need advice on 8.75 month old's diet

[Ydnic]

Hi there.

I need some help/advice.  My almost 9 month old DS prefers smooth foods.  (He actually tends to spit up more when he has anything with lumps.)  Solid foods have been so intimidating for me, so before I move forward, I want to get some info.

1) Am I expecting too much at 8.75 months to want him to advance finger foods and to a more textured diet?  The textured foods I've tried with him have been baby foods that I've purchased.  I thought I'd try toast strips and mashed banana rolled in wheat germ or something like that.

2) I've read conflicting things about yogurt for his age.  Can I give him some?  His Dr was suspicious of a slight milk allergy when he was younger, so he was switched from milk based to soy based formula.  Would it be safe to try yogurt and can I give him the kind I would eat?

I should mention that he can and does eat graham crackers, but hasn't mastered cheerios yet.  So far he just plays with them.

Cindy

It is a bit nerve wracking to watch him with the crackers.  I'm guessing I'm just a normal mommy who watches him anxiously in case he chokes or gags!

[Samuel's mum]

I have a friend whose toddler struggled with lumpier foods but then she realised it was because he was getting lumpier food on a spoon and wasn't expecting it. With finger foods where he was in control he was fine. I think the banana and toast strips sound a good idea.

Sam was only eating finger food from around 9 months (steamed veggies, pasta, fruit, toast, cheese etc) so it's definitely possible.

I took a first aid course to learn about infant choking and that really helped my confidence. Even if you take a couple of minutes to print something off the web it might help you be a little prepared. I think concern is completely natural but obviously we don't want them to look up and think 'why does mummy have that weird expression like I'm juggling with knives or something?'

Lots of kids do eat yoghurt at his age. We can buy soy yoghurts too. You could try a little and see what happens. Or maybe ask your doctor.

[Freya'sMum]

The baby-led weaning approach advocates allowing children to learn to eat solids without pureeing, using exclusively finger-foods, from 6 months, so by now your lo should be fine with them!

I agree with Samuel's Mum, lumpy purees off a spoon can hinder the process because the child is not in control of the food, it gets put into his mouth rather than him putting it there - if he bites it, chews it, rolls it around, spits it out or swallows it all by himself he'll become confident with the idea much more quickly.

Eryn has never had purees, has been weaned using finger foods, she's only gagged twice in 3.5 months and sorted it out herself. Altho I don't leave her unattended whilst eating, I also don't sit and watch her eat (too busy trying to stop Freya smearing baked beans all over the table and herself! ) - kids are really sensitive to our moods. If you fuss about anxiously watching your lo so you can rescue him if he chokes/gags he'll sense your fear and learn that eating is something to be worried about, which might also hinder his confidence and progress.

My health visitor advised me to ignore Eryn, just to sit down and eat as a family all together, no big deal - that's what we've done, and it's worked, she's brilliant at it now!

Relax and enjoy food with your lo, make it fun - you'll both be fine!

Ax