Advice needed; 13 month old won't eat lumps

[Meeeow]

I have just started childminding and have taken on a little boy of 13 months (same age as my own dd) this little boy won't eat lumps, his parents give me ella's kitchen stage 1 purée for him and asked me to try him with other things. I have tried to give him redibrek and he spits it! The other day he had picked up a soft crumb of bread and then threw it up as it hit the back if his throat! What am I meant to do??! He's not even that keen on purée and will try to wiggle out of highchair and turns his head, he must be starving surely?! I'm afraid it will rub off on my daughter who us a fantastic eater?! Please help

could you try him with a few things he can munge on; breadsticks, cucumber sticks, goodies snacks, all stuff if they suck will melt in his mouth? put them on the highchair tray and let him try them, maybe letting him feel in control a bit more, as his prob had bad experiences with choking and never been made to go further? ifyswim
just perserverance maybe try things like soup and yoghurt which are soft but not puree!

He is probably happy having mostly milk - he may have been breast fed for all of the first year. Did his parents say how long they have been trying to introduce new foods?

As gabik says, try him on finger foods... so he can suck them.

Give him a bit of food that you are making for others... so he can see that he has the same. He may then try it (obviously avoid chocking hazards). Experiment with mashing vs puree vs solid.

There can often be gagging at first as baby learns to manipulate food chunks in mouth for chewing/exploring feel. Usually being younger though i imagine they are more motivated to keep trying and also get used to how to control the food quicker. Its not choking though if they gag, it's their protection/learning how not to choke.

ideas:
maybe make sure everyone sits down together with same food/off same centre plate maybe and show you enjoy it- do with snack if not poss. for lunch.

give big things child can hold and take bites of and spit out if they want without anyone fussing.good idea about 'dissolving' foods- bananas, rusks (nice and sweet). Make sure parents on same page. If they find it hard to let him have control just suggest trial week.

make sure any purees have variety of flavours at least, and perhaps encourage child to use as a dip with fingerfoods/spoon by themselves!.

can take a while to trust that they won't be poisoned by stranger with new food tastes. need to keep an eye on (un)predictablity of new environment.

I'm embarassed to admit my youngest charge was kinda like this

as in she would not eat lumps and if did then would gag and throw up. She even gagged on a mashed banana once much to my friends amusement

but she would eat ANYTHING as long as puréed :) so I didn't worry about it and told mum not to worry

think she was about 16mths when she finally ate lumps and then she was fine and has been eating anything her older 2 siblings do

I would check with the mum to see how long she has been trying purée/lumps

DS seemed to go straight from purees to regular food - he sort of skipped the lumpy stage, never really liked lumpy foods at around the same age. A month or so later he was happy to eat pieces of chicken or meat, sandwiches, breakfast cereals, vegetables, whole fruit (ate whole apples skin and all), etc. I suppose some children are just like that and they eventually get through that phase. Could be helpful if he sees your DD eat normal food and wants to copy her.

My Ds didnt get onto lumps until just over 1 year due to severe reflux, meaning he puked on any lump

He got over it all of a sudden at about 1 year and 8 days IIRC

He never ever ate purree with lumps tho, just went onto 'real' food

How is he on things like toast?

Some babies get "confused" having two textures in their mouth at the same time. Its like they want to swallow because it feels like a puree and then they think holy crap what is that lump and gag or throw up. Will he eat soft cooked pasta and steamed veg, soft things he can pick up himself and experiment with? It sounds like he just needs to practice and build up his confidence. If he won't eat lumpy puree there is no need to force it on him, just move on to soft solids and encourage him to try it himself.