Seeking Help with 13 Month Old Not Eating Solid Food

I agree with others that this may be a sensory thing or a speech thing. There are several therapies that will help with this; feeding; occupational therapy - for sensory integration; and speech for -tounge control. I have a child who is involved in all three and we have seen tremendous improvement! There are books available on sensory diets as well. One thing we have found to be extremely helpful is discussing the food before it is served... how does it smell, look, etc. What do you think it will feel like... this has cut down on the table tantrums!

My sister's son had the same behavior. Eventually a tooth broke off and she took him to the dentist. X-rays showed he had severe root damage and it was painful for him to chew. They ended up pulling a couple of his teeth, and his eating habits improved immediately. Just a thought.

Talk to your pediatrician. He may need a swallow study to determine if he has any swallowing abnormality. My 2nd child was nto able to eat around the same age & would choke whe I attempted to feed him. e was diagnosed with lingular reflux @ 13 1/2 mths old. ECI-Early Childhood Intervention came into the home for an evaluation & a speech therapist worked with him. They developed a feeding plan & taught me what to do to help his development. Everything turned out well, thanks to them.
Becky

R.,
It sounds like your baby has Sensory processing issues. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to get the help NOW! Childrens House Baylor in Dallas can help. They have a whole feeding clinic. Starting at 13 months will really help. Try NOT to wait and see. That will not benefit him at all!!!
Call them and tell them what he is doing. They will help.
L.

I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I hope it helps knowing that someone can really relate. I have a 13 1/2 month old son that is the same way. He doesn't like anything with texture. And when he does taste food with texture, he usually sucks it and then spits it out after he sucks all the flavor out. I have had a litte luck with the Gerber Puffs. He is also underweight for his age (not even on the chart). My doctor ran blood work and referred us to an Endocrinologist when an enzyme in his blood work came back really high. After further testing, they think he is healthy. I'm going to look into sensory issues with his doctor at his 15 mth check-up. I really wish you the very best with your little guy. I'm sure he's perfectly healthy, but it never hurts to have basic lab work done and discuss possible sensory issues. I'm sure everything is fine - some babies are just not as eager to transition to solids.

My daughter is also a picky eater (although no way near under weight - she's a chunk!). She's 15 months and has only recently been taking the time to chew her food. Everything went down in solid pieces for quite a while. She was also slow to accept different textures, but once she (finally) discovered the joys of finger food, that's all she wanted! In the meantime, your baby can still get plenty of nutrition from pureed food (and maybe formula if the DR recommends?) while experimenting with different textures. I know how amazingly frustrating it can be. I kept hoping that I could just give her pureed food until around age 5 when she'll magically be able to feed herself and will happily eat what were having! :) I'm finding the whole food thing to be very stressful. When you need to, give yourself a break and just have a day or two of easy food.

My twins did the same thing. They didn't start eating solid foods until they were 15 mths. old. What I would do is feed them pureed food for their meals and then for snacks I would only do textured foods. Anything and everything. You may want to start with fruits and cheerios. My twins one day decided no more pureed food. You might want to try yogart with the fruit in them. Peas are another good one because they smush really easily. Don't worry about it, but make sure he's getting enough fat. I keep thinking of the food that worked for me. Try crackers. There is something about them that kids love. You are just going to have to keep trying, trust me one day he'll be done with baby food and you'll wish he would eat it again. That's when they become really picky eaters. My twins are 3 now, and I have a 21mth. old and boy I wander how they survive on the amount of food that they eat. Good luck!!!

make sure its not silent reflux

Hi R., I have never heard of this before. Maybe he is very picky about textures, or maybe you should take him to have his soft and hard pallet checked just as a precaution.

This is a sensory issue. Early Childhood Intervention may be able to help if he has an developmental delays.

He needs to see a speech therapist as soon as you can get him in. The longer you wait, the harder it will get for him. Do it now while he's still so young. He shouldnt still have such a strong tongue thrust. That leaves around 6 months, I think.
It's really important actually, but so easily helped with therapy. It's not that he's picky. It's the manipulating things in his mouth that he needs help with.
Good luck!
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Also, I'm not sure where you live, but the county/state will help him with services IN YOUR HOME or at his daycare. I found that out a few months ago when I was at Children's Hospital with my infant. They'll actually come to your home, do an assessment, and come back to service him.

