My Son Will Not Eat Table Foods.

Just as a word of comfort, I know of several children who would not eat until as late as twelve months (I know, it seems really late!), and remained exclusively breastfed until then. As much as possible, let the child tell you what he needs. Keep offering different fresh foods, and something will tempt him, when the time is right. He'll know (as long as there is no medical impediment) when he needs additional nutrition.

Good luck!

I wouldn't even worry about it at 9 months!!! My son refused table food until he was 16 months old. I mean if I even put in near his lips he would throw up!!! Well at 16 months he wanted what I was eating & now he eats EVERYTHING I eat. Some kids just aren't ready will to eat table food when doctors want them too. My son didn't have ANY teeth until he was 9 months so no way he could eat table food yet. I wouldn't worry. Just keep offering & one day he suprise you

It wasnt till after on year that my daughter was more interested in food and now at 14 months she wants everything we are eating. Quite a piglet at times.

9 months is young...too young to worry. Get a guide from your pediatrician that lists what ages to introduce what foods...like you could introduce yogurt now, but no eggs until 12m....it's a great resource to keep, so you know what he should be eating. My son was slow to start eating because he had reflux, which we didn't realize until he refused to eat. (It was so bad at 8m he would cry at the sight of the spoon.) Once we got him on the right medication, he caught up with eating right away. Don't force it. Just keep putting the finger foods on his tray and let him play with them. He'll eat them eventually...but he won't if you force it.
Good luck. I know how much anxiety I had when my son wouldn't eat table or baby foods, so I know how you feel. If he doesn't start eating, get him checked to make sure there's nothing else going on that's stopping him from eating, like reflux. Keep offering all kinds of foods, so that he doesn't become a picky eater.

I can completely sympathize! My son is 8 1/2 months old and just recently (within the last 2-3 weeks) has willingly eaten solid foods. We had been introducing them for three months when he suddenly decided to try them. Our pediatrician suggested that we introduce the foods to him patiently 3 times a day until he finally agreed to take some. It worked.

If you are stressed, then he'll be stressed.

Now... as a child psychologist I would suggest waiting on the sensory evaluation. At this point the occupational therapist will ask you to complete a rating form and will attempt some assessment with your little one, but most of it will not be valid- just observations. If your son continues to refuse foods after consistently introducing several times a day, I would contact your local Early Intervention county coordinator to discuss the need for an eval. Around one year may be more useful!

First, you shouldn't give eggs until after the age of 1. Second, some kids just aren't ready. My son wasn't to interested until he got to about 1, and even then he still liked to be fed. My daughter stopped baby food altogether at 9 mos, and her being very independant, wanted to feed herself with a spoon by 12 mos. Give him a couple weeks and try again. I could see if he physically couldn't do it, but it's like he just doesn't want to. Pay attention, when he starts looking more at what your eating, then what he is then it's time to introduce it again. You may want to start by offering him what your drinking. If he likes what mommy drinks, he may like what mommy eats too.

Hi J.,

I'm sure you've received tons of advice by now, but I figured I'd throw my 2 cents in too. My son was very picky, too, at that age. Have you tried soft pasta? My son loved that around your sons age, and it's still one of his favs. Some pediatricians, I've found, are quick to rush to negative conclusions. I am of the mindset that kids will do things when they're ready. Just keep trying, and eventually he will be eating you out of house and home! I truly doubt he has any "sensory" issues. That just sounds ridiculous at his age. Especially if he's doing fine in all other areas. Food is a tough thing, I've found. My son is 14 months, and his diet basically consists of yogurt--he can't seem to get enough of that--cheese, pasta, and bananas. Oh yeah, and he just discovered that he loves pears! He eats at least 1 a day--go figure! The occasional Ritz cracker finds its way to his lips LOL He loves milk and, for some odd reason, pomegranate juice (and believe me, we tried every juice out there!) Hang in there!

My daughter was the same way. All I can suggest is to keep trying. My daughter is now nearly 15 months old and enjoys most food we give her. She still doesn't really like eggs or ground turkey, but I think it may be just a texture thing with her.

I'm sure you already do this, but in case you don't, try sitting and eating with your son and the rest of your family if possible. Drew, my daughter, LOVES when we all sit at the table together and I find that she eats better too.

