not mouthing/finger foods

[julesaac]

Anyone any advise as to why my son doesn't really mouth anything yet? He's nearly 9months. He does some toys and books, but no food. He also still on smooth purees and is very hit and miss. Weaned at about 6months, but was finicky from birth. Mainly concerned about lack of interest in mouthing? HV was no use and didn't offer advise. He explores with eyes/hands and is very vocal, also never used dummy, so wondered if this may be why? Any ideas?

Do you plonk him in his highchair with food that he can pick up himself? peas, cheese cubes, buttered toast, banana? that kind of thing?

Also, if he is not mobile yet, try him with a treasure basket, great thread on it here

My niece never mouthed anything at all until she was over 3. She never had any real interest in food but now eats everything. (She has lots of other issues so she had access to a dietician and speech therapist.)

I'd go with 'Boysarelikedogs' suggestion and put lots of things on his tray. You could dip bits of bread or cooked veg in the puree and get him to suck it off that. You might need to help him work out what to do with things and only expect little changes at a time. I can't think of any other specific things but if I see anything, I'll let you know.

If you want some professional advice, rather than waiting for suggestions from the HV I'd just ask for a referral to the Speech Therapist. Just insist. It's not over the top if you have concerns and they'll give you tips on how to help him move on with textures before it becomes too difficult for him or stressful for you.
Good luck.

DS was exactly the same except that he didn't even put toys/books in his mouth. At 12 months I casually mentioned it to the HV who referred us to an occupational therapist.

OT was lovely - and fascinated by him because she said she normally sees children at the other end of the scale who are 6/7/8 and still mouthing everything.

She basically said that as he was otherwise happy and healthy not to stress but to do all the usual things like offering plenty of finger food/having picnics/letting him pick off our plates at times I knew he was hungry and with lots of praise when he did so. Also to do lots of putting our hand over his hand to guide food to his mouth.

All these were things we were already doing but obviously being worried about getting some nutrition into him I would eventually give in and pop things into his mouth.

The top tip she gave me was to have one type of rusk/biscuit (I used the organix soft rusks) that I NEVER helped him with but sat with him quietly replacing in his hand whenever he dropped it etc. and being completely OTT with praise when it made it to his mouth.

Eventually he cracked it but even now at nearly 2 he's not overly fussed by food, constantly says 'down please' when in his highchair and I still often find myself feeding him things like sandwiches just because left to his own devices he probably wouldn't bother.

thanks for all the advice. I'm hoping it is just his way. His vocal range is good according to HV, as he has babbled well since 5/6 months, so am thinking perhaps he is just working on his vocal skills first.

Brilliant idea about treasure box. I made one this morning and he has been in it rooting around already.