Variety...

[suzi2]

DS is 9 months and most days his meals are somewhat similar. Toast or oat cereal for breakfast with as many raisins as I will allow. Lunch is often forgotten about and consists of fruit and baby crackers. Dinner is more often that not steamed veg sticks and occasionally some chicken, fish or mince. He has a yogurt most days too.

Is this enough variety? i feel that I'm feeding him the same things day in day out. He's crap at taking things off a spoon unless it's yogurt and I'm reluctant to try really messy things

I wouldn't worry too much, but would gradually start to give him things that you are having as well, to introduce him to a wider range of tastes. Maybe start off with a couple of times a week and as he gets better with his self-feeding skills increase it...

I think Emkana's right. It would be good to get him onto some new tastes, while he's not at the picky stage. But I wouldn't go overboard - we made that mistake and now DS refuses to eat if he gets the same thing two days running. And he includes pasta and potatoes in that.... though not melon. Actually pasta isn't that messy - just be sure and cook it well (i.e. at least 10 mins more than you'd like it cooked yourself!)

Sounds great for 9 months old. Most adults eat quite samey things too.

What about herbs, spices or chilli? Is he too young for them? My DH makes all his meals spicey (and almost always has done!) and is desperate to find out if DS has the same (lack of) taste buds!

Not at all! We've given DS (10 mo) lightly curried lentil patties, and we use a lot of basil, garlic, etc. I'd take it easy on the chilli, but certainly try it out. DS loves stronger flavours - I think a lot of babies do.