I am having some feeding concerns. Currently my LOs diet consists of the following:
Oatmeal
Purees (store bought and home-made)
Puffs
Baby Cheetos
Cut up small apples (occasional -- just started this)
I'm just not sure what to give him. He gags a lot (not sure if this is normal or just a strong gag reflex that he has) on solid foods. if I give him something that doesn't slide right down -- it seems that he will gag and cough and choke. He did this with puffs at first - but now he can eat those like a champ. I see people who talk about giving their 9-11 month old kids waffle sticks, cheese cubes, bacon, etc. I could never give Rob a waffle stick because he would shove the entire thing down his throat and choke. He only has 2.5 teeth (3rd *top right*) is only half way through....just don't feel like he could chew up cheese cubes or bacon!! Any advice?
BFP #1 - 04/11/2011 - EDD: 12/22/2011 -Natural MC 5/18/2011 @ 8w6d BFP
BFP #2 - 08/12/2011 - EDD: 04/21/2012 1st U/S 9/12/2011 - Healthy baby seen -- Heartbeat at 166!
BFP #3 - 08/02/2014 - EDD: 04/09/2015 ---Prayers for a take home baby
Re: Feeding Help
Micah Leonard
Have you tried yogarts, any of the Gerber Graduates, eggs, mashed bannas, meatballs, beans, potatoes, chex, pasta, maybe shreaded cheese (instead of cubes).
Just make sure its cooked really soft or mashed and he sould be ok.
THis is my third baby (14 years later) so I am pretty relaxed about food, but its my DH's first baby and he has flipped out about everything!
Honestly, healthy babies will take what they can handle and spit out what they cant. I will give Evelyn entire slices of apples and let her chew (gum, cuz we did this toothless too) and suck on them. Yes she will also cough and gag, and if she can't break down the chunk she spits it out. I did only purees and soft foods with my first two children, this baby I wanted to try the BLW but was nervous at first and my husband was down right PANICKED but she has done great and so will your LO.
I like to give her strips of meat to gum (this feels great on their teeth) even if she doesnt get any meat of off it she will get the juices/flavor
I like to give LO sauteed zucchini (this is softer) steamed cauliflower and broccoli
we give LO greek yogurt for a snack almost every day.
scrambled eggs (but no under cooked whites allowed. Either use only the yolks, or make sure you really really really cook the whites and only give in small portions until you know if your baby has an allergy)
good luck! And enjoy its fun to watch them try :-)
We were in the same boat, I never thought DD would eat solids! She would spit everything out! Finally she decided she really likes soft fruit, especially peaches, manderine oranges, or pears. I like to buy the ones in cups since they aren't really in season right now, and i usually cut them in half. It took her a while to get used to the texture, but once she figured it out she couldn't get enough. After she got used to these she started eating other table food like a champ. It doesnt matter about the front teeth, they dont use these to chew. I am still suprised at what those gums can chew up! She still gags occasionally when she gets a bite too big, but it doesn't bother her. It took me a while to understand she was gagging and not choking. Good luck!
juniper has only 4 teeth. she is able to use the back of her jaw to mash up cubed sausage, cubed cheese, steamed veggies, shredded chicken, cooked fruits (those little cups of peaches or pears that come in clear cups), scrambled eggs, omlettes,... you name it.
she had chili with us last night, big meat pieces and beans cut in half were placed on her tray to pick up. she LOVES it.
her favorite is meatloaf.
tonight we had chicken curry.
your LO can totally manage what you are eating.. you don't need to buy packaged foods for LO, it isn't healthy!! so many preservatives, little nutrition, and LO will NEVER get a palate for tasty foods that grown ups eat!
he can do it! just be persistent, and keep an eye with the gagging. it will pass, if he can handle cheerios, he can handle meatloaf!
ps that baby is super handsome! what a doll!