I'd keep an eye on it, certainly, but I'm not sure I'd be overly concerned. My older son was 16 months old before he started eating table food - he ate baby food (Stage 1 and Stage 2) from about 6 months on, but had zero interest in our food until around one year, and didn't eat enough for sustenance until 16 months (easily...maybe closer to 18).

He sat with us when we ate dinner every night (from the time he was in the infant carrier, on the table, then to the high chair) and I'd put Cheerios or Graham Crackers or whatever in front of him (he was allergic to the puff things...). Sometimes he'd eat one or two, sometimes not; he actually DID eat a bite or two of his first birthday cake, but not much more than that (he's still not REALLY a sweets eater, which I guess is good?!), and then something clicked...and, well, now he's 6 years old and 65 lbs. and will eat MOST things (beef is still an issue if it's not ground...).

HTH
L.

OMG he is 9 1/2 months old! If he likes baby food, let
him have it. Why does everyone think every little
thing requires evaluation for a problem. Just keep
introducing table foods. Relax, enjoy him. He will eat
table foods eventually. Good luck.

First of all, don't force your son to eat anything! Don't shove food in his mouth- this is dangerous and can cause aversion to eating. Or it can make him overeat later in life because if you keep stuffing the food in, he will have no way of telling you that he is full, and soon he will start to ignore his own body's signals that he is full.
The whole point of table food is that he tries it himself. Offer it to him first, before you give him any baby food so he is hungry for it.
I also think he is too young for eggs and cheese. Maybe start with soft bread, avocado slices, cooked carrots cut in tiny squares, soft pear or apple pieces, cooked sweet potato chunks, cheerios, etc. Get the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron for more guidance on what he should be eating right now. Go to the website http://www.superbabyfood.com for advice too.
I think the nurse practitioner may be over-reacting. Just give him some time and place 2 or 3 pieces of food on his tray at a time. Don't act anxious about him eating them. Don't push him to eat when he does not want to. Just let the food sit there on the tray while you spoon feed him. You can slowly make the baby food thicker and chunkier too. This will help him ease into it. Eventually he will pick up foods on his own and will try to feed himself. Make sure he sees you eating these same foods. He may not recognize them as food. It may take some time and you have to be patient and relaxed about it. The more stressed you are about it, the more stressful it will be for your son and you don't want eating to be a time he dreads. It should be fun for him. Don't worry so much and he will eat it eventually.

I do not mean to be offensive to the nurse practitioner, but I get a little irritated when people tell you what your child "should" be doing. Is he gaining weight? Is he growing in length appropriately for his age? Is he always hungry, tired, cranky, etc? If not, let him go at his own pace. People have probably already told you this but EVERY child is different. My son wanted nothing to do with baby food until he was about 6 months old, then wanted nothing to do with that, he wanted what we were eating. He didn't crawl until he was almost a year and didn't walk until 15 months. Guess what? He is fine! I am sure your son is too, he is just going at his own pace. I suggest that maybe you get a second opinion. Just a word of caution, I know its frustrating when kids won't eat, but never shove any food into his mouth. Eating is one of life's few pleasures, if you make it a forced activity or a battle of the wills, it will cease to be for your son and you may have some control issues as a result. I know its hard to see them not eating, but you know your son, so if you think something is wrong have it checked. If not, just keep offering the food and be patient!

I don't really think this is an issue yet. He's still very young, and all kids develop at different rates. As long as he's nursing/taking a bottle and eating baby food, he'll thrive! If you're feeling that knot in your stomach, really worried that something may be wrong, then talk to your pediatrician! He/she can take a look, and see if there's a medical issue.

But if he's nursing and loving the baby food, I bet he's just not ready for big kid food yet. Keep offering, in a very relaxed way. (No stuffing it in there!) Act like you couldn't care less. (He may be too smart for his own good, and trying to get your goat. Mine does that!) Eventually, he'll pick something he likes and go to town.

It'll probably be something weird, like a pickle or kiwi! :)

PS I think that mama had a good idea- about changing the location. I can get my son to eat ANYTHING, if he's in my lap or if it's on the floor...sigh...

