I have tried using a puree maker to make my own home cooked stuff, but sometimes even the slightest texture makes her retch. It's just weird, like she doesn't like the feel of it in her mouth. But baby cereals or shop bought jars she can eat, and finger food she WANTS to eat, but after a few chews that makes her gag too.

I am just so frustrated because I know she wants to eat more interesting foods, she loves to suck on an orange for the taste, buts she couldn't manage to eat it I don't think.



I have been advised to keep trying, but she reacts so violently to the gag reflex she retches and is sick, I'm not sure if I can.

I had no trouble like this with my first, I feel completely out of my depth!

I will try avocado and I will shop for what look like really smooth vegetables, butternut squash maybe?

Thanks for your support!

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 03/22/2010

My daughter gagged a lot. She only threw up once though and I just didn't offer that food to her again. When she gagged I just told her she was ok (although that was more for me) and she got past it and ate more. She loved avocado. I wish I would've started with that. She was licking the mushed avocado off of her fingers. It was so cute! We started trying solids at 8 months also. She's ten months now and rarely gags. It did take about 6 weeks of offering for her to not gag as much.

Allison - posted on 03/22/2010

Gagging is a normal part of learning to manipulate the muscles in the mouth. Is she gagging too much? It's hard to say. There *could* be an oral motor problem, though it isn't very likely. You could call an early intervention program if you're concerned.

How does she do on smooth things, like mushed banana or avocado? Have you seen those mesh baby feeders?

Hannah - posted on 03/22/2010

Thanks Allison I will look at that link.

I did just stop and go back to just breastfeeding, but then she woke so much without the food I thought that she must need it? She is on 90% milk though. I give her jars as it doesn't matter about the size of what I give her, it's the texture she dislikes that makes her gag, like the gritty texture of pureed potato - gag. Toast, ok for a while, but then gag. Crumb of bread - gag. I am confused!

Allison - posted on 03/22/2010

She's only 8 months...maybe she's just not ready for too much food right now. Breastmilk is good enough for the first year nutrition-wise, and foods are for exploration, experimentaion, and exposure only. Maybe you should stop the food for a couple weeks, then try it again.



What foods are you offering? Are they finger foods or jarred? Some babies have a strong preference for one or the other. Have you seen Dr. Sears' food suggestions:



http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030600...



None of my kids really ate much at all (mostly just played with the food) until at least 8 months, sometimes closer to 9. I always offered bits of foods that were small enough they couldn't choke on it, like the size of a cheerio or smaller. Soft-textured foods like tofu or ripe pear work well, too, as they can easily mash with their gums.