My 10mth. old doesn't want to eat.?

Question

My 10mth old does't want to eat anything with texture, he gags with the littlest bite, like crackers, mashed potatoes, I have to put his cereal in his bottle, because that makes him gag too. I am still giving him stage 2 baby foods, and half the time he does't want to eat those. His Dr. checked his throat and said it was ok. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Some babies don't like the slippery texture of most baby foods. A lot of baby foods are over processed or have starch added or both.

You might try steaming and mashing the adult versions of the same foods and mixing them with a little formula to offer him. Wait until about two weeks after you stop offering him babyfood, so he has time to forget that he doesn't like solids.

At ten months, it's perfectly okay for him to get almost all his calories and nutrition from formula. Any foods you try with him at this point are simply experimental and not a necessary part of his diet, I hope.

Answer 2

At 10 months feeding formula regularly gives them what they need. The cereal and other stuff just gets them used to texture and fills them up so they stay full longer. He may not be ready for thicker stuff. Give him time try once a week or every 2 weeks until it stops. Also is he losing weight or gaining. How is his color. What is his personality. These are things the dr also looks at. If he is sickly and losing weight then worry. If he is sassy and happy then he isnt ready and relaxing would help you. If you are really worried check with his dr again about reflux or if his dr doesnt give you an answer you are satisfied with get another opinion. But remember each child is different and cant be compared to another. When he is ready he will probably eat you out of house and home.

You feel there is something wrong when the dr says is ok so an answer here may not satisfy you. Have him checked for tummy trouble and esophogeal trouble. Course this is more stressful to him than just waiting which is more stressful to you.

Personally I wouldnt worry too much until he is a year old. My kids (both of them) are on WIC. Which is a government subsidized nutricien program. They give you what baby needs and do free check ups to make sure they are progressing normally as well as the regular dr visits they get. According to WIC officials formula was fine for the first year then with a gradual adding of cereal until they were 12 months then weaned to sippy cup and juice and whole milk.

Answer 3

My son is crazy about Yoplait strawberry yogurt. You could try that...you know there are bits of strawberry in it, but most of it is smooth. It might be a way to gradually get him to move into textures.

Also the Gerber or Beech Nut dry cereals for babies, mixed with milk, and then add a fruit to it, like applesauce, might give him a little more texture than he is used to, but not so much to make him gag.

Every baby is ready for things in their own time. There are some kids that just don't like certain textures (my 13 year old daughter still won't eat mashed potatoes because she doesn't like the texture, but she'll eat tater tots, potato chips, french fries - all potatoes!)

I guess the Cliffs Notes to my long presentation is that you can slowly increase the solids and textures. Letting him avoid them will only encourage him to avoid textures.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Put a bite of food in; have the cup or bottle of milk at the ready and stick the spout/nipple in his mouth IMMEDIATELY after the food to force him to swallow it. Do it this way until he can swallow the food without the sip afterward.

Answer 5

He will eat when he is ready to try different things...it may take awhile...Keep your pediatrician informed but your baby will do just fine when he finds something he enjoys the taste of..