If your 10 month old only had 4 teeth, would you be feeding him solid table foods?

Question

I have a day care in my home and the parents of one of the babies I keep are starting to feed him solid food, he's 10 months and only has his four front teeth, no molars. I'm a little skeptical and worried that the food I serve the older children, ages 2 to 4, will be a choking hazard for him, especially since I tried to feed him cooked diced carrots today, at the parents' request, and he kept gagging and trying to spit it out. I think they are rushing the food issue, they started feeding him cereal at 4 months of age and he wouldn't close his mouth around the spoon until he was almost 6 months, and now this. Should I tell them they need to send prepared food for him because I do not feel comfortable feeding him the meals I'm preparing for the older children because it's a choking issue? I didn't feed my son solid food until I knew he had enough teeth to chew it properly, around 1 year. Is it too early or am I'm being overly cautious?

While appreciate all the answers, I am beginning to feel offended. I have a child of my own, and I have been caring for children for more than half my life. I know you have to give them small pieces that can be gummed easily. Of course the carrots I served today were cooked and extremely soft, the child was still gagging and having a hard time. I just don't think he's ready, and I think his parents are pushing it too soon and of course now that he's had table food he doesn't want jar food, so it makes it that much harder. Anyway, I'm done ranting, it's Friday.

Answer 1

I know what you mean...I was an infant toddler teacher for about 3 and a half years before I recieved my teaching credential and I constantly dealt with this issue. I would just monitor the baby very closely while he's eating and then report back the results to his parents at the end of the day. For example, "He really had a hard time with those carrots today...but he liked the applesauce" I'm sure you do this, but I always find that there needs to be a nice balance between the parents and the caretaker, but in the end it's the parent's choice. Personally I believe that if a child is developmentally ready, 10 months is not too early. Children do not need teeth to chew, they have strong gums and a tounge that helps them break down food. I have had 18 months olds with only 4 teeth before. However, it is a difficult and sensitive issue when a parent pushes something a child isn't ready for. I would just continue pointing out the parents what their child had difficulty with and hopefully they can trust that with all of your experience, you know what you're talking about! Good luck :)

Answer 2

my 9 month old has only 2 teeth and he eats almost all table food, cooked and soft of course. But things like cooked carrots, bananas, cheerios, french fries, bagels, etc. they don't really need teeth at all because they can mash it with their jaw. He really needs to be feeding himself though because when you feed him it puts the food in the back of the throat and makes it easier to gag or choke. There is actually very little concern about choking when they feed themselves because if they are unable to chew it they just spit it back out. There are always exceptions to this and I'm not saying there is no risk of choking. But by 10 months it's a good idea that he start learning how to chew because the longer you wait the more resistant to new textures they will be.
I don't think it's wrong of his parents to want him on solid foods at this age, and they (or you) should be providing very soft pieces of food that he can hold and mash easily. Ultimately though, as a daycare provider you're the one that will have to deal with it if he ever does choke, so if you are very uncomfortable with it just tell the parents how you feel and ask them to bring baby food until he gets a little better at the chewing.

Answer 3

Well I'm torn on this. I started feeding my son solid table food at 10 months as well, but I'm his mom and I felt I knew what was best for him (he had six teeth at that time). I was also able to give him my undivided attention when he was eating in case there were any "close calls." However, because you are a day care provider, I can see you being concerned about liability. If he is having difficulty with cooked carrots, it sounds to me as though he may not be ready for chunky pieces of food. Also, because you are watching multiple children, you cannot focus your attention on just one child during meal times. I don't think it is unreasonable for you to have a discussion with the child's parents as long as you approach the conversation delicately. As I'm sure you are aware, parents are awfully protective of their little ones. If you approach it in a way that shows you are genuinely concerned about the child the parents shouldn't take it as an attack, and instead compromise in some fashion. I would make suggestions as to food they can pack (or offer to make while the child is there) which you feel is appropriate. Also, ask what his eating habits are when he is at home - does he choke, does he spit it out, not act hungry, etc. Maybe he eats differently in the day care environment. I hope that helps - this answer is kind of all over the place. Good luck!

