I'm sure Ben will come around on the tissue thing, and I hope he won't have too many colds. I will say, though, that my daughter is nearly two and still hates the tissues. What she actually prefers is the bulb syringe, either used alone or with a bit of saline solution squirted first (Little Noses is good).

On the food question, Ruby was not interested at all until she was 9 to 10 months old, and even then she progressed far slower than most of her peers to the chewing stage. I got a lot of grief about it from various parties, but figured she'd eat when she was ready. And so she did. Keep offering Ben items and letting him get used to the idea, but I wouldn't be concerned.

On an unrelated note, I just have to say that every time I wear my Joy necklace, people gush over it. I don't think I've ever gotten more compliments on a piece of jewelry in my life.

Oh poor baby ben :( I know how you feel about the hating the wiping of the nose. The best thing I used when my daughter was a wee one with a cold or allergies was just a wet wash cloth or alcohol free wipes. They don't dry up the nose and tho it feels wet to them they don't cry they just fuss. On the finger food issue - don't give him finger food if he is gagging he isn't ready for it. My daughter started as soon as she had teeth at 4 months and I was stupid because she could have choked! But her teeth came so early that she could eat anything she could hold in her hands. Try fruit like bananas or peaches that have been soaked. They are soft but manageable. He might not like the taste of what you are giving him now :) He'll let you know.

Give him time. Little ones are much wiser than we give them credit for, he might just not be ready. Have you tried those little bag/mesh things with a handle? I think they sell them by the bottles in the grocery store now. You can put a piece of frozen fruit in those things and my dughter would go at a piece of frozen peach for a good 15 minutes. If it's frozen, it helps with the teeth too... added bonus.

my sister-in-law used these:

http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Fresh-Food-Feeder-Pack/dp/B000GK5XY2/ref=pd_sbs_t_1/105-0671861-0921223

with fresh fruit until my niece got the hang of new tastes and chewing.

you might also want to take a baby first aid class so you feel more prepared in the case that Ben does choke.

He may need a little more time. Have you tried Puffs by Gerber? They practically melt in your mouth.

my daughter had a hard time with solids. it sounds like ben just needs a little more time....i have 4 children and each one was so developmentally different from the others. i don't 'believe in' the 'experts' and their books any longer....i just gage my next move on each individual child and kind of groove from my motherly intuition. it took me a long time to get here, but i finally am able to just trust my own instincts. trust yours...you know alot more than you think :) happy trails to you and ben!!

One more thing...the magazine Cooking Light has a great article featuring Portland this month (November). It has great info on parks, restaurants, farmer's market, etc. Thought you might be interested if you're still considering a trip up there...

Thanks for sharing the Speeses site. I'm not even a mom and I really enjoyed their mission and they way they conduct their business. Fair trade, organic cotton, some day the whole world will ONLY be buying clothes like these. Businesses that make their decisions based on social outcomes really do make a difference. At some point in time I think all businesses will be run in this manner. People will simply stop investing in companies that don't. I loved how $1 out of over $100 goes to the local school. They're really working to improve their local community. Thanks again for sharing!

Thanks for the Speeses site! I'm not even a mom and I really enjoyed the website and how they conduct their business. Fair trade and organic cotton! Some day everyone will be buying these kinds of clothes. I especially liked how they donate 1 ot of every dollar back into the local school that they work near and are working to develop the local community. Thanks for sharing.

my baby #1 didn't eat until 15 months. she was just on breast milk at her choice. then it was all over in a week and she went right to soft table foods.
#2 wanted to eat everything at 9 months that came from puree to softies.
i guess the best thing is to take the que from him.. he will let you know when he is ready!

Wait a month, try again. Repeat as necessary. Promise he'll eat cheerios before he goes to kindergarten:)

Hi Andrea,

I have used Ellyn Satter's book, Child of Mine, as a feeding reference and I really recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Feeding-Love-Sense/dp/0923521518

She talks a lot about the psychology of feeding. I am pretty sure that she addresses these texture questions, but I am traveling and do not have it with me (I meant to bring it). I know there are so many books out there, but this one is worth a look. Good luck! We are dealing with first cold too.

Jen

Both my kids were like that. They both went into daycare settings at around 10 months and I just let the daycare people get them into the solid foods - I couldn't stand to see them choke and gag on food!

Both my kids were like that. They both went into daycare settings at around 10 months and I just let the daycare people get them into the solid foods - I couldn't stand to see them choke and gag on food!

