breastfed 11 month old still doesn't want solids

[shrub]

have tried sloppy food, finger foods, bottle, playing with food and getting him to feed me but as soon as i try to put it near his mouth he clamps down and turns away.have also got dh to try feeding him while i'm out. if i try and put it in his mouth he gets upset and gags. wouldn't mind with bf but i have 2 very active ds's to think about and i am feeding every three hours and twice in the night. have been to health visitor and they are referring him to a speech therapist as worried it might be a problem with swallowing. he's a happy chap, plenty of teeth, though he doesn't teethe on objects or toys just his hands over the last month. had chickenpox and lots of colds recently which hasn't helped. he just seems to think food is for other people!
has anyone had this?

thanks Kiskidee,
Won't even take a teaspoon of anything without getting upset, if I try and encourage him he just gets more upset to the point where he wants another feed from me to calm him down and I don't want to get to that stage where it feels like force feeding. He happily plays with the food but his instinct just doesn't seem to be there to put anything in his mouth. Will try more variety as haven't even considered spicey food. It might be that my home cooking is just too bland
Impatientmare - so your ds suddenly went from absolutely nothing to 3 meals a day? That has given me hope as I think he just doesn't seem to make the connection that there is another way of feeding him, he looks quite disturbed as if I could be putting bits of paper/lego etc. in his mouth even though I have recently resorted to ice-cream to help him cross the 'other side', he still reacted the same way.

i just let her walk around the house taking nibbles out of her biccies. I end up eating the bigger chunks off the floor.

she's also at the stage of playing with her food. I give her her own spoon and let her make the most of it. almost none gets in her mouth this way. also find that if I dip my finger in my food she is more willing to try it but it is just about her tasting. the messes have gotten worse but again, food is a vehicle to their learning about the world so I just let her get on with it.

lately she started walking around so I let her see us eating so her natural curiousity get the better of her and then give her little samples (that's how the bread soaked in pasta sauce etc started out.) I am talking titchy morsels here but it is more about whetting her appetite and as you say to keep away from food becoming an arena for power battles. after all, once they clamp that little mouth shut, they have all the power.

Kiskidee - ds3 is very curious, he even licks his lips while he plays with the food (i put out what ever we are having) but he just goes to try and help feed me instead! he loves to do this so i am hoping this will help get him into the idea of feeding himself as he doesn't like spoons either (have tried lots of different makes including the ones the rest of family use)
Sazhig - i ordered and have read the book you recommended. it has helped take the pressure off, especially the chapter near the end explaining the nonsense behind changing the recommended introduction to solids from 12 down to 6 months - and all those poor babies that had to endure liver and eggs at 4 months it is fascinating how this has all become clouded with bottle feeding and have just seen another thread regarding the new growth charts for bf babies.
was really hoping for a breakthrough over easter with dh being home but we are still no further forward but trying not to worry so much

hi there shrub
in answer to your question
dd3 was the same an absolute nightmare she actually starved her self from 8 am til 4pm every work day when I returned to work (she was 6 m ) she only started on a bottle when my family managed to get her to suck on a dummy-(sick of he noise while I was at work)

-then it was a nuk orthondtic one then finally she seemed to like oats and apple cereal at about 11months she refused spoons and cups and everything up to then too.
my dd2 was ok started eating off a spoon around 10 months -again totally breast fed but the pressure was off as I was not returning to work striaght away -got her on a cup /bottle during the day at about 18 m but wouldnt sleep without a feed from me --went back to work but got caught with my surprise dd4-(was about 4 months and no clue just tired and hungry all the time and still b/f )
Good luck with the b/f bottle I got one but have not managed to use it yet --scared of another isappointment-will bewatching this thread
you can CAT me or e-mail me if you want more details bye for now jx

I meant to add that dd4 is totally a tease she will put an empty spoon in her mouth and also try to feed you with it but if there is any food on it it goes no whee near her mouth.

she nibbled at a bit of broccoli tonight and a carrot but wouldnt touch the mash we made special for her even with a bit of b/m in it.
she nibbles biscuits and bread sticks and will have a go at toast or a butty but will have nothing on a spoon.
it is so very frustrating bt she is happy and bright and I only fed her once in the night last night prob will be 3 times tonight lol should not brag
bye jx