14 months - lack of teeth and routine question.

[h33na]

Hi all.

my 14 month old ony has 6 teeth (bottom middle 2 and top middle 4). He was a very late teether and his teeth have only popped through in the last couple of months.
He does eat well but only if its very soft, or pureed just like jar texture. If I try and give him normal/finger food then he refuses to eat it and spits it straight out as it involves some chewing and he has no back teeth to chew with.
Is this normal? I really want him to start eating the food I cook for DH and I as it's so difficult to do 2 meals etc (F/T working mum) and I don't want him to get into that habit.

Also, he is still on 3 bottles a day ...routine looks like this:

7am wake up and 7oz bottle
8.30-9am-breakfast - cereal
12.30pm-lunch
3.30pm- milk 7oz
6.pm - dinner
7.45pm bath, 7oz bottle and bed.

I know that a lot of people say that 21oz are to much for his age but he does eat his meals well and I don't want to give him snacks in-between meals. His meals are a good variety of meat/veg followed by fruit or yoghurt.
This weekend I'm going try a sippy cup for his milk in the afternoon and go from there.

Do you think this routine is ok or do I need to make some changes due to his age?

Thanks in advance.

[Grace's Mom]

Hello h33na 

I am no expert by any means, but these are just some thoughts I had....

My lo has no back teeth , just the front one's like your lo, and she eats just about everything.  We have been giving her regular food for quite sometime and I think it just took practice and after time she just got better and better.  I would reccommend just to continue offering the food at every meal.  Maybe when you offer real food (start out real soft and get a bit more complex from there as he gets use to it) hide the stuff he normally likes to eat so it's not tempting to him.  I know if I have something out, like yogurt, she will not want to eat whats on her tray.  I would also eat with him (the same food) so that he is being led by example and sees that mommy and daddy eat it to and that its fun!  My daughter likes to feed me her food and then when I eat it out of her hand she happily puts the food in her mouth too. So silly!

I know you said you don't want to offer snacks but from looking at his routine his 3:30 bottle is acting as a snack. 7oz's really does fill them up quite nicely.   It's perfectly fine to not have snacks  but snacks aren't a bad thing either as it helps sustain them until their next feed especially for those who are small eaters like my lo.  I know I personally can't go 4-5  hours with out food and I know my lo can't either.  We offer her a milk sippy with breakfast, lunch and dinner and offer her a sippy of water or juice (veggie/fruit mixes....no sugar added) with her snacks. 
***Not sure if this fact is 100% accurate....but I have read a few times that too much calcium is actually not good for babies/toddlers.  Your lo is also getting calcium from brocolli, yogurt, most greens, tofu, etc.  Something to research I guess.  It's hard to know what to believe these days, you know. Some many different studies and such.  It can be so confusing.

Here is our routine....

6:30 or 7am breakfast
10:30 small snack
12pm lunch
3:30 small snack
5pm dinner
6pm (bottle of formula.....only until we finish the rest of our formula....didn't want to waste it as it's way too expensive )

Best of luck!
Melissa

[rob]

Hi h33na
My 16 month old has only 4 teeth. We r waiting patiently for the rest to appear! Despite this he can manage all foods so lack of teeth shouldn't cause your lo problems.  Sounds like he just needs bit more practice chewing.  But I know it can be tricky to find things they r willing 2 try.  Here r some ideas:
Frozen ripe fruit - melon works well and its great when they r teething too.  As it defrosts they have to chew bit more but it also breaks down easily
Quavers or wotsits
Broccoli boiled to v soft
If u put the food between his gums at side it'll encourage him to bite.
Hope this is of some help