[mama39]

:My 14 month old son (who is still breastfeeding) seems to have a texture issue with foods. He eats stage 2 (organic) prepared foods & even loves mashed avacodos mixed with bananas or apples/pears. But anything else lumpy or thick makes him gag (or worse, throw up). He won't eat any stage 3 or homemade stuff (not even mashed potatoes!). He likes to feed himself, but won't eat bits of veggies or fruits (except for bananas, which he eats everyday). Basically, he seems content to eat the baby purees and like cheerios or bits of crackers, waffles, etc. If he can eat & swallow cheerios why are pastas or fruits & veggies a problem? If he's gagging is it developmental? I'm concerned that the foods he feeds himself are all carbohydrates/starchy.

I have a 13 year old also that has always been a really picky (and horrible) eater (very healthy & fit but seems addicted to carbs ) & I'm terrified of having another picky eater.
Any ideas?

 

[JamieCatheryn]

It's still the early months of getting used to eating, but you might want to discuss getting testing done with your pediatrician, some kids benefit from therapy intervention with things like this. But things just take getting used to on their own schedule sometimes. My son started with homemade/ whole foods from the start (7mos) and can't stand anything pasty like white bread, potatoes, and until recently (at age 2.5) beans. He also took until after 2.5 to not gag on lettuce.

 

[sapphire_chan]

Cheerios dissolve into mush very quickly, so it's not too surprising that he'd be okay with those and not other things.

By 14 months, I'd want to have things checked out. I daresay it's just a normal toddler preference thing, but if there is something going on you'll want to get him help with it ASAP. Again not saying that only liking purees at 14 months is definitely a problem, it's just something that I wouldn't be comfortable with if it were my child.

Going through phases of eating all of one type of food is normal and okay. A study was done back in the 30's (sorry I don't have the citation ready to hand) where over several months they tested the blood of babies allowed to pick their own foods (all purees) and even though they'd go through phases of eating only one thing they didn't have deficiencies. Basically, the babies all ate what they needed and the researchers just made sure a variety was available.