Hi,
Sorry for the long post!!
I have got an 11 month old who has literally never eaten solids. We started at 5 months and he has always hated being spoon fed. Would turn his head or cry etc so I would put my phone in front of him to distract him and he would eat but it was still a lot of effort and very hit and miss. He would never willingly open his mouth or seem interested in food. I gave up for a little bit and he had a few daycare illnesses from his sister so once they cleared we started again but no improvement.
So I gave up on puree and just decided he could have finger food and bits of our food as I felt defeated. He now just picks up any piece of food and squashes it in his hands and then throws it. We all eat dinner together and I eat in front of him all throughout the day. He will reach for our food and smack his mouth like he wants to eat but then either gags when he gets some in his mouth or just squashes and throws.
Over the last week he has eaten one puff in the trolley at the shops, and has tried to eat some hot chips. He is a very healthy weight as he has 4-5 bottles during the day. He no longer feeds during the night. I am at a loss. We have a doctor appt in a few weeks.
Our family has a history of ENT issues so I am also wondering if that could be causing some issues. Our ENT did look in his ears at six months old and said the left one was dull and he could have grommets. He has had 4 ear infections and tonsillitis twice up to the age of 8 months. For the last 3 months he has been healthy.
I have tried giving him chocolate and sweets etc. He will occasionally eat a shortbread biscuit or a chocolate licorice bullet.
I seem to have better luck getting him to put food to his mouth if we are walking around and I am holding him instead of the highchair.
In my opinion over the last few weeks his interest in food seems to of improved but he still does not consume any food.
My daughter was a text book eater - ate loads and had no more bottles from 12 months old so this is really foreign and distressing to me.
He also seems like he has always got his tongue poking our or sitting out of his mouth? I am starting to think maybe he has large tonsils or something?
I have also tried feeding him as soon as he wakes in the morning when he is starving or before a bottle during the day or half an hour, an hour etc after a bottle and nothing seems to make a difference.
He has got 2 bottom teeth fully through and the top 4 have come through in the last week or 2 so wouldn't be overly useful yet for eating.
Everyone keeps telling me food before 1 is just for fun but I am starting to really worry now that he has turned 11 months and his consumption is still zero.
I will admit I have gotten slack with having set meals for him as it is disheartening to have it all squashed on the floor so now he gets offered toast and strawberries at brekkie in his highchair, and then during the day he just gets offered snacks and lunch that I eat and then he sits at dinner with us and gets some of our meal on his tray.
Hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced similar because right now I feel like he is never going to eat.
I should add - he is meeting all other milestones right on time. Crawling, babbling, laughing, pulling to stand, clapping, waving, playing peek a boo, responds to his name etc.