Solids - What would you do?

I am sure the vast majority know of my ongoing problems with Jackson's eating, and hate/distrust of it.

We've had a very slow start to solids. He still only eats about 50 - 70g at each meal and it has to be super pureed. Because of all of our problems, the paed is not concerned with the amount and we're not going to bring in too many lumps until we start giving solids before milk (to avoid losing all the milk when he gags and vomits).

However, after a pretty wide ranging start, Jackson now will only eat his veges if there is pears or fruit salad mixed in. In other words, he's developed a sweet tooth.

Under normal circumstances, the advice would be to withhold the sweet stuff and just say tough luck and ride it out. In our situation, my boy is really stubborn, and he would just not eat it (and not be hungry later!).

So, with Jackson, I am wondering if I deal with the sweet tooth issues later. I really just want him to get used to eating solids, hopefully begin to expand his tummy and start to realise that food is fun and an experience to be enjoyed. And if that means making his food sweeter, is that ok? He's still eating veges, just with sweet stuff added.

Or am I making a rod for my back?!?!

Ella had a sweet tooth when she was a baby and still does....BUT she now does eat other nonsweet food as well. On her really fussy days I ended up having to mix in yoghurt with her food (yes she used to eat yoghurt mixed in with chicken noodle!).

I think most children are born with a sweet tooth (after all breastmilk is sweet so it makes sense) and then as they get older their taste buds expand.

Personally I would just carry on doing what you are doing, and then slowly over time reduce the amout of sweet fruit in the mixture. I often find the more you push certain foods on them, the more they resist, so I would concentrate on making food fun for him.

I'm with the others - just get whatever you can into him. You can always transition back to veges via pumpkin and kumara (as Emma said).

Also - we have problems with N gagging on lumpy bits/some self-fed food like crackers and subsequently vomiting the entire meal back up. I've just stopped worrying about how she 'should' be eating lumpy bumpy food and sticking to mashed stuff for now.....after having all her dinner come back up on us tonight via an errant lump of pear, I just need to feed her whatever stays down I'm sure she'll be feeding herself real food by the time she's 18!

anyway, just wanted to add that, as you said Jackson had issues with lumps too.

Do what ever works!

We had real trouble getting Keira on solids, I dont think she was ever eating the chunkier mixes, just went straight to finger foods when she was a bit older. We had to mix apple with everything, starting with a mouth full of apple and slowly adding the meat and vegie with the apple.

I guess it worked, she didnt starve. And if you watch her eat now you would have no idea she ever could have been fussy.

kiwilaurie wrote: Under normal circumstances, the advice would be to withhold the sweet stuff and just say tough luck and ride it out.

you know i dont think it would be... all the stuff i have read says to mix a bit of what they like with their food...esp when trying a new taste or texture.

I agree with everyone else, you have had such a rough time with feeding, do whatever works to make it a bit easier for you both.

Laurie - have bumped a similar topic i posted a while back

I have just had a major stand-off with Catriona refusing to eat her chicken and veggies (even when i mixed in apple). I have given in and she is having a bottle of milk as i couldn't take the crying anymore. I am going to try my hardest to be chilled over this and carry on with the mixing fruit idea and lowering the proportion of fruit . . .

Oh, and yes I am super worried about iron levels, as he's only getting about half of his recommended total from his formula.

So far though, baby rice/muslie/cereal is the one thing he has steadfastly refused to eat more than one spoonful of! Typical. Am getting tiny amounts of meat in him, but still worried about iron, and protein.

Of course, giving him lots of marmite. But then there's the salt content.... Gah, the worries just never end LOL!

Thanks Sheena. I will continue with the marmite, as he loves it and it's good for him to learn to chew and swallow. Like the sweetness, I'll just have to not worry about the salt for now!

I give him banana, but not much. Because it's high on the allergy list and we're still not sure what's wrong with Jackson, it's one of the foods I have to give sparingly. That and yoghurt, which he WOLFS down. Frustrating.

Amusingly, he can't quite master holding bits of banana. It's rather comical. Does much better with the fruit feeder though.

I always add a little bit of baby rice to whatever my boy is eating. Just a teaspoon sprinkled in or whatever. He doesn't even notice and it is a nice way to slowly thiken the mixture without giving it huge lumps.