Both my kids were like that. They both went into daycare settings at around 10 months and I just let the daycare people get them into the solid foods - I couldn't stand to see them choke and gag on food!

I wonder if he's a person who is particularly sensitive to texture in food. I am, and it makes eating as a grown up very lovely.

It's been over a decade, but I think that yogurt & cheerios helped my kids, the yogurt gave it a better texture to soften the cheerios a bit and give them some flavor. If they're dry they could kind of have a sticky time going down.

Sorry he's feeling crummy, hope it passes quickly!

My daughter was the same way! It could have had something to do with preferred flavors, but she was just slow to want the chunky stuff. It did freak us out when she would gag -- my heart in my throat and all that. He'll definitely figure it out, but I can sympathize for sure. As she's grown, we've learned that she's a careful child; she doesn't want to do a new thing until she's sure she can do it with confidence. We realized that our anxiety was holding her back from becoming herself. It is hard to put ourselves aside sometimes, don't you think? This is definitely a koan for us as parents!

Your cute boy will get it soon -- best of luck!

can he pick up something small using his pointer finger and thumb? if this is still a challenge, he might not be ready for finger food quite yet.

slightly mushy cheerios (put them in a shallow bowl or saucer with a tiny bit of liquid--milk, water whatever) and slightly chunky bananas worked for my friend's kid.

good luck!

slightly mushy cheerios (put them in a shallow bowl or saucer with a tiny bit of liquid--milk, water whatever) and slightly chunky bananas worked for my friend's kid.

good luck!

Hey Andrea, I hear you on the choking fear! I am a mom to 3 1/2 year old twins and a 4 month old - and when my twins were first experimenting with solids I was very nervous. I felt like I couldn't watch them closely when they were both feeding themselves. Fortunately my husband (who is a doctor) reminded me that if a child is moving air (coughing, making noise) and is not turning blue, then they are not in any danger.

Have you heard of the "Super Baby Food" book by Ruth Yaron? This book is incredible as far as I'm concerned, and really helped me to stay positive about feeding my kids. Just keep introducing the foods with enthusiasm - and remember that you are going to be Ben's best teacher when it comes to showing him what is best. Eat and chew those cheerios together with him! Let him gum up a bagel or try tiny bits of soft avocado, cooked sweet potato. And most importantly, always re-introduce foods that might not have been a success the first time around. It can seem frustrating to have to present food that you think he might refuse, but if Ben is very hungry, he may be more likely to try. Always remain positive about food when you are with your little guy. The kiddos are very good at recognizing our weak spots and fears as parents!

Most importantly remember how much kids change with a tiny passage of time. This phase will be short-lived. You won't have to feed him puree forever - I promise. My girls have finally figured out how to use the potty... something I thought would never come... and it took an entire year to get it right... but we are now on to the next interesting phase: Nursery School. You will be there too, before you can blink an eye.

Good luck and keep up the spectacular blog! xoxox

Hey Andrea, I hear you on the choking fear! I am a mom to 3 1/2 year old twins and a 4 month old - and when my twins were first experimenting with solids I was very nervous. I felt like I couldn't watch them closely when they were both feeding themselves. Fortunately my husband (who is a doctor) reminded me that if a child is moving air (coughing, making noise) and is not turning blue, then they are not in any danger.

Have you heard of the "Super Baby Food" book by Ruth Yaron? This book is incredible as far as I'm concerned, and really helped me to stay positive about feeding my kids. Just keep introducing the foods with enthusiasm - and remember that you are going to be Ben's best teacher when it comes to showing him what is best. Eat and chew those cheerios together with him! Let him gum up a bagel or try tiny bits of soft avocado, cooked sweet potato. And most importantly, always re-introduce foods that might not have been a success the first time around. It can seem frustrating to have to present food that you think he might refuse, but if Ben is very hungry, he may be more likely to try. Always remain positive about food when you are with your little guy. The kiddos are very good at recognizing our weak spots and fears as parents!

Most importantly remember how much kids change with a tiny passage of time. This phase will be short-lived. You won't have to feed him puree forever - I promise. My girls have finally figured out how to use the potty... something I thought would never come... and it took an entire year to get it right... but we are now on to the next interesting phase: Nursery School. You will be there too, before you can blink an eye.

Good luck and keep up the spectacular blog! xoxox

Cheerio's is maybe to small for him right now...give something bigger like...dried fruit to suck on...

