First baby - Help please - How old do most babies entirely stop eating baby food?

Question

My daughter is a week away from 14 mths & has started turning her nose up at baby food.

We're introducing more & more tiny bits of table food all the time. She likes cheese, goldfish crackers (& other crackers), yogurt, yogurt drinks, pasta, cut up hamburgers, diced ham, popcorn curls, cut up grapes, bananas, cooked carrots, peas, corn etc. (Also tried scrambled eggs, toast w/jam - not a hit) She eats table food very slowly & much of her food stays on the tray or hits the floor.

Adding to the problem is that with:
1. a small esophagus, (born with it, expected to outgrow by about 18-24 months, makes her gag & cough lots)
2. only 2 bottom front teeth (just through since December & no sign of anymore on the way) &
3. the fact that she's at the VERY bottom of the weight precentile charts at 18lbs 6 oz. (& the pediatrician's reading me the riot act)

I'm worried if I don't keep giving her baby food then she won't eat enough to grow and thrive.

What do I do?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Don't worry, you're not alone. Used to worry a lot about baby not eating properly. Mine didn't like baby food -- at all. Not a bottle finished except apple sauce. Truthfully, have you tasted those yourself? They not tasty. So, I gave up and made my own.

So, I started using food processor to grind up our dinner before it was heavily seasoned for adults' taste. Baby ate that. Some boiled chicken, carrots and rice. Like a chicken soup mesh. Love it.

Plus, of course, milk at regular intervals. Just anything soft. Grapes was a big hit without skin.(yes, the good old days I sat there and peeled every grape) Spaghetti. Banana came later. Mashed potatoes with sauce. Strawberries, Cheese, crackers...

Some was on the floor. Sure. Don't worry. They actually don't need to eat a whole lot, but just so that they do eat and drink at regular interval.

Portions -- really depends on their mood. Oh. The color of the food was important. Some kids don't eat yellow, orange or any colored food that they decided not to like -- for example, papaya is orange, corn is yellow -- and they don't like it. It's a phase. Be patient.

Do check with doctors. They usually sooth my mind when I have questions.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

my daughter wasn't in to babyfood for long either. I started getting those gerber toddler things. They are sold near where they sell the babyfood jars. The food is bland..full of nutrition but not pureed. My daughter was small for her age but the pediatrician she had said it is about healthiness not size. Kids come in all shapes and sizes. If you feel she is not getting the nutrients she needs and seems hungry. Offer small things all day instead of big meals. My daughter LOVED macaroni and cheese at that age. Since your daughter can't chew well and has to take small bites try cutting it up in very tiny pieces. If you can add peas to it ..even better. Bananas are usually easily gummed..again cut it up in small pieces. If you still don't feel she is getting enough nutrients offer her pediasure. I had to give my daughter that for awhile..she HATED it so i would make her some fresh fruit smoothes and a kids multivitamin...she is now a thriving healthy girl that will be 4 in 3 weeks. She is still petite for her age (in the 5% area of the weight chart) but super healthy. Good luck!! ooh one more thing...my daughter doesn't like meat..she'll eat it randomly now but hated it at that age. The pediatrician recommended tofu. SHE LOVES IT! kids generally like it because it doesn't have much flavor. You might try using it..its soft and easily gummed. Plus has a lot of nutritional value.

Answer 3

I think you are on the right track. My daughter is 2 years old and we transitioned her from baby food to table food around 12 months. We were carefull with cutting pieces for her in the beginning of the transition and jwe ust guaged what was appropriate as time went on. Every baby is different in their development. We have two sets of friends with girls that were born just around the time my daughter was born, and they have all developed differently. My daughter was early to walk and climb, but slower to talk. One of the girls didn't walk until she was 16 months. The other was talking at 14 months, but is slower with her social skills. Keep doing what you are doing. Your baby will dictate her needs. Good luck!