Baby's 2Nd Food... Garlic????!!

I have a 14 month old that eats really spicy food. My approach was simple: if she wanted it, we gave it to her. Her first food was a banana. Her second food was avocado. We skipped the rice cereal because it lacks real nutritional value, so I didn't see the point. She also thought it was disgusting (since it is!)

My daughter loves lots of unusual things because of it. She stopped wanting her homemade baby food (save for things like soup, curry, etc) around 8 months, so I just went with it. I wanted her eating what we were eating by 12 months anyway, so don't worry about it! Just don't feed him honey or raw egg.

there are very few things to avoid - salt, too much can hurt their systems, honey - can cause botulism so avoid till they are a year old, and milk - they don't have the required enzymes to digest it until they are at least 11 months 3 weeks old (studies have shown all three of these things to be true).

Other than that, let him eat! Since he likes garlic, try adding that to his baby food jar stuff. Or just give him table food you eat.

I still remember Elise when she was 13 mos old devouring spinach artichoke dip. She was loving that. And calamari too. (she's 6 1/2 now)

I remember my husband calling to see what he could feed the baby while I was at the store. I told him there was cut fruit he could eat (my son was about 9 months at the time.) When I got home, the fruit was still there. My husband showed me the container he pulled the fruit from...mango salsa complete with onions, garlic and cilantro. Baby LOVED it.

There are several baby food books and sites out there that give general guidelines for when to feed baby what foods. At 8 months, he could do cantaloupe and naturals cheeses too. I would try a white potato with cheese and garlic. Maybe the simple stuff isn't his cup of tea. My little guy just turned 9 months and loves cantaloupe, cheesy cauliflower, oatmeal with bananas, apples or peaches in it, and watermelon. LOVES that watermelon...I think tomatoes are probably ok in moderation. Gerber makes that spaghetti in 3rd foods. My guy ate it a couple of times on trips and loved it. I would say if he can eat it, make him his own slightly pureed pasta...

Hello,
I'd say you're fine! My daughter (now 2) was always open to trying 'weird' things and I think it has contributed to great diversity in things she likes. I pureed all her food and made different combos for her to try. I always added different spices (curry is one of her favorites), as well as garlic and onion, and she never had a problem with any of them. I'd follow the usual advice (wait a few days between new foods to see if there's a reaction), but she never had a problem. You could also take something boring (like pureed carrots) and add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice just to give it a little kick and see if he'll eat that. My daughter also loved soup (still does) and whenever I made potato leak soup for us, she'd eat it too. She loved mixing, so we'd let her dip soft veggies or bread into soup or yogurt, and that was a great way to get her to try different things.
So I think you're fine to give him whatever quirky stuff he wants. Maybe he likes the socialization of eating, and therefore feels more involved by eating what you are enjoying. And maybe he is ready to have more finger foods (as opposed to purees), since he's turning away from 'baby' foods? Maybe sweet potato fries (still mushy) with some garlic powder instead of mushed in a jar?
Good luck... he sounds like a hoot!

Jen