Don't worry about it so much. My son (now 7) had texture issues and would not transition to table foods easily. As he was my first I freaked out and had feeding therapy and was nuts about it, he was still eating stage 2 foods at 2 1/2 but we were patient and he now eats everthing, he got over it. My twins (now 3) would not eat table food either, they were eating stage 2 foods until about a month ago. With babyfood you know they are getting fruit, veggie and meat. Don't worry about it so much. The "experts" look at the norm, there is a large curve to the "norm" as long as he is getting enough to eat it doesn't matter what. After he has had his dinner, let him sit in his highchair with the rest of the family and offer him a taste of what you're eating if he trys it great, if not he's already eaten so fine. Also, try regular applesauce, pastina stuff with a little more texture. Don't try stage 3 food though, they have too large chunks for kids that don't like texture. Good luck and you'll be much happier if you let it go for a while. He's little still, and don't compare to any other kids. He'll get it, I've yet to see a normal kid go to kindergarten eating babyfood.

My son was slow to warm up to table foods and was not eating them on a consistent basis until about 15-16 months. I would not worry about it too much, some kids just have trouble getting used to new textures.

J.,

I would just keep trying. Studies show that some foods may have to be reintroduced some food up to 6 or 7 times before they will develop a taste to it. Labeling children so young makes me crazy. So he doesn't like mushy foods neither do I why does everything have to be such an issue. He is still young give him time and don't worry. Have you tried small pieces of grilled cheese sandwiches, french toast sticks, cinnamon toast? Foods with more of a crunch then mushy. Puffs taste like cardboard if you have tasted them LOL!!! Just keep trying to reintroduce the same foods a few times and you will be surprised one day it will click. Also try to make sure you are not trying table foods after a bottle make sure he is really hungry. What I would do is I would try the food in front of him you take a bite and smile and make yummy sounds and then just leave a few tiny pieces for him to try to pick up on his own. Good luck!!!

hi jacqui, i wonder how your son reacts when he is at table with his family during meal time. is he curious? does he try to take food from someone else's plate? does he open his mouth when he sees food going into yours? i would suggest feeding him what the family eats as opposed to baby food in jars. i mean, cook for him and introduce a variety of fresh fruits and veggies--age and digestive system appropriate, of course. for example, yogurt is usually appreciated and tolerated well by babies, as is cottage cheese. avocado is soft, sweet potatoes are nutitional powerhouses and of course banana is great. don't forget the squashes. especially butternut and babies do well with yellow or summer squash too. applesauce, soft pears, papaya, mango. carrots, cooked and mashed are good too. focus on soft foods that u can cut into chunks that he can pick up himself. fresh cooked or prepared foods often taste better to baby and awaken the budding taste buds. of course with a blender of baby food maker you can make many things edible for him. avoid what he can't digest yet: beans, peas and corn for sure. check out some books or sites on making your own baby food. it's simple and not as time consuming as you may fear.
all the best,

There is nothing wrong with not wanting table food at 9 months old, that's only a few months into eating solids. Some babies are still resistant at a year. I would not worry before a year. At this age, his milk is still his primary source of nutrition and foods are just a supplement anyway. Not all babies are ready to eat table food at 9 months old.

Hi J.! I think the NP is jumping the gun a little. While many babies enjoy table food by 9 months of age, not all do. Your child just might not quite be ready yet. New things can take awhile to get use to when they are that age. Continue to offer the great variety you have been and give your son a chance to get used to them. My daughter often rejects new foods many times and then all of a sudden it's gobbled off her tray! Good luck and try not to worry. If your son is meeting all of his other milestones he's probably just a picky eater like his Mommy :-)

I can't recall where I first heard it but remember "under one, food is for fun." Seriously, I would not worry at all if your son has no interest in food or feeding himself yet. At meal times offer him a selection of what you are eating on his own plate and if he does get interested in more let him have some. You don't mention having offered vegetables or meats, so I really would start there. If he has teeth, roasted, lightly steamed, sauted or raw is fine, just make sure the pieces are big enough that he can bite small bits off or small enough that he won't choke. If your son continues to be extremely picky, also consider the possibility of allergies/intolerances.

