Uber Dependant Eater

[CyberGazer]

Hiya, I'm a bit worried about something my HV said yesterday. My son is 1 year old and is still being spoonfed rough purees/mashed food, he shows no interest in feeding himself although will prod at his food with a spoon. My HV said I should stop giving him food in a bowl and think of things he can eat on a plate with a knife and fork... do I have an incredibly backward child because he wont even use a spoon let alone a knife and fork!!

My concerns were that he wont eat lumps, and I dont mean just refuses... he'll actually vomit and empty his entire stomach even if he has been eating nicely up until that point. This is a result of not being allowed to wean until quite late due to a prolonged hospital stay. To this my HV suggested I only present only finger foods but he screws his face up at anything other than toast or biscuits (he's allowed these as under weight) but he's lost weight again and I dont want to be affectively starving him.
Anyone else had these problems? Any suggestions? Thanks

[KristinaM]

Sorry I dont knwo teh answer..... I'm no expert on eating . i do have a very picky 2yo who woudl only eat purees at 12 montsh as well. And I dont know anyone whose 12mo coudl use a knife and fork! Sounds like HV winding up worried mum again

[dabihp]

knife and fork? fgs... let him eat with his fingers! try a bowl of cheerios, not the best food in the world admittedly, but with a drizzle of milk on, they are quite squishy! (unless u can think of a haelthier 'sweet' alternative to get him going?'

they dont call it 'finger food faze' for nothing!


(on a serious note would be quite concerened about the vomiting bit, but this might be cos he hasnt started lumps so not ussed to them? dd at this age would not eat 'lumpy foods' apparently kids dont liek then cos they have too many consistencies (sp) so let him eat either pruee with his fingers (messy but fun) or steamed apple chumcks, or cheerios or anythign munchy ut safe... gl)

[MamaApronstrings]

my observations would be that if he eats taost and biccies he CAN eat solid unmushy stuff - so I don't think I would be too worried. my concern (if the hv isn't worried about a medical explanation for the vomitting) would be that you don't make too much of an issue over food.

If we are up for infant led weaning these days, then it stands to reason that babies/toddlers will reach different stages at different times. Personally i would also do the cheerio type thing, would makes sure toast and/or bics were available every day, and just now and then would leave him with a spoon and his bowl of mush. try not to make meal times anxious - it wont help

[MamaApronstrings]

my observations would be that if he eats taost and biccies he CAN eat solid unmushy stuff - so I don't think I would be too worried. my concern (if the hv isn't worried about a medical explanation for the vomitting) would be that you don't make too much of an issue over food.

If we are up for infant led weaning these days, then it stands to reason that babies/toddlers will reach different stages at different times. Personally i would also do the cheerio type thing, would makes sure toast and/or bics were available every day, and just now and then would leave him with a spoon and his bowl of mush. try not to make meal times anxious - it wont help

[hotpot]

My ds1 by-passed the puree with lumps stage as he too would gag and then throw his entire stomach contents up, wish I had taken photos to remind myself how hellish it was.

Offer the finger food. Don't we sometimes confuse the hell out of children with what is finger food and what should supposedly be eaten with a knife and fork. Ie fed my ds1 finger food including chicken then all of a sudden it's use your fork to eat it.

As far as I was concerned as long as he ate I didn't really care how it got down him!! But I also didn't want to spend my time spoon feeding him.

Do you eat at the same time as him? Could you give him things off your plate? THey love that - they think it's special!!! As for just eating toast and biscuits if I wanted just chocolate cake for tea I would screw my nose up at anything else too if I knew that I was guaranteed chocolate cake

Offer him the new stuff at dinner time then if he doesn't eat you know he will have a good tea by giving him something he likes and won't go to bed hungry.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Puree with lumps in is tricky - if he's used to plain puree, he may be sucking it straight to the back of his throat, which will of course cause gagging if there are lumps.

If you want to fatten him up, offer high-fat foods. Avocado is good, or put cream in things ...