Hi Andrea,
It's like doing anything for the first time...e.g. taking your first photograph...thinking it does not look that great and putting your camera away..(because of fear!)...when starting something new, like solids IS scary for the baby. They don't recognise the feeling of the different food, sometimes don't like the taste of it (for instance eating carrots for the first time)...but the more photos you take, and the more different things you try, the better it gets and the more confidence you get...just keep on going. And try everything...babies will not eat it unless they are sure that they want to...if they are not ready, they will suck on it...or not eat it...but don't put the solids away for pureed food as that is not going to help Ben.

I have a nursery school with ages ranging from 4 months to 7 years old (in South Africa) and we get it quite often where the mommy never introduced solids as she (1) wanted her baby to stay a baby, 2. make it easier for him/her, 3. the mommy could not handle it. One of our toddlers (1 year old) could only eat yogurt...we sat with her on our lap, giving her solids, touching her throat with a swallowing movement just so that she could learn how to swallow solids...

To make it easier...you need PATIENCE!!! and you litterally have to teach them how to chew...and how to swallow that...it's like drinking a smoothy and then all of a sudden you have to eat....fishfingers! It will hurt...it's rough...the feeling inside your mouth...it will scare you...

but we've found the more variety of food you give them, the more often...the better...if you are only going to give him e.g. banana or yogurt or mango...he is never going to eat everything else. Remember...it's new. It's going to take some time...and if you continue....he is going to love it!!!

I would suggest...raw vegetables...like carrots (to suck on:-) ), broccoli pieces...and cooked potato pieces...bread is good as well...give him everything you like!

Good luck...don't doubt yourself...I always tell mommies to go with your gut feeling...that is usually the right one!

Thinking of you...and think you are fabulous!!!!

Lin

I enrolled in a First Aid Course after my daughter gagged on a piece of banana - it completely freaked me out, not least because I didn't know what to do. Fortunately she coughed it out.

This isn't a scary story, just some advice about choking: The best thing to remember if a child starts gagging badly on some food is that the food will come out much more easily if the child is upside down. If it is stuck in their throat and you can't hook it out with your finger, then pick them up, hang them upside down (or lay them along your outstretched legs as you're sitting on a stool) and give them a couple of whacks between the shoulder blades. Think about gravity; if they're upright and coughing and able to dislodge but not expel the bit of food, gravity will just keep it their in their throat. So, upside down!

The other advice the First Aid Instructor gave us was to always cut hot-dog frankfurts in half lengthwise, because when she was a nurse in ER she saw more cases of kids choking on these throat-sized things than anything else.

As for Ben... I agree with everyone above that says "take your time".

Don't know if someone already mentioned this (it's late and I'm to tired to read all the comments just yet), but there's a product that looks like a pacifier ring attached to a mesh bag. You unscrew the bag part, pop in a piece of banana or whatnot, screw it back on (tightly) and the child can gnaw/suck on the bag and get some super-small pieces of food out through the mesh -- no big chunks to choke on. I had one of these when my son was a baby, and got it somewhere very common, like Target or Babies R Us. Sounds like this would help your son make the transition to larger solids and give him a chance to try different foods safely.

I empathize with Ben: I have my first cold in England, and I'm worrying that it's turning into a sinus infection, &c. &c. I don't cry when I wipe my own nose, but it's pretty blechy nonetheless.

Get better, small Ben!

Hi Andrea,
I'll keep it short and sweet. Sam is 11 months and 3 weeks old and he loves the cheerios and little chunks of bananas now with ease (among a few other things)but it really took time. Try very small pieces of steamed (and cooled) tofu. Oh also,TJs sells fingerling potatoes in microwave bags. After they are cooled you can peel them and mush them up (even add a bit of water if you must) and that texture will help him get used to chunkiness but he should not gag on it. I was nervous too and Sam would not get much down if we did not spoon feed him in addition to what we put on his tray for him to feed himself. This week he enjoyed well steamed mushy small pieces of broccoli:) I have a good book I will send you the title this week when I have a chance to get grab it so I get the title right. Good luck to you two. P.S. I know some babies who still prefer their food smooth at Ben's age. xo -L

try food the bridge mushy and not. a small piece of banana, potato, sweet potato is easy to receive in chunks, but also easy enough to mush himself. try directly off your finger or mixed in with some other mushed delight.

We've had huge success with rice cakes since they get really soft as he slobbers over them.

your instinct to not rush it is key. he'll figure it out eventually and there's nothing wrong with his own time. you said it once yourself about his growth curve, he's setting a new line in the charts.

babies are funny that way. Little Felix was able to stand at his crib before 6 months and is already something of a walker (at 8). however, it wasn't until just last week that he started to swallow anything that wasn't out of his bottle and sippy cups are still completely over his head. you win some you lose some. you love a whole lot.

