teething biscuits and other "large" foods

[maggie2]

Hi all,
My 13 month old has always struggled with textures and such, and it seems as though any time I give him any food that is larger than "bite-size" he shoves the entire thing in his mouth.  This includes teething biscuits, apple wagon wheels (these are big for those of you who aren't familiar!) and I'm sure he would do the same thing with crackers or bagels and all of the other foods it seems that babies his age have been eating for months.

I don't even offer these things any more (I do give them to him, but I need to break them into tiny pieces) as it scares me to death when he does this - I'm afraid he'll choke.  Just for more info - when he did do this, I made sure not to panic (or at least show him that I was panicked) or make a big deal out of it.

So is this a normal behavior?  Is it normal for me to still have to cut everything up into bite-size pieces?  Or do you think he should really be able to gnaw on a big piece of toast at this point?  Has my paranoia prohibited him from developing properly

Oh yeah, and he has 8 teeth and is working on his molars.

[* Paula *]

My DS used to do the exact same thing.  I know it is hard, but I let him experiement, I  made sure that I was close at hand and if he needed my help I was right there.

He would shove a huge piece of toast / biscuit etc into his mouth, and if it went to the back of his throat and he would gag and then spit it out.  I too panicked, but he soon realised that it was much easier to bit things than to shove it in his mouth.  Don't get me wrong, he still does it if he thinks "Quick get that in my mouth so I can get more". 

Now I give him cheerios - not sure if you know what this is - but he bites them in half before he puts them in his mouth, it is too funny.

Just wanted to let you know you are not alone, and send you lots of hugs, I know how hard it is.

[Poppy & Lily]

Hi,

I agree with PP my dd did exactly the same thing, i used to panic when i saw her trying to put a whole piece of toast in her mouth but she out grew it when she realised it wasn't very nice.  Just keep an eye on him he will grow out of it soon

HTH

[EmMUK74]

same here too.  Rachel would always do that and I was at my wits end.  Then one day I was distracted when she did it and instead of rescuing it I let her figure it out herself and she took it back out and chewed it properly.  ever since then she pretty much knows to bite bits off.  so yes, watch carefully but let them experiment and I am sure it will ve sorted out.

[maggie2]

man, that's going to be hard to just let him do it, but I think you're right - he needs to figure it out on his own.

We'll see how things go!
Thanks everybody!

[* Paula *]

HUGS - let us know how you get on. 

[maggie2]

I gave him a couple graham crackers today - again, he shoved the entire thing in his mouth but managed to get it down   I also gave him a zwieback toast stick and he actually managed fairly well.  I think it's going to be more of dealing with  my fear than his inability to eat big foods

Thanks again everybody!  I'll try more foods tomorrow.

[EmMUK74]

great news, fabulous

don't worry, you're worry levels will reduce soon

[* Paula *]

That is fantastic news 

Keep us posted on how you get on.

[maggie2]

Okay, he's mastered zwieback toast and graham crackers   But I tried to give him a bit of toasted bagel today and he scared me half to death gagging and choking on it.  That's probably normal as he's not used to eating it, but I was wondering if you ladies could tell me if there are any foods that you think a 13 months old is not able to handle at this point.  I assume he couldn't do big meat chunks or anything like that, but he should be alright with a bagel, right? 

But hey, we're making progress!

Maggie

[Hunter & Sithia's mom]

Hunter did the same thing too.  I would give him anything that we would eat,  but for the longest time --- until just recently infact --- I would cut everything up for him in tiny, nonchockable pieces.  I am so neurotic.  He still puts things whole into his mouth, but, for the most part, he is able to get it all down with minimal gagging and throwing up (which happens every time he gags )

Beth

[* Paula *]

You do have to take things slowly.  It will come with time.  You have to try not to let him see you panic as this may scare him.  If he does start gagging, you need to tap him on the back until he is able to move it.  He will learn.

At 13 months we were able to give Thomas anything, but he had been on bigger chunks for quite a while.  On the weekend, he sat on the floor eating a whole sausage - he too still gags a few times though.