How can I get my 7 month old to eat lumpier food

[Rachel2014]

Hi how can I get my 7 month LO to eat lumpier food / food witg bits in. He currently has one spoon full gags a bit and then shuts his mouth and won't open it again. The only way I am able to get him tohave more spoon fulls is to give him spoon fulls of dessert in between to take his mind of it. I don't want to have to do this every time though. Any suggestions?

Give him finger food so he has control over what's going in, how much etc. Even if he just gums at more textured food this way it's a start and will help desensitise his gag reflex.

Thank you ill give that a try. I did try and give him a toast finger the other day but he tried putting the whole finger in his mouth at once

That's fine if he does - his gag reflex will make sure he doesn't choke.

Best bit of info I got when I was weaning DS1 was that gagging is necessary to stimulate a chewing response. Made me feel a lot less panicky about the gags!

Good quality chunky chips (unsalted of course) are good finger food as they break down easily but can still be held. Yeah, they're chips, but decent ones are just potato and oil. Pancakes, porridge fingers, rice cakes, banana and steamed broccoli are also good.

Thank you that makes me feel a lot better. He gets really upset wen he gags and don't like seeing him like that but if it helps with his chewing ill persist with it. Cause he has 3 front teeth he bit a big chunk of a finger biscuit last night so was scared he would choke and took it straight out of his mouth. Ill try and be braver in future. Thanks

I wouldn't get that worried about it. My son was a bit of a gagger & at 7 months couldn't cope with sloppy weetabix without throwing up. It took him a while to be able yo eat stuff with lumps in. They'll get there in their own time. At 3 he now practically inhales his food!

I agree that giving him finger good which he can control is a good thing. I found potato cakes & toast were good finger food for him. Carrots & broccoli not so much.

Their gag reflex is really something to behold & a very smart thing they do. I hit told yo sit on my hands for 10 secs before intervening. I've never had to intervene.

Thank you so much thats really reassuring. Will give the finger food a proper try :-)