Wow, what great advice and caring here. Awww, poor cute Ben. You are doing so great as a mom, Andrea! I never thought about babies needing assistance with learning how to eat! I thought that nature just made them Auto-Hungry for stuff. Living and learning.

You've gotten some great advice. I'm mom to 10, 7 and almost 5 year old (Yikes!). I did use that food net thing with my last and she liked it of/on...depending on what was inside of it. I'd go with the bread to gnaw on...just watch that he doesn't hoover off a huge chunk. Middle child really didn't eat any solid food (not even pureed) until he was a year old...he just loved to nurse and wasn't interested in anything else. He's still very sensitive to food textures and is very limited in his food choices. I don't worry about it; he gets a good balance from the major food groups. I think the more you push stuff, the bigger the aversion. Ben will learn not to gag in time...and that's how it is with most every thing and kids...just give it some time. And the cold thing...if you can bear to do it, sucking out the boogers with the bulb syringe will give him and you a lot of relief. I used a few saline nose drops to loosen stuff up and then sucked away. They don't like it, but they feel so much better after it's over

Hey Girl:

As you know, this mama has been hunkered down for weeks now with two sick girls. One thing I will say from my experience is put off all new tasks until Ben gets over the bug (how AWFUL to have a sicky!). My kids seem to regress when sick and even the most basic things are rough. I promise, he will start going for the finger food in time. Just put out what you feel comfortable with (choke factor) and let him gag away. He'll get it eventually. Mags JUST started putting food in her mouth on her own. I think I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum 'cause the girl would eat a pork chop right now if I'd let her, so I am super worried about her choking. Oh girl, you are doing such a good job!!! Love you! Michelle

Hi Andrea, I have a 7 month old boy who started solids about 6 weeks ago. He has been having pureed food until this week when I started baking bread for him. I bake organic bread in the oven for about 1/2 hour and cut into fingers. I watch him the whole time as he eats it and, so far, no gagging! He sucks on it, a bit falls into his mouth so he tries chewing it and by the time it's been in his mouth for 15 secs or so, it's soggy. So I think baked bread is the way to go, it teaches him how to hold finger food and feed himself, but minimises the chance of gagging because it goes soggy quickly. Maybe Ben will like that?

I didn't even give my daughter chunky food until about she was a year (when I succumbed to peer pressure from friends). I think I started with leaving her bananas a little extra chunky. Does Ben have a favorite food that you can do that with? I remember her first bite of chicken. I got one of those juicy soft rotisserie chickens and gave her the tiniest, softest sliver. She would have grabbed a whole chicken leg if allowed. Is there something small/new/yummy that you can see if he likes? I personally find Cheerios gag-worthy myself. Anyhoo, I think lots of babies have perferences about texture, especially as teeth come in and tastes are new, and etc. My daughter still doesn't like anything that is like egg or tofu textured.

Hooray that you've gone this long without a cold! If it helps at all, I put my daughter's carseat in her crib and let her sleep like that for a few days. Looked terribly uncomfortable but she slept better (well, she was always a good car sleeper). Something about the snot running in the right direction. I'd do it right now if I could.

So sorry about Ben's cold. It's so sad when the wee ones are sick. Eucalyptus oil, as another person suggested, was great for us. I used to put some on a wet washcloth, hang it on the shower head, and sit in the bathroom with my kiddo with the shower running on hot. Instant eucalpytus sauna... it really cleared him out.

You've gotten such great advice about food. It's wonderful to see your community in action. :) Just one thing - about the carseat, I'm sure you know this, but the clip needs to be moved up to armpit level to keep him safe. You probably know that and just have it loose for carrying him around, so please don't take offense if you do. The crazy carseat stickler in me just has to say something... just in case.

Hi Andrea
I'm a long-time lurker and I love your site - especially the pictures of your lovely little boy. Thanks for writing.

My oldest son (who is now 3 and a half) was slow to eat solid food and gagged and threw up on certain things for what seemed like a long time (maybe til 20 months?). He has never had a big appetite and is physically very small.

Interestingly, about 3 months ago a doctor noticed he had 'enormous tonsils' and asked whether he snored (he did) and if he ate solid food (not much). Three weeks ago he had his tonsils and adnenoids removed. We hope that this will improve his sleeping and his eating.

