... for some odd, ODD, reason my 13 month old LOVES the Stage 2 jar foods. I have tried feeding him Stage 3 which he hates and even more oddly he doesn't like table foods. I've tried homemade mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, mashed bananas and apples... he will not eat ANY of it. I just don't know what to do or should I even be concerned?
A.,
I hear you! My daughter wouldn't start table foods until 15 months! She just didn't like anything that was not liquid smooth. She did like and eat puffs, so I started with that. Don't worry, he will eventually get bored and want something more adventurous! :)
My pediatrician told me to just keep introducing the table food over and over and over. My son is now 6 and still will not eat certain foods. He smells all of his food before he eats it. The strangest thing. My daughter is a fabulous eater. I am not a bad cook and I try to offer a variety of veggies at every meal. He loves protein. He will not eat veggies or fruits and I think it is a texture thing with him as well. He became a picky eater more at 2 than 13 months but all I can tell you is that be consistent in offering the foods and cook foods that he can pick up with his fingers. Avacado's are good, banana's etc. Mashed potatoes most kiddos do not like because of the texture. I wish you luck as I fight this battle daily. Though my son is growing and is quite healthy I just have to supplement with vitamins but I would not supplement vitamins unless your pediatrician tells you. I do not cook special meals for my son. He has to eat what we all are eating but then again is he quite older than your son. I wish you luck!!!!
I had this problem with my daughter around the 1 yr mark and it seemed to be a texture issue for her. I just wouldn't worry about it too much right now. He's getting nutrition from jarred foods, even if they are still finely mashed. If he has a couple teeth try giving him peas that aren't mashed, just poured onto his tray and let him eat them like finger foods. You could also give him thick pasta that is cooked well, jarred meats finely chopped (like the Gerber meat sticks),cooked potato (diced not mashed) and small chunks of banana. What I did was slowly introduce finger foods before every meal. She eventually became used to the different way her food was coming and stopped wanting the jarred food.
Hope this helps :)
Maybe try letting him dip "real" food (like bread, crackers, cheese, softer fruits or veggies) in the mushy jarred food. make a fun plate with his favorite stuff side by side with new things. Keep trying and make it fun and not upsetting to him. He's eating something, so that's good, right? :) Even though extreme repetition is like madness to mommy, kids just thrive that way. If they weren't so cute and sweet we'd never make it through!
P. (mom to three boys)
