16 mth old DD won't eat finger foods and gags on table food

[Dree]

Hi Mommies,

I so need some help with this....uggggh. My dd won't self feed !!!!!!!!!!. She is almost 16 months old. She picks up food and throws it on the floor. I have steamed veggies and chopped up fruit to place on her tray at every mealtime. She will only eat food if it is cover in pureed veggies. She eats stage 3 foods at home and at her daycare. I have no choice at daycare but I do at home..I need help.

I am trying to introduce chopped up table foods. Just yesterday she had bits of hamburger that I fed to her. She gagged but chewed for the first time...vomitted..then I tried again (1hr later) with pureed veggies and she still gagged but chewed. I know she needs time to get used to it. I am just frustrated right now. She is a late teether and more teeth are coming out. I feel like a failure !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All advise welcomed !!!!!!!! I need recipies that have worked....I don't want to be stuck at stage 3 jars...I hate giving her that. They don't help her learn how to chew.

Anyone else been through this

Dree 

p.s we went to a special clinic (dysphagia clinic) they taught us how to spoon feed her the lumpy food. We just need help with table food.

[¤ Efka ¤]

No advise really.
Could it be that she really does not like lumpy food?
My sis(she is still dont like pieces in her food, neither yogurt or even chocolate.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Dree, I moved this to toddler eating for you so you'll get a more age-appropriate audience.

My advice would be to keep covering stuff with the puree, but very, very slowly reduce the puree that's over the "real" food. Sounds like she just needs more time to adjust to the texture.

[Loube]

Hi There,

MY DS is 14 months and is eating jarred foods appropriate for 7mths onwards. He'll occasionally eat some 12mth meals but I've found that if I give him dry lumps (sandwiches etc) he's fine but if I add sauce (meatballs and sauce) he gags because he wants to just swallow it whole without chewing. Its frustrating and I feel like a bad mum for not progressing him sooner. So I understand your situation but I can't help much.

Good luck.
Loube

[Dree]

Thanks Loube  ..Good to know I am not alone...

Everyday I try to offer my own food mixed in with the jarred stuff. Sometimes it works and other times it backfires. Like today she gagged on a tiny piece of homemade cooked chicken. I had to put her head forward so that she doesn't vomit. She gagged but managed to swallow it. She hasn't mastered chewing yet and I too feel like a bad mom.

Does anyone out there have any ideas as to what I can offer my dd for supper ??

Dree 

[Dree]

Well this morning I steamed some carrots and sweet potatoes for lunch this afternoon. I have no idea how to get my dd to eat that without adding puree. I am trying to get her away from wet food and on to table food.

Ladies if you have any suggestions I would love to hear it.

I bought annabel Karmel's cooking books but some of her recepies have not worked for Sofia. I guess the name of the game is to keep offering and eventually she will get it.

As for finger foods my dog is enjoying it more than Sofia. She is throwing everything on the ground. From cheerios to pasta. I even tried toast with applesauce and she gagged on that too.

Heeellllllllllpppppppppppp !!!!!!!!!!!

Dree 

[A_C]

Dree...as you know I still struggle with food texture and consistency with my Sophia.  I have kept her lunches (pasta and beef pretty much chunky but still on the pureed side) and at night time we kinda battle with very soft steamed and diced (tiny) carrots...I haven't added anything puree on top (tho' that seems to be a good idea...to somewhat disguise it) but I have instead added chicken broth and just am persisting so she gets used to it.  Currently she is 20 months and really trying to exercise her will and independence so she prefers that I feed it to her (instead if DH) but I think it is also psychological (she just doesn't want to chew her food and collect it in her cheek like a chipmunk.  Another idea I have (and I tried this the previous week) was steamed broccoli and mince it like parsley.  The make a white sauce (a roux...and make sure to brown the flour in butter well so it doesn't taste starchy) and dash a dash of paprika and nutmeg maybe a very tiny touch salt then throw then mix the broccoli in.  See if she will like that.

Hope that helps...good luck! 
Ana

[Dree]

Thanks Ana...Good to hear from you...long time no talk...I remember you telling me that we are both going through the samething with the gagging and not chewing.

Personally, I have days where Sofia refuses to eat..she is a late teether. She got her first two at 8mths.

Right now I am trying to reduce the use of stage 3 jarred food. I want her to eat our food. Last night I cut up bits of spiral pasta into her jarred food. She managed but she knew I added other pasta.

Breakfast is a challenge too. I still give her baby cereal and try to add fresh cut up fruit and cheerios soaked in milk with her cereal mixed in.

I tried scambled eggs, it backfired. I will try again tomorrow and add some cheese and mashed broccoli to it. Maybe that will help.

I never thought I would ever have difficulty with food. I thought all babies eat when offered food. my nephew was like that and so was my niece. My dd pushes my hand away when she does not get her pureed food..can you believe it. Sometimes I have to put applesauce to disguise her food. otherwise, she does not eat.....uggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh

Dree

p.s Sofia always had a small appetite.

[Dree]

Ana - I looked up the pasta and beef recipe of yours. I am going to try it today...Sofia is getting her 1 year molars and isn't eating or napping well these days. Alot of challenges for us. She will only eat her baby cereal, pureed fruit and mashed up veggies with some jarred stage 3 food. I am trying to get past this jarred phase so badly.

