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Northern California Babies
gagging on finger foods at 9+ months? (and more solids woes)
So at T's pedi appt last time, she mentioned that he's a little lean and suggested adding high calorie things like yogurt and avocado. ?He hates avocado, but yogurt is his new fave. ?She also suggested giving him some high calorie finger/table foods.
Problem is, with every finger food we've tried (even things like Puffs), if T manages to get one in his mouth, he gags on it and usually vomits. ?I tried putting it in his cheek- same results. ?Seems like every other baby his age is munching all kinds of finger foods- anyone else dealt with this? ?Any ideas??
He's also teething and will pretty much only eat yogurt lately. ?I can't figure out whether he's just being stubborn/picky ("if I refuse the applesauce I'll get yogurt") or whether his mouth hurts and yogurt is the only thing yummy enough to make it worth the discomfort.
I want to get some calories into my string bean, but don't want to reinforce pickiness, and I also don't know how much yogurt is too much! ?Anyone know anything about that?
Since becoming a parent I have wished every single day for telepathic powers... ? :-)
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Re: gagging on finger foods at 9+ months? (and more solids woes)
My friends baby had trouble with texture as well and just didn't eat finger foods, or non puree foods for awhile.
Have you tried tofu yet? Logan loves it, it goes down easy.
If T is choking on stuff, I would wait a few days and try again. Logan kinda gags sometimes. I keep an eye on the foods that triggor it and wait a few days before I offer it again. I don't think he could eat too much yogurt especially if you are trying to add calories.
The finger foods we try: tofu, any veggies that are easy to steam, black beans, string cheese.
My niece had this same issue, she was just not ready for solids and/or baby food (only bottles). My sister just kept at it, giving her mostly fruits (baby food) until she started eating other stuff. I think she was like 10 1/2 months by the time it got better.
The good thing is that your baby is at least eating yogurt - my niece didn't want anything that wasn't a bottle.
Hang in there!
I'd try mixtures of different purees. Avocado mashed with more applesauce or pear puree than avo. Only way I got M to eat avocado. You can even try it with yogurt? (sounds yuck to me, but A might dig it - I don't even like yogurt)
As for how much yogurt is too much... Yogurt is one of those foods that helps that digestive tract out - and makes the Babe a little more regular... so, you'll know if its too much. = / M would eat yogurt every meal if I let her... but it's just too much for her super pooper self.
M still gags on fingerfoods. I've just figured she wasn't quite ready and laid off them a bit. She has gotten better and will eat some fingerfoods now... and this is just starting in the last week...
I'm interpreting your question in 2 part:
1) How do I get more (good) calories into my kid
2) How do I present textured foods.
In re: to #1, mashed avacado perhaps mixed in with some other food he likes, yogurt are good. Have you tried giving him small chunks of cheese? Also adding a tablespoon of olive oil a day to his food will help up his calorie intake. We saw a nutritionist and occupanion&speach therapists for G's eating issues and all specialist encouraged us to add some oil to his food to boost-up his caloric intake. I just started doing it this week, so jury's out how it's helping his weight gain yet
Re: #2, have you tried stage 3 foods? Still a lot of puree, but there are some small chunks of food in there. Could be a decent pre-cursor to actual finger foods. Also you might try dicing small veggies/fruits and mixing it with the yogurt.
If this doesn't work, do consider making an appointment with an occupational and speech therapists and see if you can do a feeding evaluation. They will observe T eat and see if perhaps he might have something beyond just a pickiness to eating. A peace of mind doesn't hurt anyone. Just confirm that your insurance will cover the visit. They run about $300 otherwise.
Ping me if you want more info.
Good luck.
Photo by Zemya Photography
Is 9 months kind of early for OT? Aaron's 22 months and EI is saying to wait until he's 2 (he still chokes on finger food and overstuffs).
He could have an overactive gag reflex or he could just not be ready. Wait a few weeks and try again.
How "lean" is he? Is he BF? BF babies typically start moving toward 25-40th percentile and continue falling on the combined scale after 6 months (not because they're any less healthy, but because FF kids get more calories). If he is BF, use the WHO charts instead to get an idea of where he is among kids with similar diets.
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