12-month-old only eats puree

[Starberries]

This is also in 'Food', not sure what will have the wider audience.

I'm a nanny looking after 2 boys, 1 of whom is 12 months and eats wonderful, varied foods...but only if they're completely pureed.

Any lumps at all he gags and throws up MASSIVELY. He is absolutely 100% not interested in finger foods apart from ricecakes. Won't even touch toast. He eats anything as long as it's in puree form.

How do I get him on to 'normal' lumpier foods? Should I cold turkey into finger foods (the other boy, slightly younger, won't take anything from a spoon and eats all his meals as finger foods). I am loathe to do this as he eats very well from a spoon. His parents have left the decision up to me.

Any advice?

DS was the same, he has a very strong gag reflex. I wouldn't push it to be honest. We did worry that other children DS's age were eating finger foods etc. but we let him take it at his own pace.
He's now 20mo and will eat anything. I think having his molars has helped him handle more solid food.

My DS was the same too - we just took things at his pace because the alternative was far too messy and upsetting for him.

Yes, I didn't want to distress the poor wee thing. He is a lovely baby and to be fair to him will eat anything on a spoon. I think I should just sit back and wait a couple more months, did your DC's just eventually get the 'hang' of finger foods then?

My 12 month old is the same, gags easily and throws up so much.

HV says to persevere and not to go back to purees, easy for her to say.

He does want to eat everything though, and grabs and tries to eat anything we or DS1 are eating. I do try him with something every day and he is starting to get slightly better. Ricecakes are a big nono but he can (most of the time) manage beans and jaffa cakes for example.

We've had the same problem with both our ds's. DS1 hated lumpy food, but moved immediately on from purees to finger food (skipping the mashed food stage). However, he was about 13-14 months before he started on finger food.

DS2 still won't eat much other than purees at 21 months . He has been investigated for problems with swallowing as he throws up massively at the drop of a hat, but nothing found so far. We've just been told he is still within a "normal" kind of range and to encourage whatever interest he shows in finger food, but not to push it. He certainly won't be eating finger food aged 20!

It is frustrating, but bare with it and encourage whatever interest you can in finger foods. I think though giving finger foods as something to play with and explore, but no pressure to eat is probably the way to go.

my DD wants to eat ANYTHING i am eating at 13 mo, espec if it's off my fork. maybe stick with the purees, have one finger food in reach for him to fiddle with (my DD gest confused by too much on offer altho she does like having something in each hand!( but make sure you and other boy eat at same time, hopefully he will get interested and start asking to try stuff. but think leave him to do it in his own time, a year old and eating purees isn't such a great deal, if he eats rice cakes for some chewing action

Yes my DS just suddenly started coping with lumps - they all get there in the end!

What age was your DS flamingtoaster?

I think he was about 14 months before we said goodbye to puree.

Hoefully mine will get the hang of it all soon, thanks flamingtoaster.