Food Transition Question: Cold Turkey or More Ease into It

ýou need to wait or perhaps puree table foods if you start to early and she is spitting it out then continure with baby foods or else you can end up with a little girl with Sensory issues keep food near her when feeding and when she is ready she will let you know

My boys were both really different. My oldest definitely had/has more texture issues. We would give him really soft things that he could eat, and once we figured that out, it was a lot easier! Avocado (mashed or in sections), really soft-cooked carrots (to the point that they almost fall apart), overcooked pasta, etc. Once he was used to them, then we started making them slightly firmer. Now he's okay with a lot more textures than he used to be!

Our youngest wanted to eat table food right away. I think he just wanted to be like his brother. (They are less than 2 years apart.) Maybe if your daughter sees another kid about her age who likes eating table food, she might be more interested in it herself.

Good luck!

Some babies don't like particular textures. My best advice would be to keep offering "regular" food and giving her what she will eat. She's only 13 months old! You can't just cut her off. She's not a 4 year old who's playing a game with you. She's a baby. As long as you keep offering on a regular basis she will eventually come around. My son hated the texture of meats until he was well over 18 months but I would continue to offer it several times a week and gave him other proteins that he would eat like cheese, beans, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.

I think every child is going to be different in what they like or dislike as far as textures, so really you should go by your own child, and don't even compare her to her brother. It's weird how you can feed kids the same things and they react totally different to me. I agree that at this age she isn't being willful or playing games, and if it were my child I would not go cold turkey. They say it takes 10 or 15 times of offering something to a child before they actually decide if they like it. So something they have eaten half a dozen times gladly, they might decide they don't like it, and vice versa. I would also do what Dori said, and offer both. Try the new thing, or mixing them together, and just let her suck all the yogurt off the fruit if she wants. Have the baby food as a backup. She might just decide one day to eat it just fine if you keep offering it.

I would also try to basically take real table food and mash it or blend it, so that it isn't quite as smooth as the jarred baby food. I made my own babyfood, and rarely was I able to get the pureed produce as smooth as storebought. That might be a good transition for her if you start puree-ing fresh produce. I used a magic bullet and it worked great. You could get one of those and start using it at almost every meal to prepare hers. It is very easy to clean.

If it continues or you are really concerned, mention it to the pediatrician. I have a friend who's baby is in food therapy (who knew there was such a thing?) because she wouldn't eat anything at all. She wouldn't eat purees until about a year, and at 18 mos still wouldn't eat anything beyond some yogurt and a couple jarred baby foods. So hers was an extreme case and it doesn't sound like your daughter is, but it would still be worth mentioning.

I sincerely do not remember my kids diet at 13 months just talk to your pediatrician. Call her office and the staff can give you ideas til your daughters next appointment. As for your son, I, too, had some times they did not want what I made. It was good normal food (Not liver, or other gross stuff) and he was told he will not get anything else to eat til this is gone! Daughter we did this about twice - but she was always better at trying new foods. Son - not so good. We offered to put ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, cheese on it to help make it more "edible", & have their milk/water close by to rinse it down. he has had the same meal 4 times in a row!! If son did not eat he sat with us til excused and at the next meal his plate was reheated and that is what he got - even for breakfast, lunch. You should NOT be a short order cook! Good luck and remember, if the kids miss a meal on their account they wont starve. Put the ball in sons court YOU have the choice to eat it now or if you do not want to that is OK just know you will see this plate of food later!

M.---Try not to worry about it too much. As others have suggested, it can take several tries to get a child to try a new food. And as you've observed, even if they've liked something before, they may change their mind in the future. That's what I loved about kids, once I figured it out, you never know what they will do. Just when you think you know their schedules, like or dislikes, they go and change on you.

I work with Drs Bill and Jim (ABC The Doctors) Sears in my business. I highly recommend you explore their website, www.askDrSears.com. I know they have suggestions on picky eaters. I also have a bunch of ideas that I've gathered over the course of my studies.

If you are concerned about her getting adequate nutrition, I have some excellent ideas for that as well. If you'd like to know how my family adds nutrients from 17 different fruits and veggies to our diets every day, give me a call. These food powders are put in gummies for kids!

Bottom line, keep trying. She won't starve herself. Keep offering a variety of foods but don't cater to her likes or dislikes. My kids learned very quickly that I was not a short-order cook. You might try smoothies. I also recommend using plant milks for those; almond, rice or organic soy. If using yogurt, use goats milk. It is more like human milk than cows milk. Go to www.strongbones.org to learn why cows milk is not good for people. You can sneak a bunch of different foods in smoothies. I highly recommend the magic bullet. That way, everyone can have their favorite combinations.

Please call if you have any questions. I love helping people learn to be healthier through diet and lifestyle. It would be my honor to help you. Take care and good luck. D. ###-###-####

Will she eat only the first stage of baby food, or has she transitioned to the next steps (Graduates?). I pureed veggies for awhile (sweet potatoes and squash were easiest), but it does sound like she has texture sensitivities. If there are sensitivities, you may want to just step up on the baby foods (I didn't trust myself for awhile to get textures right, but I also had an eating machine who would try anything - until he got older and NOW he's picky!) until she's used to more textures. You could offer pureed table foods too.
I guess the important thing is that she TRIES things....she's not going to starve herself and will eventually eat what you give her, even if it does mean sucking the fruit out of the skin.....

sounds like she just doesn't like eggs :) she's young enough that if it were me I'd keep easing her into it..if closer to 2 she is still demanding baby food then start using it as a bribe if she eats a certain amount of what she was given (make sure she only gets her way if she holds up her end of the deal though or you'll be in trouble).

Kids won't let themselves go hungry...even if you think you have a really stubborn child...I wouldn't give your son any more options...he eats what the family eats or he gets to be hungry...I've even put my son's breakfast in the fridge and when he said he was hungry guess what came out again :) They learn fast...my son would eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or mac n cheese every meal if he had his way haha...so sometimes I use those things as a reward if he eats something he doesn't seem to like but is good for him...it's tough sometimes...but the reward for consistency is so beautiful you'll just want to cry when you see your child gobbling up a spinach salad :) Good luck! You're doing a great job mom keep it up!

I'd go cold turkey, especially since you've been trying to ease her into it for a little bit already. This is the best way to combat a picky eater. Set the food down and require her to eat it. I've had to force bites of food into my daughter's mouth many time, but honestly, usually after a bite or two she is eating it on her own, and often times enjoying it. Usually the resistance is based on her independent spirit, NOT that the food is bad. So gear up for a fight, and win it!

Best wishes, you won't regret this!

I would cut it off cold turkey if it were my child. My kids were both on table food from about 8 months on (with breast milk/formula being their primary food source until 1 year).

But, I'd still offer foods with the familiar texture until she's more adventurous. Yogurt, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, etc.

Our kids loved very thinly shaven lunch meat (from the deli, not the refrigerated section), pasta, cooked frozen vegetables, slices of apples, etc. as they transitioned more to using their teeth.

If you're concerned, ask your pediatrician. I don't know how many kids at that age are having difficulty desiring and eating more chewable foods.

Good luck.