finger foods, how can i get ds to actually eat them??

[alibo]

ds is 9 months, and have been giving him bits of finger food, but any bits he bites off he just spits out, or gags on. will quite happily suck on a rice cake, but once a bit comes off ho just spits it out. tried banana, pear etc, and does the same. anyone had this problem?

I used to have terrible trouble getting dd to eat finger foods when she was about that age. She either ram it down her throat and choke or not put it in her mouth at all. In the end, I more or less left it because it didn't seem worth the trouble. Then when she was about 14 months she suddenly took to it like a duck to water, ate finger foods beautifully and loved it. Now she's 16 months and has recently stopped letting me feed her at all - she feeds herself all the time, eats toast for brekkie etc etc. Sometimes I think they just aren't ready and you have to leave them to decide when they are.

Alibo - ds is 11 months and still not really into finger foods - he will suck on a bit of marmite toast or a ricecake but doesn't really eat anything. Dd was tucking into chips and all sorts of finger foods at around 7 months. I suppose they are all different. I just keep giving ds differnt things and hope he will take to it. Croissants are quite good and shortbread fingers. My health visitor suggested Skips as they melt in the mouth but not usre I want him having all the additives.

The first proper finger food I used for dd is Organix cheese and herb puffs. They are brill because they melt in the mouth but have no junk in them.

thanks for replies, you always worry when they're not doing what other babies do don't you? my niece is a few weeks older than my ds, and will eat anyting you put in her hand!! then again, she has been on food since 4 months.

just to change the subject slightly, how could i get him to eat some banana, as it still remains quite lumpy when mashed??

Ds does not like banana - I tried mashing with milk, cream, blending etc. I think it is the slimey texture they dont like. Dd still doesn't like banana which is strange cos I lived on banana sandwiches as a child! I am sure you already know but beware grapes - always cut in half to avoid choking!

so when my HV suggested 6 months as appropriate for starting finger foods, was this hopeless optimistic????/ i have been trying DS sporadically with rice cakes etc, and he has shown very little interest!

i'd suggest leaving it on the floor - bound to pick it up and eat it!

excellent idea jampot - ds spends his time foraging int he carpet for crumbs

was obsessed initially with finger foods as Libby Purves states her children were on them from 6 months but ds (9 mo) is only sometimes interested. A relief to know the variation is so big.

DD started finger foods at 6 months (at the same time as she started solids)! She's a stubborn little thing. She will not, however, eat mashed banana and doesn't much like bits of banana except frozen.

My DD is one next week and now eats anything for finger foods but fruits were the one thing she struggled with. I think they are too slippy in the mouth (she only has 2 teeth). I found bits of Rich Tea biscuit and breadsticks the best. Infact I would say that it is only the last week or so that she has very successfully eaten fruit. Even bits of tender meat are easier than slippery banana etc. Your DS will do it when he wants to. On the plus side, at least you know how much they're having when it's spoon food.

Bit like the oft-quoted bottlefeeding plus that one - you also know how much they're not having - more to worry about IMO!

Oh well, at least he tries. Dd was so food phobic at that point that she wouldn't even pick up most things to put them in her mouth, and those she did pick up she looked at with a curled lip and rapidly threw down again ...

slight hijack but didn't want to start another thread as there are so many good ideas on here

DS2 is at the stage when he wants to do at least 2 meals a day as finger food. He is 14mo, has 6 gnashers and likes toast and vegemite and those vegetable fingers with, the full of crap I expect, crunchy coating. What else can I give him in a similar, cruncy style?

Suzywong, have you tried the Annabel Karmel chicken nugget thingys? You cut up bits of chicken breast (I imagine you would have to do the pieces pretty small for someone with only a few teeth), dip them in beaten egg and then roll them into crushed cornflakes. You can add a bit of seasoning into the cornflakes for a bit more flavour. I fry them very gently, only take a couple of minutes and they are usually very tender and easy to eat. Will try to think of more ideas.

another fan here of the annabel karmel chicken nuggets. dd1 practically lived on them for months. i think cos they are in cornflakes they have a slight sweetness, more tasty than breadcrumbs. and they freeze well too. hurray!