Help! My baby is refusing foods with any lumps

[ParsleyTheLion1]

I started weaning my DS at 6 months. However, I exclusively fed him very smooth purees for about 5 weeks. A mistake I realise, as now that I have tried to introduce foods with some small lumps, he just won't really eat it. It's like he doesn't have any instinct to chew. He may keep the food in his mouth for 4 or 5 seconds but then he lets it fall back out of his mouth. Whereas he wolfs down smooth purees... I don't know what to do. Do I persist in trying to feed him slightly lumpy food (even if it means he hardly eats solids at all)? Is there anything I can do to encourage him to eat lumpier foods? Thanks

[CornishYarg]

Have you tried him with finger foods? They often seem to take to them better than lumpy purees.

[Florin]

I would do finger foods but things that go soggy. Well cooked veg sticks, breadsticks etc.

[ParsleyTheLion1]

Thanks both. I will try those. This may seem like a really stupid question but I don't understand how they can eat anything that you'd think would require teeth...can they, and if so, how? in fact, I think that must be a fundamental thing I'm not understanding about weaning..

[FATEdestiny]

Give him a slice of toast tomorrow morning and be amazed

Babies tend to suck it. Then try spreading something on that toast, like peanut butter. Try open sandwiches (tuna on buttered bread)

Squashable fruits will work too. Snip grapes or Satsuma segments in half. Banana, blueberries. Again babies suck these.

Any softened veg. DD was eating new potatoes, boiled carrots, broccoli, roasted parsnips and such with no teeth.

Incidentally - My DD (now 10 months) went from smooth puree to proper food and still will refuse anything lumpy on a spoon. Yet she will eat all of our family meals as "proper food".

[purplemurple1]

My first ate toast etc at 5 months chewed with his gums and loved it.
My second 6.5 months now and weaned in exactly the same way hates any lumps and mostly plays with bread and rice cakes.
Don't assume its something you did some babies are just more reflect and gaggy. Offer bread, toast etc and see if he chews at all. I also give heavier solids ao weetabix and yogurt rather than milk so dc2 has to chew a little.

[purplemurple1]

Reflect - reflexy

[mamaswabey]

My DD had no teeth until she was nearly 16mo. We did BLW so she was pretty much eating whatever we did from 6mo, so yes they definitely can eat plenty of foods even without teeth.

Do prepare yourself for some gagging, though. Babies' gag reflex is really far forward and the gagging is just them learning how to move food around in their mouths without choking. It can be a bit alarming but try not to panic - they learn pretty quickly!

Good luck, OP, and don't worry, they all get there eventually!

[CultureSucksDownWords]

Babies gums are really hard! They can have a go at pretty much everything an adult might eat.

It sounds to me like your baby is used to sucking down smooth purée and doesn't know how to manipulate food in his mouth, to learn how to chew and swallow. I agree with PP that finger food may well help with this.