Ladies, I need your help !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sofia just turned 16 months today and still isn't walking. She doesn't crawl but sits on the floor and drags her bum to get around the room. I try to do excercises that the physical therapist showed my dh and myself. I may have to set up some more appointments for my dh to go to with Sofia. Her development is worrying me. When I place her on her tummy, she rolls over to get up. She does not want to crawl.

Overall, I am feeling like a failure. She picks up finger foods and puts them on the floor. Hasn't tried to put anything in her own mouth yet. She drank from her sippy cup with me holding it and cradling her. She barely drinks water. I have to hold a small plastic cup for her to take some sips at the end of every meal.

What the hell am I doing wrong ??

Dree 

[Claire Anne]

Dree do not feel like a failure!!! Remember no matter how small she has a will and a mind of her own and will exercise those no matter what you try!! You're not a failure - far from it.
I don't know what to advise about the food issue as I have never come across it but I know that my DD was off food in general when cutting her molars in particular so maybe now is not the time to push the issue. If she starts gagging on food you might end up inadvertently putting her off and making it all harder.
About the walking - here we are told not to worry about it until after 18 months as all children are different. Maybe she is a cautious child? I have a friend whose DD is very cautious and didn't walk until about 19 months and is now flying (not literally!) around the place. So I wouldn't worry too much. Do you have any push along toy for her to walk behind? So she will be strengthening her legs without even knowing it?

[Ydnic]

Dree,

I hear your frustration loud and clear.  My ds is 14 months and he's never eaten finger foods.  He tosses them on the floor or feeds them to the dog.  If I give him a cracker, he might eat 1 tiny bite after he crushes them up in his fingers.   Oh, and he hates cheerios, gags, etc when I put one in his mouth.

He has the same 3 meals pretty much every day.  Breakfast is oatmeal, lunch is a jarred baby food and dinner is a baby food recipe for Shepherds Pie that I found and make and I run it through a baby food grinder.  If I don't grind it, he tends to gag alot.

I try every week or 2 and see what he does with finger foods.  The frustrating thing is that he ate every fruit and vegetable I gave him in the pureed baby food.  He wants nothing to do with them now with the exception of a few fruits.  He has some food allergies too.  

When it came to feeding ds, I didn't expect these issues.  It's not fun at all.  He does have a lot of food allergies and possibly reflux, (have Dr appt scheduled) so I wonder if those issues don't play a huge factor.  I've read your post about dysphagia before, but am going to check it out again.

Best wishes and hang in there.

Cindy

[Dree]

Thanks ladies, you both made me cry. I am feeling very emotional these days. I feel like no matter what I do. It is not good enough.

Sofia finally fell asleep this morning. I gave her a bit of orajel (I hate that stuff but it works) because I know it is her teeth that are giving her a problem. How long does it take for 1 yr molars to come in ??

Claire Anne - What kind of toy do you recommend for walking. Are you talking about one of those walker things with wheels ? Aren't they dangerous if she still does not balance well.

Thanks mommies
Dree 

[Claire Anne]

Those accursed molars take ages to come in! I’m sure DD was teething with them for 3 or 4 weeks. If not more. They are an awful dose. I have had wisdom teeth break through myself so I know how painful that can be and can only imagine it to be similar for the babies. Poor things! I wouldn’t worry about using medication for it – it will ease the pain and won’t do any long term damage as long as you follow the instructions. IMHO anyway.
Yes it is one of the things with wheels I meant. I never heard they were dangerous and mine both used it at around 10 months or so. DS was better than DD – girls are definitely slower than boys at the walking as far as I can see! I’d say it’s fine to use them though – they are usually aimed at 10 months or 1 year or thereabouts up so I doubt they can be too dangerous or they wouldn’t be allowed on the market. She may take a fall or two but that’s unavoidable and it may help her to balance in the long run. I just think at that age that everything should be a plaything first and a developmental tool second or else they may just balk at what they might see as ‘work’! The old carrot and the donkey trick I suppose. But at the end of the day, children learn and develop when they are good and ready so don’t fret too much. If possible!!
 

[A_C]

Dree...just wanted to send hugs...the pp seem to have everything covered.  Please don't feel like a failure..some kids take a little longer to walk from what I have read.  I also read that some start walking as late as 18 months...after which I would talk to your doc. if it is still a concern at that point.  Don't worry about the crawling too...some babies do not ever crawl at all...it isn't a necessary developmental milestone either.  I would consult with the physical therapist just to eliminate any concern and to see if there are other things you can do.  Also as mentioned by pp...it is true those molars may be very difficult on Sofia right now...and therefore affecting her eating.  I remember when my Sophia's were breaking through she did not want to chew anything....even a banana!  So I mashed everything for her and kept her regular food more pureed tha normal until they all came through.  With regard to how long it takes for these to come in...from my experience, once one of them starts breaking through it is one after the other and the process was pretty fast.  I hope the same goes for little Sofia as well.

Hang in there Dree....I can imagine how frustrating things can be for a very concerned mother.    I really believe Sofia will come around...just takes a bit of time...especially considering the previous syndrome that you are all still over coming....all that may lead to some delay in the development...not that it is a bad things at all. I would consult with your doc. as well just to put your mind at ease. kwim? If you need to talk or if there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate...I am only a PM away. 

Good luck with the pasta recipe by the way...i don't know if I also had on there...just recently started adding Ricotta cheese to it (yummm)...remember to start it off just a tad less pureed than you usually process her food...especially because of those molars coming in.

HUGS to you girl!  Kisses to Sofia and keep us posted please. 
Ana

[Colin Macs Mom]

Dree, you can also post on the growth and development forum about the walking too.