DD nearly 14mths only eating smooth food

[GroovyChic]

My dd is nearly 14months and will only eat really smooth food. She will eat baby rice, 1st stage jars, banana and yogert. How do I get her to start taking lumpy foods? I have perserved with offering lumpy food however shes just gags and throws up or just sucks on the lumps shutting her mouth when I offer the next spoonful. She was slow at other milestones rolling over, crawling etc which I was't too worried about. DD will be seeing a specialist tomorrow but wondered if anyone else has experience of this or any advice.

thanks

[bossybritches]

Best to get her checked out then you'll know she's ok, just taking her time like she did with the other stuff.

The gagging on lumps when first offered is normal,just watch her to make sure she doesn't choke & she'll ge the hang of it. Just puree the food less & less very gradually so it's thicker but smooth (IYSWIM) then with a few soft lumps & then fork mashed & so on till she's on chopped foods. Does she have finger foods at all to chew on even if she's not eating them? it all helps develop the gag reflex which can be frighteneing to watch but is esential to get through so they develop tongue /jaw muscles etc for speech.

Good luck at the specialists!

[fibernie]

Agree with previous poster about finger foods. Best to give her control of what she's eating. Will she take any finger food?

[ruddynorah]

what sort of specialist is she seeing?

[mrslurkalot]

Hi there, my DS was similar to this. He used to vomit quite spectacularly when offered anything other than very smooth food. I had to build up VERY gradually and give him things like very finely grated cheese and cooked carrot as 'finger food'. He is now 2.6 and eats a good diet, very good with finger food, although with 'proper' meals I still need to mash it up quite a bit (esp meat) which friends with dcs of a similar age don't seem to do. Try not to worry, I use the age 14 rule (ie he won't be on stage 1 baby food/in nappies/biting etc etc when he's 14 - I hope!!!)

[GroovyChic]

Thanks for all your replies.

DD doesn't really like finger food although she will ocassionaly have rice cakes and biscuits.

DD was refered to the paediatrician by our GP.

I guess I'm worried that she will be behind with her speech. I never had this problem with my ds.

Will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

[newbbiemum]

hi there...
my ds prefers mushy food and hes 20 mo. he will eat solids - pizza, pasta, samall veggies but he eats more if offered mushy stuff..and i fear he is lagging in speech devo as well. my paed was not too worried two months ago...i wonder if i should see a specialist?
good luck!!

[Baffy]

Ds was probably about 18 months before he would even entertain lumpy food. I had to mash/puree everything

He's 2 now and eats everything in sight, just as we have it.

I wouldn't worry too much at all. But good that you're going to see the specialist just to be on the safe side.

[KITTENSOCKS]

Seen if she will feed herself using a spoon for her smooth foods, but make them thicker so that they don't drip everywhere and give her a better success rate of reaching her mouth! If she can do this, she may feel more in control of how she eats, and refuse less. Then progress to less smooth textures so that the food is mashed, but still fairly uniform. If this fails, give finger foods.