My 28 month old daughter did not start *ANY* solid food until she was 9 months old and didn't really get into eating until she was over a year old. We always give her exactly what we eat for meals (right from the start) and never fed her (if she couldn't pick it up and put it in her mouth, she wouldn't eat it.) Now she's a real food snob ;) She'll try anything and loves veggies, but leans toward more sophisticated flavors that definitely would not show up on the kiddy menu :D But I on the rare occasion she gets picky I have to remember that **when she is ill or having an allergic reaction she will only eat one of 4 foods--sauerkraut, kimchee, liver pate or olives.**

9 months old is still prety young, its not like he's 5. My son is 11 month old and one day he loves something the next day he wants nothing to do with it. I think its just the age. Yes, at about 9 months, kids start to be interested in feeding themselves finger food but if not, then they will soon enough. Don't worry about "sensory issues". We are so quick to label kids these days. Make eating a fun experience and give him lots of snacks.

There could be a couple things going on with your son. If he's getting plenty to eat he may look at the table food as more of a toy than food. He may associate sitting in his high chair with eatting a certain type of food. He may not like the texture of the table food because it's not what he's use to.

I'd suggest trying to give him some cheeros in a different location. Like maybe giving him one or two while he's playing in the living room to see what his reaction is. Or put a few out on the table and let him see you snacking on them to see if he becomes interested.

Is your son babbling? I think you should follow the nurse practitioner's advice either way.

J.,

You didn't mention whether he is breastfed or not. He can go up to a year without table food and only have to worry about the iron count if the pediatrician says something. They get a test at 1 yr.

Not all kids like table food on the pediatrician's time table.

My son didn't like it - and we started at 6.5 months - we put it off to almost 9 months to start cereal. Iron fortified baby cereal (I recommend oatmeal only bc rice has such a terrible track record) is what he will need. There are other grains out there for babies too, besides rice.

My son was eating just fine, solids and finger foods and breastfeeding (still at 17.5 months). He will learn to eat on his own just fine. Don't let them scare you! :)

A story: a friend who is Indian was worried that her kids weren't going to grow up and learn to feed themselves bc grandma constantly fed them by hand. In this culture - it is NORMAL to do this up until age 5 and sometimes beyond, depending. All kids learn how to feed themselves, and all kids learn fine motor skills - it does NOT have to be food for that pincer grip - it just makes life easier for the parent, not the baby.

Good luck!
M.

My daughter didn't really eat until she was about 11 months old. I don't believe we should stress them out when they're not ready. When he needs food, he'll start to eat. Just let him play with it. I'd give it another 3 months before I started worrying about it. It's odd, but if he's healthy, he's probably just a late eater. My daughter's preferences were fruit and meat. Cereal and eggs can be allergens. Never heard of the puffs. Raw foods can be much more appealing, pears, bananas, oranges; just be careful with choking.

I'm not a medical professional, just giving you my experience and opinion. I'd really like to hear back on what happens though!

find a feeding therapist. i know there's one in summit, nj. don't know where you are.

Hi. I had a similar situation with my son Ryan. He ended up having Sensory processing Disorder and aspeech delay. He is 5 now and still has the food issues and speech. He gets speech in school and is doing ok. I always say error on the side of the child. it would not hurt to watch him and get him checked out. If nothing else ,it will make you feel better and know you did all you could do. I wish someone would have told me this advice earlier. I would have gotten Ryan tested before he was 18months old. Good luck with Ryan!!

G. H.

He probably is getting the *pickiness* from you. I don't eat meat because it bothers my stomach, but I cook and feed it to my sons and DH, with enthusiasm, excitement, happiness. I never made a big deal out of me not eating it, but now my oldest says he does not like meat!

I would suggest to just be relaxed about it, talk about how yummy the food is, let him feed himself, baby food and table food, some babies take their time - he may not want to dig in at first after some time of thinking about it he will give it a try. My kids always took such a long time at dinner!

Perhaps he just hasn't found something he *really likes* and when he does he will be eager to try more! Try mixing food in his baby food to give it more of a lumpy consistency...

I would say don't worry about it too much and don't try to force him eat anything. Our daughter hated baby cereal and wasn't into anything and then one day when her dad was holding her he got a pickle out of the fridge and she dove for it. We were warned about salty foods, but she and pickles are now a thing. I let her have about one half sour a week, and the rest of the time it's no-salt or sugar foods.

I would suggest putting foods in front of him at every meal and seeing if he takes to them. Cheerios are a favorite around here, as are apple chunks, but you should try anything you like -- cheese, bread, pancake pieces, pears. And just keep trying.

The worst thing you can do is force it because it will create tension around something that should be enjoyable. He'll get there.

Good luck!