Please help my DS won't chew!!!!

[ChezzaB]

DS is nearly 9mo, we started weaning at 17 weeks as he was feeding constantly, however he will not chew his food! He sucks it and if he can't suck it smaller he either spits it out or swallows it as it is! What can I do to encourage him to chew? I'm so worried that he will choke cos he swallows something whole!!!

my little boy is 10 and half months now and still can only cope with purees - anything lumpy he will just leave in his mouth til i do something about it, or else he tries to swallow it and chokes. health professionals tell me not to worry, many babies don't start chewing til a year old. if you're really concerned, ask to be referred to a speech therapist (sounds wierd i know, but they deal with everything involving baby's mouth)

have you guys tried finger food?

we're working on it - as of yet he doesn't get the whole hold it, put it in mouth, eat it thing! more a kind of hold it, lick it, drop it routine (the dog thinks it's great!!!)

the best way for finger food is to get the LO to feed you what he/she is eating first!

ha ha will have to try that one

Thanks guys that has set my mind at rest! We give him toast and those organic carrot stick crisp things, he gets the whole holding it and stuffing it in his mouth but then he just sucks! But thank you BrownEyedMum it makes me feel better that I'm not the only one out there!

best finger food in the early days is roasted veg sticks (imho) - carrot, sweet potato, parsnip, cut into chip shapes and roasted with olive oil and rosemary - you just have to make sure you don't eat them before they do! They are hard on the outside to grip, but soft on the inside and v v tasty

chezza, any progress yet? is your little one chewing?