Infant gags on solid or textured food

Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to eat
smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much texture or
solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried introducing it to her in
small amounts and giving foods with very little texture but it's still not
working. She doesn't have her teeth yet (they're just below the surface).
Any suggestions on getting her used to this kind of food? Thanks.

Zen Cohen wrote:
Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to eat
smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much texture or
solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried introducing it to her in
small amounts and giving foods with very little texture but it's still not
working. She doesn't have her teeth yet (they're just below the surface).
Any suggestions on getting her used to this kind of food? Thanks.

Try her on finger foods (soft veggie or fruit cubes,
bits of cheese, etc.). Some kids have far more trouble with
chunky mashed foods than they do with finger foods. Lack of
teeth is no impediment to solids. You'd be amazed what they
can gum into submission.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Zen Cohen wrote:
Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to
eat smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much
texture or solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried
introducing it to her in small amounts and giving foods with very
little texture but it's still not working. She doesn't have her teeth
yet (they're just below the surface). Any suggestions on getting her
used to this kind of food? Thanks.

One idea is to give her finger foods. Sometimes the chunks within the puree
are harder then one chunk all by itself.

--
Nikki
Hunter 4/99
Luke 4/01
EDD 4/06

Hi --

Don't worry about what food she eats. Neither of mine would go NEAR
textures or solids until 12-13 months of age. Both were eating an
entirely normal diet by the time they were two.

--Beth Kevles

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would
like me to reply.

"Nikki" wrote:

Zen Cohen wrote:
Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to
eat smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much
texture or solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried
introducing it to her in small amounts and giving foods with very
little texture but it's still not working. She doesn't have her teeth
yet (they're just below the surface). Any suggestions on getting her
used to this kind of food? Thanks.

One idea is to give her finger foods. Sometimes the chunks within the puree
are harder then one chunk all by itself.

After my first one, I never bothered with any of the lumpy foods.
They either ate baby food (or oatmeal type cereal which turns out a
little bit more lumpy when I make it), or they ate people food. The
lumpy foods just weren't worth the trouble, were too expensive, and
the kids didn't like them.

grandma Rosalie

"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message
...
Zen Cohen wrote:
Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to eat
smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much texture
or solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried introducing it to
her in small amounts and giving foods with very little texture but it's
still not working. She doesn't have her teeth yet (they're just below the
surface). Any suggestions on getting her used to this kind of food?
Thanks.

Try her on finger foods (soft veggie or fruit cubes,
bits of cheese, etc.). Some kids have far more trouble with
chunky mashed foods than they do with finger foods. Lack of
teeth is no impediment to solids. You'd be amazed what they
can gum into submission.

In my experience, the chunky mashed foods are just confusing for many
babies. They can't tell from the texture whether they should chew or just
swallow. It's generally a little easier for them if it's obviously something
that must be chewed (gummed into submission g) than if it's a wishy-washy
mixture of textures.

That said, my oldest (like Beth's kids) didn't get the hang of chewing until
he was between 14 and 15 months old. He'd even gag on finger foods until
around that time. Needless to say, at age 8.5, he eats solid foods without a
problem.

Some people do just have a strong gag reflex, and it takes a bit longer for
babies with a strong gag reflex to sort out the whole chewing and swallowing
thing. (A strong gag reflex is often associated with asthma and/or reactive
airways issues, by the way; certainly true for me (asthma) and my son
(RAD).)
--
Be well, Barbara

I have a 10 month old with no teeth as well, and after a few weeks of the
really soft stuff, she completely refused it, but was very happy with finger
foods. At this point, everything is a finger food-and she totally won't
stand being spoon fed. Some things which she really responds well to are
soft fruits and vegetables, cooked pasta, rice, and grains, bread, cereals
(puffed wheat, rice, cheerios), and shredded meats. I'm waiting until after
age 1 for eggs and to try dairy again-she reacted badly to yogurt the first
time. But, if I was trying to spoon feed her, I don't think she'd take more
than a bite or two.

And, regardless, a baby at 10 months is still taking a lot of milk or
formula. Alli takes anywhere from 20-30 or so oz a day, and her pediatrician
would prefer her to be on the high end of that.

--
Donna DeVore Metler
Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
And Allison Joy, 11/25/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)

My daughter had some pretty severe feeding problems and was in feeding
therapy for quite awhile. One of the techniques that the therapist used to
teach her to tolerate mixed textures was to grind up graham crackers very
finely and sprinkle it over the spoon containing something she liked. As
she accepted the finer texture, we increased the size of the crumbs.

Leigh in raLeigh


"Zen Cohen" wrote in message
...
Hi, we have a 10-month-old little girl and she is still only able to eat
smooth or pureed food. When she tries to eat anything with much texture or
solid, she gags and usually throws up. We've tried introducing it to her
in small amounts and giving foods with very little texture but it's still
not working. She doesn't have her teeth yet (they're just below the
surface). Any suggestions on getting her used to this kind of food?
Thanks.