Answer 4

they don't need teeth to chew some kids don't get teeth till after 1 yr and it isn't their molars they get first. Solid food should be fine, but not everything you give a 2 and 4 yr old do you give to the 10 month old. Make sure the food is soft enough to be smooshed in the gums and small enough to swallow if they don't chew, that ways its almost pre-chewed for them. If baby is gagging try that food later, he may just not like the taste, or mash the piece smaller and feed it to him again. If he really is struggling after all this, there shouldn't be a problem mentioning something to the parents, they may have some tips to get it down.

Answer 5

My daughter just turned 1 in March and she did not get her first tooth until she was 11 months old and now only has 3. I have been feeding her a wide variety of foods for a while now. Although she has no molars, I just cut the food into smaller pieces and she just uses her jaws and gums to mash the rest of the food. If I come across something I feel she may have a hard time with I give her a very small piece to see how she deals with it and if she does OK then I give her some more. I know it is a very scary thought to think of any child chocking on food, but this is how they learn to eat. I do believe they learn to mash food with their gums first anyway.

Answer 6

Ask yourself this: how would you feel if the child choked while in your care. Do you think the parents would take into account that they told you to feed him this food? Of course not. It is your daycare and you need to be the one making the rules for both the safety of the children and your legal liability. Simply state that in your observation, he doesn't have the teeth for solid food and since you have other children to watch, you would be afraid of a choking hazard. Stand firm in your decision. The worst they can do is pull him and send him to another daycare.

I actually fed both my girls soft solids even before they had molars but I made sure it was in very small portions and I was there for every bite. You are in a daycare situation and you simply can't pay the child that kind of attention.

Answer 7

well the reason wic will be cutting you off on the formula is because your son will be one. they recommend switching to whole milk at age 1. but do it slowly. like 1oz milk 7oz formula for a week. then 2-6 for a week,,,etc. but i recommend by the time you reach 4-4 let him have some fruit juice. as some babies get constipated from whole milk. the teeth part is fine. babies grow them at different rates. my 10 month old has 8 already. but i also know a baby who is 12months and still has no teeth. it's ok. solid foods, you're doing fine. basically whatever you are eating. mainly the veggies. with him not having many teeth yet you'll still need to give him pureed meats.

Answer 8

I have to agree with a lot of the other answers, that at 10 months it doesn't really matter how many teeth they have, because the food you give them should be small enough or soft enough that they can't choke on it. Anything you feed the older kids should be fine, you just need to cut it up in tiny pieces for the 10 month old. I use a pizza cutter to cut practically everything up, it's quick and easy. A good size would be like 1/4 of a grape, or 1/4 of a round hot dog slice.

But yes, I definately don't think you should give him anything big enough to choke on, no matter how many teeth he has.

Answer 9

I've seen people give babies things like crackers and cheerios just before a year, as long as they have front teeth to bite them with because those things melt and get soggy and are then easy to swallow. Then again, my mother couldn't give me solid food when i was a baby because i couldn't chew well and she was paranoid i might choke, so i had strained baby food until i was almost two years old.

Maybe this child should only have foods that tend to get very soft and melt in your mouth. But if you feel uncomfortable giving him the foods you have, by all means request that his parents provide you with their own because if something happens to him it will be your responsibility. You should do anything you think neccessary to keep both him and yourself safe.

Answer 10

Well... I fed my boys table food around that age with few teeth. You just cant give him the diced carrots the way they are, you need to smash them up first. Make sure everything he gets is soft, so that if it doesnt get chewed at all, it will still go down okay. If you really feel like its a problem after that, just tell them that you have guidelines to follow and they either provide better meals for him or you charge the extra and buy him something better yourself. Better safe than sorry.