What are you feeding your 9 month old?

My DS is 9 months old and will only eat baby food. Every time I introduce "real" food, he immediately gags and throws up. The Dr told me to stop with the baby food because if he is hungry he will eat. I agree however it is so hard to see your baby loose everything in him because of one little piece of pastina. And it's not just his food he is throwing up, there is tons of phlegm.

Anyone have this issue? I feel completely lost. Especially since the teachers at daycare everyday tell me he should be eating more foods.

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

I had the same thing with my son!

The doctor was like don't feed him jars anymore -- I'm like, what am I supposed to feed him?! He's like no problem, feed him pastina - I'm like he's a big boy with a huge appetite, he can't just eat that all day, every day! Then, he's like well puree veggies and fruit as well. I'm like what difference from the Organic Earth's Best food in a jar then?! And I'm thinking, pastina has NO nutritional value - how the hell is feeding him that instead of organic jarred carrots better for him?! OY!

For some reason, Julian has a strong gag reflex - I thought it was just him... but apparently not! I'm actually relieved to read someone else had this happen so we are not weirdos

But, I just said I'm not feeding him pastina all the time. I went to Earth's Best Organic Stage Three foods - which are a little thicker and chunkier than the Stage Two, that kind of gradually brought him into the "adult" food. Then, I started with greek yogurt -- and that has some small, easy to chew fruit chunks. Then, I began with baby mum-mum's - and those helped him learn to really start to chew. Our other issue was at nine months Julian had ZERO teeth lol. They all came at the very end of nine months - he got his two bottom teeth and then his two top teeth like a month after that.

Now, he JUST turned eleven months and since around 9 months and three weeks he has been slowly eating Stage Three chunkier stuff, mum-mums, risotto was another soft but still chunkier food he liked, and yogurt -- then, I started with some pasta and marinara sauce, just made the pasta very soft. But, all along, I feed him stage two and three Earth's Best foods with this stuff because just the few "adult" foods he is now tolerating is not enough to sustain him. He has a huge appetite.

And, I have to say, it's been a slow but steady road but he IS now eating thicker and chunkier foods - he just turned eleven months. I remember being so worried at nine months like you -- but let me tell you, take it from me, wait two or three more months - feed your child whatever you can that they will tolerate little by little (like the yogurt, risotto, fresh mozzarella was another thing - in small pieces, that he loved to eat when most stuff would make him gag and vomit!)... and yeah just continue with the jars as a base and slowly do what you can. I tell you, he threw up a lot! He just has a sensitive gag reflex.

But, now, looking back on it - I know at the rate he is going in a month or so when he turns a year he'll probably be on almost all "adult" food -- because now that he has a taste for a few thicker foods, he can totally do it more and more. You'll see - don't worry! I had the same exact thoughts and I was feeding him quinoa today for the first time, he was loving it, with fresh mozzarella - and then his Earth's Best spinach, stage two, and I was saying to my mom - and here I was so worried just two months ago when he was nine months that he'll NEVER eat chunky table foods! Silly!

I'm so glad this was the one thing that I ignored my doctor on, and went with my gut. My son is in daycare as well - they never have a problem with feeding him the Earth's Best in the jar. I just recently started bringing mum-mum's, yogurt, and fresh mozzarella as stuff for him to eat in between his jars of veggies and fruits.

Message edited 8/16/2014 10:30:19 PM.

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

My youngest is almost 10 months and she eats stage 3 foods and yogurt. She has no teeth. She gags on the stage 3 with the pasta. But my older daughter was the same way, I remember freaking out with her bc she wouldnt eat chunkier stuff and now she eats no problem so I am not going to worry this time too. They will eat. My dr said to first start introducing soft foods at 9 months so she's got time to get used to it.

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

Thank you so so much!!! I feel much better to hear he is not alone. Thanks for the suggestions too...going out now to buy stage three and every flavor mum mums!!

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

DC is almost 9 months and gags and vomits whenever I try to give cheerios, puffs or anything more solid than stage 2.

I just asked the Dr about it last week because I was also concerned, and he said that some babies just have a very strong gag reflex and forcing solids on them is not going to help. So I will keep offering and eventually it will work itself out. Daycare has not said a word about what DC should or shouldn't be eating (and I don't think it's their place to either), and my ped said not to be concerned at all at this point.

Don't worry, you're not alone.

(And also, my DC#1 had a hard time with stage 3 and was gagging all the way until after 1 yr old. And she is fine now, no issues with eating whatsoever.)

Re: What are you feeding your 9 month old?

My DS is just 9 months, and he too still eats all stage 2 jars. I tried a stage 3 last week, and he also gagged on the small chunks. I thought something was wrong with him. I try giving him the puffs, and he looks at me like I'm a weirdo. I'll just keep trying a bit at a time. I'm really not worried. He'll eat when he's ready. He won't go to kindergarten eating baby food!