Hi R.,
I totally agree with all those who said get help from a speech therapist. This happens to be what I do for a living and I focus on just this thing. It is not something that will just improve with age. You need to be sure that receive help from a speech therapist that specializes in feeding or you won't get the right therapy. Depeding on where you live, I can help you locate someone close to you who is qualifed if you are interested. One last thing, although private therapy can be expensive it is often covered by insurance (especially for feeding issues). Early Childhood Intervention is free to the families but is not sufficient for feeding issues in most cases. Good Luck! J. H

Make sure (if you haven't already) that your baby boys pediatrition is aware of what is going on. I have a very close friend whose child was exactly the same way about food and textures. It may something he will grow out of, but it does not hurt to make sure your pediatrition is aware of what is going on and have him look into it for you.

I'm having issues with my 14 month old son eating too - so I can't be much help there - I will tell you I started giving him the knock off brand (Parent's choice) Pediasure - and it put some weight on him - I gave him 2 a day - they have like 11 grams of fat in them & tons of vitamins- he loved the vanilla

Hmmm, I have a 22 month old and did not have that problem with him, but I did watch a little boy that was a very picky eater and had to drink health shakes with all his food pureed, he too was just alittle underweight, but very healthy. I thought it was strange, but that was just him. Babies are all different, I would not worry too much if he is eating the pureed food good. Dont force it on him, but just keep trying. Try all different kinds of small foods, like cheeze, blueberries, small snaks, etc. Just keep trying and dont make it an issue. Your little one will grow out of the "not eating solid foods" just keep woking on it and make sure to model eating in front of him/her. My son was a great eater until about 21 months, then all the sudden he became picky and more demanding - we work with him, but we also make sure that he gets all his food groups. For example, if he does not want the yogurt, we make sure he gets his milk and cheese. If he does not eat peas, we try another green veggie, and we never have problems with him eating his fruit. Just keep trying and dont give up and dont get discouraged!

Hang in there, your little one will be eating soon enough.

My son had sensory issues and never learned how to chew. He did feeding and sensory therapy at Our Children's House of Baylor where they helped him tremendously. I highly recommend them!! We had his tonsils and adnoids removed about 1.5 years into therapy and everything turned around for him at that point. I think his tonsils were large enough to make food uncomfortable going down so he just never learned the process of chewing. Of course the sensory issues just compouneded on top of it. I recommend you push your pediatrician now to start the testing for these things. You will need a doctor's referral for Our Children's House. Good luck. I know from experience how stressful this is, but it can be overcome. My son is now 7 and eats like any normal kid for his age.

Hi R.,
I would highly recommend Our Children's House at Baylor. This is something that they specialize in. Or as a second alternative I would see if you could get a referral to for a speech therapist to help out although not all of them have as much experience with feeding issues.

I'm not sure about freaking out here and running to the doctor. My son has taken his sweet time just to eat Gerber Graduates food. When it came to smoother food, he ate like a horse, but as soon as I had him try chunkier food, he kept spitting it out. I think it might have to do with the maturity in boys taking a lot longer to develop. My son was eating 2nd stage (6+ month) food until he turned 12 months. It wasn't until a couple of weeks after his first birthday he started liking the 3rd stage (9 month) food. It wasn't until after he turned 20 months did he start to enjoy Gerber Graduates. It's all been totally based on texture. When he first ate the whole green peas, he would spit the peeling out. And finally at about 21-and-a-half months, he has been enjoying the whole pea. He still has issues with some table food. His main problem is he doesn't try it or want to try. But when he points that he does, we'll give him a piece of muffin with jelly on it, he tries it, and spits it out. I guess he's not ready to go past the Graduate stage just yet. But he'll be ready when he's ready. I too was worried, called the doctor, and she said that the more you force it the worse it'll get. She said it could be as late as 2 years for a kid to eat big people food right off of their parents' plate. My little boy is getting there, but at his own pace. I ever so slowly see improvements, but for a time there I too was worried if he would ever get to the next level. I would talk with your doctor first before you go and see a specialist. It could simply be that he's just not ready.

