Baby has a strong gag reflex, any advice on getting her used to table foods?

Question

My baby is 9 months old and eating pretty much all mushy baby foods. However, she gags whenever I try to give her things more like table foods, such as mushed bananas or peaches, or avocado, or cheerios... that's as far as I've gotten because she gags and spits up every bite of anything thicker than baby food. She is just now coming around to eating those little baby food puffs but won't touch the wagon wheels.

Any advice on getting her used to table food? Her doctor wants me to start weaning her but I don't think she's ready.

Edit: I never said I was breastfeeding. This is a formula baby (and I will report anyone who gives me flack about that, that's NOT the question).

Answer 1

Follow your own instincts... Remember that 'Mom" knows best. You doctor isn't there to feel the baby and he may be rushing things a tad. Eating solids is something that we all learn to do at our own pace - little muscles need time to develop and become coordinated. Relax. You and Baby will be just fine in another few weeks or so.

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Answer 2

Editing to add: Oooohhhh - sorry, I saw 'wean' and assumed breastfeeding. Nope, no flack here on that. Everyone has to do what they have to do. But hey, same idea still applies. What's the rush? Your baby knows what she's ready for - if her mouth and tummy aren't yet ready for table foods, there's nothing you really can or should do to push it. Just keep offering it, give her the chance to try.

Your doctor wants you to start weaning, why? Is there any particular reason, or just that doctor's prejudice against breastfeeding?

You cannot push your baby's development in this regard. Keep offering bits and bites to her, she'll let you know when she is ready for them. For now, just let her get used to the taste and feel. Try mushing fruit and blending it with some expressed milk, to encourage her, then slowly back off the addition of milk.

I'd be tempted, in all honesty, to seek a second medical opinion about weaning (actually, I'd switch doctors - any doctor who wants each and every baby to fit into a single regime needs to learn how to think, reason, and observe, and a doctor who cannot do those things is a doctor I don't want touching my baby). And I'm not one of those women who push breastfeeding until the child is five! at fifteen months, my son still nurses, though he gets the bulk of his nutrition from table food.

Answer 3

She may not be ready for the thicker foods. Don't push it. As long as she is eating, who cares if it takes her a little longer? As for weaning, why would your doc want you to start weaning? Do you mean just reducing the amount you nurse? Because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least 12 months and the World Health Organization recommends at least 24 months. I don't like timelines for babies and solids. They will eat them when they are ready. Good for you for nursing and keep giving her what she will eat and offering the table foods, one day she'll change her mind.

Answer 4

Placing lumpy food in her mouth is a choking hazard, when it comes to table food the rule is she should feed herself. Also foods that encourage chewing work better than those that do not. Semi soft fruits and lightly blanched veggies are a great place to start.

My son has always eaten table food, and only around a year did he start accepting pureed food(like mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup). Honestly I don't understand parent's desire to spoon feed their kids. Baby-led aka self-feeding is so much easier and safer.http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voedsel/rapley_guidelines.html#choke

Answer 5

give her a little more time. it isn't really necessary to have her eating all table foods just yet. she'll still get the nutrition she need from stage 3 and the few table foods she'll eat. put her on some multivitamins if you're worried and keep experimenting with new things. if, by the time she's a year old, she still isn't taking more table food then have it checked out.

Answer 6

I agree that you may want to take your son to a specialist. My son is 9 months, only has two front teeth. He can/wants/does eat just about any kind of table food.

Answer 7

She`s really not ready, and if you push this she will come to hate meal times - then you really will have a problem on your hands. Give her food she enjoys and let her eat it herself in her own time.

Answer 8

Just follow your instincts and give her table food when she is ready for it. Don't rush it.