Trying new foods with 10 month old/sensitive gag reflex?

Serendipity07

I'm trying to expand DS's variety as far as foods but it's been challenging lately. He eats baby food just fine and pretty much likes all fruits/veggies, etc.

Two problems though:

1) He has a sensitive gag reflex so anything even remotely chunky makes him gag so bad that he sometimes throws up a bit. You should see his little face - it's like he WANTS to eat it but hass a really hard time with the texture. I know he can't eat pureed food and baby food forever though.

2) He will eat yogurt drops, gerber puffs, avocado and animal crackers (although making a face and hesitantly/sometimes gagging) but he refuses to pick it up and put it in his own mouth. He'll pick everything up, no problem and has excellent fine motor skills. He just doesn't put it in his mouth. However, he'll let US put it in his mouth. Other than that he'll just hold the snack or play with it and never puts it in his mouth.

Any ideas/suggestions? I want him to be trying new and different things food-wise but would like some more ideas as well as ideas on the gag reflex issue and not wanting to put finger food in his own mouth. TIA!

HarrietNJMommy

DD#1 ate pureed baby food until she was almost 19 months old. She had no idea how to chew and swallow "table" food, and we even went to a feeding hospital. I had to go every 3 weeks for 6 months. They gave me a lot of techniques to use.

I would keep trying. Start with the purees, and it's NORMAL for a 1 year old to be eating mostly pureed food.

Bananas are easy. Mash them up really fine, and then get thicker and thicker until he can handle it.

You have to be patient. This may take months, even up to a year for him to do it.

GL! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Serendipity07

Thanks!  I know I shouldn't expect too much too soon and I know they do certain things in their own time. I need to quit looking at a few of my friends kids who are close in age and doing better with solid foods. (because some of them don't get up and cruise much, but DS is constantly cruising around...)

I have a Beaba Baby Cook that was given to me as a gift but have been hesitant to try it - I guess I should just bite the bullet and use it - that way I can make more variety and consistency for DS. Thanks again! )

susanmosley

My speech therapist side is slightly intrigued and may suggest a feeding evaluation by an SLP or OT.  A couple of things you said make my ears (eyes) perk up.

My mommy side says time and practice.  

It takes a lot of oral skill to chew then organize inconsistent consistencies of food into a bolus to swallow.  In the meantime, pieces get loose and stuck in their cheeks and can cause gagging and messes.  Does he cry or get upset at meal time?

Does he put other things in his mouth? (like toys, random things he picks up off the ground, etc)

Eating purees and mushy foods (mostly fruits and veggies) is pretty normal for that age.  Have you tried soft cooked beans as another finger food?  or pieces of pasta?

Don't stress, I know that for sure  

waters2bsoon

Don't stress. Totally normal for his age!!! DD was 15 months and still on purees.

 What about mashed bananas and avocados mixed? (sounds gross...but it's good!)

steamed green beans cut small, or peas would be good.

small curd cottage cheese (mix with applesauce to make sweeter)

what about couscous? small bites!!

 baby goldfish cracker broken in half worked good for us.

what about a food mesh feeder? he can get different tastes and textures and shouldn't be able to gag on them. we did frozen fruit or veggies in them. worked great!

 

Serendipity07

Great ideas ladies -

Susan - he doesn't put too many things in his mouth really - he'll occassionally chew on a toy for a few seconds but he's not into it too much. He was the type of baby that refused a pacifier from day 1 and has never used one.

He doesn't cry or get upset during meal times at all.

Sorry, I'm just new to all of this as a first time mommy and want to make sure he's doing ok!

susanmosley

Serendipity07:

Great ideas ladies -

Susan - he doesn't put too many things in his mouth really - he'll occassionally chew on a toy for a few seconds but he's not into it too much. He was the type of baby that refused a pacifier from day 1 and has never used one.

He doesn't cry or get upset during meal times at all.

Sorry, I'm just new to all of this as a first time mommy and want to make sure he's doing ok!

Don't be sorry.  Sounds like you are a great mom!  Just keep encouraging it and making meal time enjoyable and if you don't see progress over the next 2-3 months, may want to talk to your pedi again or consult an OT or SLP.  I bet all is just fine.

Fringle

We have the same issues with DS.  He's almost 14 months old, just started finger feeding on Friday and gags a lot while eating.  We have been seeing a speech therapist for feeding therapy and it is helping.

One thing that really seemed to help was getting him an electic toothbrush.  It took about 2 weeks of playing with it before he would even let me put it in his mouth.  He LOVES it now and it seems like using it to brush his teeth regularly helps the gag reflex.

Be patient and work up to more texture varieties.  We discovered that DS did well with chunky stuff mixed into a puree.  He could eat small banana pieces in applesauce but gagged if we gave him the same banana without applesauce.  Some kids are the other way.  Experiment a little and see what works best for him.

Challenge him a little at every meal or snack.  Take a food that you know is a little harder for him and have him eat that as part of his meal.  Some days are better than others.  DS can be fine with fork mashed foods one day and gag until he vomits on them the next.  Take it slow.  You want to challenge him but not make it so difficult he doesn't want to eat.  And always end with an easy food to make sure he's getting enough and to end mealtime on a good note.

I finally got DS to finger feed by bribing him with brownies.   I would crumble up a little and put it on his tray.  I fed him a bite or two and then walk away.  I just puttered around the kitchen making his lunch or cleaning up and talking to him but not feeding him the brownie.  After 5-10 minutes of him not eating I would just clear his tray and move on with the rest of our day.  It only took about 4 days once I tried this.  At first I did it at the end of the meal, but finally I did it before he ate.  I figured if he wanted that brownie bad enough he'd figure it out.  He did.

Temp174496125006552

Ben had a horrific gag reflex and was on purees and baby cereal until 14 or 15 months.  I just kept offering different things every couple of weeks until he could tolerate foods with any kind of texture. 

I know the feeling of wanting them to eat table food and try new things, but he just might not be ready.  When I would talk to the pedi about Ben's issue with this, she said to just be patient and he would outgrow it, which he did.  GL!

Serendipity07

Thanks everyone - I feel much more relieved about this topic now! I appreciate all the advice/ideas! )

Whitney and Erran

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a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be

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a few months old, but I was

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a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning

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I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 y

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex.

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag r

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger g

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all an

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding t

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding therapist now for

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed.

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding therapist now for 3 weeks, it's

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding therapist now for 3

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding therapist now for 3 weeks, it's slow

Whitney and Erran

Hi -

I know this post is quite

a few months old, but I was hoping to know what the outcome was. I have a son who will be turning 1 year old this week and he has a terrible gag reflex. He can't eat finger foods at all and wants everything pureed. We've been seeing a feeding therapist now for 3 weeks, it's slow going