I'm not sure for how long his tonsils obstructed his eating. He was rarely sick and prior to this had not been to the doctor since he was about two and a half. I don't mean to present this as a scary story - (and indeed it would be very unusual if Ben has this problem) - but as background on how I am trying to approach the eating issue with my second son (now 13 months). That is - don't rush him into solid foods, be patient and if I am concerned that something seems wrong go and see a doctor.

I agree with the comments re: softer finger foods. My daughter Maddie is 9 months and loves finger foods. I started early, around 7 months, and at first she did exactly what you describe...I would always sit right next to her as she explored the new textures. She basically gums the food around in the back (doesn't really use her two front teeth except for biting something off.

Two months later, she'll eat just about anything I put in front of her. She absolutely loves steamed sweet potatoes and squash. You can steam until near-mush, and it's easier for them. Stay away from harder finger foods like cheerios for a while, until Ben seems more confident. Don't push anything you don't feel comfortable with, just kep trying once a day until it seems like he's catching on, then experiment from there! Yeah for big kid food!

Andrea,

After having two kids, I will agree just to hold off if he's showing signs of gagging and such. Some babies gag reflex stays intact much longer than what the books recommend. Actually, just take most of what the books say with a grain of salt, lol. I followed them like a Bible with my first too...until about 10 months, when I then realized that you can't follow a book to raise a child. He'll be more than fine on purees. If you push them too soon he will get an aversion to anything with texture or chunky for sure. Go by four week increments and try again. Babies make huge gains physically in about a month. You might get him one of those solid food net things to chew on if you want to introduce new foods and get him used to chewing.

They didn't really have them when my first was born and I didn't even remember then when I had my second. Maybe other readers have used them and can tell you how they liked them.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404768

Sorry about his cold...get him a cool air humidifier and also try some Vicks Cream on his chest at night. They say it's not for babies, but I've used it on both mine since they were six months old. Just use the tiniest amount you can...it will help him breath at night.

It's not quite the same, but our Noah LOVED solid foods from the second he knew they existed and would launch himself at anyone's plate to get at them. If we--literally--didn't catch him in time he'd cram whatever he got to into his mouth, usually resulting in a gagging/choking episode. I became very proficient at "fish-hooking" things out of his throat. Eventually of course he figured out chewing and mouthful control. I guess the point is don't be afraid to give him softer finger foods even if he gags because he probably DOES need to be exposed to them and even if the practice is scary it'll help him sooner than later.

Does that help? *Concerned look*

My friends baby has been doing the same thing. Teeth or no, he does not like lumps of food, period. He spits them out, with increasing frustration if you insist... and this was going on at 18 months with them still. Anyway, I don't know that it's a inspiring story, he's just been working through the phase. But it's at least a story to say you guys are not alone :)

How's he doing with his teeth? From what I've seen, until they have a pretty good mouthful of chompers, they don't much like anything that needs any kind of chomping. I suggest going for the mushiest foods you can think of. Giving him boiled vegetables chopped into easy-to-hold sticks might work. Melt in the mouth stuff. So that he hardly has to chew. Eat them with him and have fun as he copies you :) You can work up to firmer consistencies gradually.
Love to you and cute Ben!
Vx

He'll get there in his own time, probably just grab himself something off your plate and munch away like it's no big deal.

I was one such baby. In fact, I turned into a kid who couldn't even stomach the texture of potroast, burgers, or steak in my mouth. The textures of particular foods just don't fit certain kids until they're good and ready.

In my case, I couldn't eat a burger until I was about 13. Hopefully Cheerios won't take that long.

I'll second the other mom;s who have posted, and add my own little story.

My firstborn, who is 5 years now, was such a beast when it came to finger foods, or, really, anything besides breastmilk. Choking, gagging, huge fits of coughing, he had to be watched like a hawk. And he didn't particularly seem to like the food itself. Because of this, he didn't eat much "real" food until he was over 1 year. He just wasn't ready.

I, of course, worried about his nutrition and development and whatnot, but he came around when he felt like it and of course eats like a champ now.

My youngest is now 10 1/2 mos. and has been eating solids, cheerios, bits of apple, whatever he can get his little hands on, since 6 mos. I wanted to wait a bit longer before starting him on solids, but he was VERY ready. He's choked/coughed less then a handful of times while eating.

Having two kids now, I really see how different they are, and how nothing is "the norm" and how each kidlet will do what they want when they're ready, and there's so much less to worry about then baby books, parenting websites and our mother-in-laws would make us think. :-)

-Michelle

I think my son was about 11 months before he accepted anything chunky at all. He ate stage three baby food until he was 21 months old. REFUSED anything he had to chew. Now he's 39 months and eats whatever we eat except raw carrots (because I won't give them to him). He'll come around when he's god and ready.