My sisters little boy did the same thing and whenhe finally did eat solid food...he sucked it until it practically slid down on its own. He out grew this of course. She found she made more head way when she let him help her in the kitchen and helped to pick the foods. Just a phase for those independant picky eaters.

Don't sweat it. My 14 month old daughter does the samething. Texture will come in time. Each of my children had different ways to eat things, And when they were ready for something new. I would put out something new when ever you can. But don't worry about if he spits it out right now. Don't fret, he's not starving. On occation, give him something new, he will take to it sooner or later...(I know we like the sooner).

R.,

This is obviously just a guess, but being a mom of a son who is Autistic and used to have a lot of sensory issues when he was your son's age (my son is 4 now and is doing great), it seems that what you described, your son may have sensory issues (I'm not implying he has Autism - just sensory issues). If I were you, I would take your son to be evaluated by a speech pathologist. It can be through ECI (ECI is through the state, and is free until the child turns 3 years of age). However, I didn't have a good experience with ECI. I didn't think the therapists were good (my son needed speech, P.T., and O.T.) We stopped with ECI (which stands for early childhood intervention, by the way), and started taking him to a private therapy place, called Our Children's House at Baylor in Coppell (there are other locations, though). I loved my son's speech pathologist at Our Children's House at Baylor in Coppell (Melissa Johnston). She is great. My son was also a very picky eater (still is, but it's not as bad), and I took him to a picky eaters class at Our Children's House at Baylor in Grapevine (right accross the street from Baylor Hospital Grapevine). Definately have him checked out by a speech pathologist. Good luck!

Hi R.! Question: is your little one still drinking from a bottle and using his pacifier? If so, this might be why he sucks on his food a lot. He may be used to it. Have you tried giving him some soup with chicken and veggies? I would puree some of the veggies and mix them with some solids as well. What about his teeth? Has he gotten some of them yet? I hope this helps. Sorry it's not much.

a speech pathologist (speech therapist) can also help with texture aversion issues, especially if it is causing him to lose weight. Your pediatrician could offer a referral. If cost is an issue, try going through Easter Seals.

I would suggest to keep tyring lots of different kinds of foods. Some kids are really picky but there is sometimes something that they really like. He might be used to baby food and the transition might be a little weird for him!

When first eating it is natural for some children to not like texture until they get used to it. If there is some pureed food he likes the taste of, keep introducing him to the solid form, so he will see it tastes the same. Hope this works.

R.,

This is my 2 cents but I vote for the further evaluation from a speech and or occupational therapists.

By any chance, did your little guy have trouble with reflux or was he a spitter upper? There is a connection with the reflux making texture and eating problems a secondary result.

It won't hurt anything to get him evaluated. Maybe he is picky but better safe than sorry.

Hello R.,

Now some would say that I may not be the BEST to offer advice in this area. But here goes.... If your son does not choose to chew food right now. DON'T FORCE HIM! If he'll continue to eat Gerber baby foods (stages 2 & 3) then do it. It's healthier for him that 90% of the foods we buy/cook for them anyway. I used to be embarrased to allow my son to eat in publice (i.e. friend's houses or while out to dinner) but I don't really care. He's 3 years old and STILL eats some veggies from Gerber.

It's not that the foods are hard to swallow or chew they just don't want to. it's easier to just swallow and get full that way. so why not feed them foods that are good for them. In due time he'll eat the solid foods and you'll almost wish he'd go back to the quick & easy route! LOL

I took my son to the doctor because I just KNEW something was wrong and that his weight would be off but she informed me that NOTHING was wrong and to continue feeding him the "baby food" until he was ready to go for solids.

I do encourage you to feed him lots of vegetables and fruits from the Gerber options. That will help increase his weight & overall health.

As my doctor and my old auntie said to me... when he's ready to intake solids... you'll miss the days of slurp & swallow!

I wish you well & be blessed! Good Luck!! ~CJ