Should I force my 9 month old to eat lumpy food even though he gags and vomits?

Monica - posted on 09/14/2011

Thank you all for your replies. I feel much better now. I will give him what he likes and wants and offer finger foods and hopefully he will start eating chunks and lumps when he's ready. Thanks again and lots of blessings to you and your wee ones.

Debra - posted on 09/13/2011

I think you should wait until he is ready for it, Our bodies know how to take care of itself, and there is a reason that he is vomiting up the food. He could be allergic to it or he is just not chewing it up good. My middle son was allergic to a lot of foods. He could just look at some foods and vomit. So if he said he did not want it I did not make him eat it. He developed asthma at an early age. He is 34 yrs old now and he is still bothered with food allergies and wheeze sometime. I say wait until he is ready for it.....

Melissa - posted on 09/13/2011

No i dont think so.....he isn't ready for it...I believe the opposite will happen...forcing a baby to eat will cause eating issues and fears! I say wait a few more months then try again! Some textures he may not get over. Feed him what he likes and slowly reintroduce the textures.

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/13/2011

Aww Sara! she Is SO cute! Lol love the new picture :)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/13/2011

I would just offer finger foods and let him decide what he wants to eat. It sounds like he prefers that anyway. I definitely wouldn't force him to eat. It's not necessary. Breast milk or formula has everything he needs right now.

Tasha - posted on 09/13/2011

My son is 8 months old and refuses baby food of any kind. He likes Cherrios, graham crackers and formula. Sometimes he will eat fresh cooked peas and green beans, but nothing I would count as a meal for my older children. Sounds like a texture issue and he may or maynot grow out of it. I wouldnt force him to eat. "Meals' arent important at this age so I would stick to the formula/breast milk and just feed him what he can handle.

Rachel - posted on 09/13/2011

I never forced my children to eat anything that would make them throw up. Thats just mean. If he will just eat stuff off your plate or pureed foods than thats fine and if he is still drinking formula or breast fed he is fine.

Emy - posted on 09/13/2011

dont force, he is to young. Take it fro a mother of three. If you force it he will hate it. give him what he like,eventually he will grow out of it and will eat normally

LEAH - posted on 09/13/2011

I definitely would be be giving a nine month biscuits and veggie fingers. Many people do formula and start introducing baby cereal/foods at that age. IMHO that would be more his speed. If he is still gagging on solids in a month or so, I would run it by his pediatrician. My daughter did the same thing and she ended up needing Occupational Therapy to help her along.

Good Luck!

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/13/2011

He doesn't need to be eating meals at 9 months!
His complete nutrition should be coming from breastmilk or formula, solids are strictly for FUN until a year or later. There's NO need to make any baby eat meals before their ready. As I said my son didn't even eat anything until 10 months! He wasn't eating 'meals' until 18 months he preferred to nurse. And he would eat solids as he wanted but his main meal was my milk.

Laura Zoey - posted on 09/13/2011

My son didn't even start eating baby foods until 10 months so at 9 months he was only eating my milk.
There's no reason to force any baby food especially not lumpy kinds. If he likes the smooth baby foods let him have it. But don't force feed ANY foods ever! Go withyourheart on this one and be kind to his preferences. It's his body after all, if he can't handle the lumps yet it's not fair to force it. Eating should be so much fun! Do t do anything g to take the fun out for him.
You don't need to force him and then he gets an eating disorder.

Jennifer - posted on 09/13/2011

He is getting the nutrients he needs from his formula or breastmilk. There is no need to force your baby like that. I'm sorry someone told you to do that, because there is no call for it. My kids all had trouble with foods that had 2 different textures until they were more used to finger foods. Just keep giving him the finger foods that he will eat, and feed him the purees if you want, but like I said he is getting plenty of nutrients from the formula or breastmilk.

Monica - posted on 09/12/2011

By the way, he won't eat enough finger food on his own to make up for a meal, I tried! It's more play than a real meal. Just thought I should clarify. Thanks.