Cook some pastina until it is really mushy, drain almost all of the water out, but leave it a bit soupy and add some butter. Both my kids were started on this along with cheerios on the side. Good luck!

no real suggestions for the finger foods as we are just starting the road to solids with the twins....ahhh, so many roads we take as new parents. sending good healing vibes to ben and his nose, hang in there, mama.

i have a snot suggestion - put some eucalyptus essential oil on the sleeve of his sleeper, or on a face cloth. his nose will run, but it will make it easier for him to breathe.

xo

Aw, poor Ben! I cry when I have to wipe my nose, too, though.

It's been a while since I was introducing my kid to finger foods, but try Ben with softer things while you feed him his regular food, and gradually work your way to the crunchier things. My son didn't like the change from milk/formula to rice cereal - NOT! Getting! In! My! Belly! FAST ENOUGH!!

Whatever you choose, Ben will be fine. He'll start new things when he's ready. :)

I don't think there's a need to keep trying just now - like Sam's doctor says, he'll be able to live on pureed foods forever if necessary. If he's not ready he's not ready, and I bet he'll be scrounging your sandwiches in no time. Or not. No big deal. Ben will be fine.

Oh, and colds are awful. Yay Ben for making it this far without getting a cold!

i was just with some moms yesterday talking about just this. one had suggested to let cheerios soak a bit in whatever breastmilk/milk/formula- so that it'd be more dissolveable to get used to. others said just give it time.
good luck!
sleeping and eating...fun stuff!!!

let me take a moment here to say - nay, squeal - TEETHSIES!
i'm sorry i can't help with your question, but surely, everything will be just fine. sending good crunchy thoughts your way:)

I've been lurking for a while. Our son Toby is now 11 months. Reading about Ben is like watching a very recent replay of the last few weeks or so with Toby.

Anyway, Toby had a lot of trouble with anything that he had to chew (i.e. not pureed baby food - including the #3 jars of slightly chunky baby food). He would take it in his mouth, try to swallow it whole and spit everything up. We kept trying to give him very small (small enough to swallow whole, and preferably things that dissolve) solid or soft food once every day or two - we got good at recognizing his gag reflex and digging it out of the back of his mouth before he threw up. We would take a few days off when we couldn't stand cleaning up him, his clothes, his high chair, and ourselves, etc. Eventually, he got to the point where he could eat crunchy foods (cheerios and small bits of graham crackers were great). We've moved to softer food like lightly toasted bread, bagel bits and are now to small bits of banana (although he just yesterday when he had a relapse when he bit off too much banana that he tried to swallow without chewing). We're doing the slow and steady approach, hoping that we'll get him to noodles soon.

We kept trying because he would stare so pitifully at all the great food we were eating. We just hung in there and tried not to get too frustrated when we were mopping his chair. And, we were extremely careful to watch him constantly as he ate and kept his food very, very small. Through it all, it never seemed to bother him as much as us. Now he insists on bread and crackers and cheerios at every meal. We give him larger pieces that he (usually) bites off chunks of - when he shoves a whole piece of cracker in his mouth (which is very frequently), he manages to chew and mush it into pieces he can swallow. Aside from yesterday's banana incident, he's been doing very well. Ben will get there too! Just be patient and do what feels right.

My son didn't eat anything with texture until 13 months. Even those little #3 jars with teensy chunks of broccoli he would gag on. I always thought he was choking but then would find the food on his tongue, no where near his throat. Don't rush it, just keep giving him what he can eat. He'll outgrow it.

(I find him to be a highly sensitive child, there is a book about this called The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron. I wonder if the two are related in hindsight. All five of his senses are highly developed, things are too spicy, the sun is too hot, the light is too bright, the smell is too strong. I couldn't take him to Bath and Body Works as a child or he would cry! He's also an emotional kid, prone to empathy and anger quickly. It'll be interesting to see if this is Ben, also.)

Oh yeah- child no.3. NO.3- I should have been feeling like a pro- but no- no table/finger food for that girl.

When I asked the Dr. about it- he said it was really not a big deal- she could live on pureed food forever if necessary. But he thought she would come aroung.

And she did- but she took her sweet time about it. I think she was almost a year.

I didn't force her. I let her do her own thing. It was much less stressful for both of us!

But talk to your pediatrician.... just to make sure that you are both on the same page. It helps to have their support!

Good luck- and don't worry. He'll get over it.