Is your baby or toddler gagging on foods all of a sudden? Does your toddler chew food and spit it out? Or, your baby won’t put food in their mouth? Find out what’s normal and what’s not from a pediatric occupational therapist.
One of the most popular reasons parents find their way to Your Kid’s Table is because their baby or toddler isn’t eating baby food, table food, or both. Obviously, this is a huge area of concern for parents.
These refusals are usually a red flag that something deeper is going on with their eating, and if it isn’t addressed, it could lead to long years of picky eating and feeding difficulties that causes the whole family stress.
I’ve helped so many families of 2, 4, 6, 8, or even 12 year olds that are in a really desperate spot, and one of the first questions I ask (even for a 12 year old) is, “How did they transition to table foods?”
It gives me a clue as to how eating got so out of control! Because if a baby or toddler gagged a lot or started to all of a sudden, or if they refused to eat, it’s a sign that they have some difficulties that have caused challenging mealtimes for years.
I really want to help parents like you avoid that!
Let’s talk about 8 different feeding red flags for babies and young toddlers and what you can do to help your child.
8 Feeding Red Flags for Babies and Toddlers
#1. Baby Refuses Baby Food
Not all babies love the mushy pureed stuff, and many don’t gobble it down jar after jar the way other babies do. But, when a baby consistently refuses, and even becomes upset when presented with baby food, it is usually a red flag that there may be some sensory sensitivity.
While babies don’t need to eat baby food and can focus on table foods, it’s important for them to learn to tolerate using a spoon and eat purees like yogurt, soup, and applesauce as they get older.
Head to my baby won’t eat solids to learn a step-by-step plan to help your baby eat pureed baby food!
#2. Baby Refuses Table Food
Often, when babies refuse pureed foods, logically, parents will start trying table foods. In fact, that is just what I would recommend. However, if a baby is refusing pureed foods because of the mushy texture, they also may not be too keen on bananas or avocados.
Or, some babies love baby food, but want nothing to do with table food. There’s a way to help babies and toddlers transition to finger foods.
I always recommend starting with a dry and crunchy melt-able like baby puffs. If a baby is steadily refusing those and all other foods, then that is a clear indication that something else is going on.
View this post on Instagram
#3. Baby or toddler gags at sight, touch, taste of baby food or table food repeatedly
Some gagging when touching or trying new foods is normal, but if your baby or toddler does this every time, then it’s a strong indicator that they are sensitive to different textures. Or, yes, it’s possible your toddler gags at the sight of food alone.
This is because they’re imagining what that texture is going to taste or feel like.
It’s important (and very possible) to work with your child in a slow, but steady pace to help them desensitize to the textures that causing them to gag. Get an entire guide to toddler and baby gagging. You’ll find tips for how to move past it.
#4. Gags, spits food out, or seems to choke repeatedly when trying to chew or swallow food
There’s a difference between gagging when first interacting with a food and gagging when trying to eat.
Gagging or spitting food out after the baby has started eating tends to indicate that a baby may be having difficulty coordinating the actions of chewing and/or swallowing. These are called their oral motor skills.
Some babies and toddlers need help learning to chew.
At the same time, some babies won’t gag or spit out, but they’ll just hold onto the food, letting it sit in their mouth because they don’t know what to do with it or don’t want to swallow. This is called pocketing food.
#5. Baby or Toddler is only interested in nursing or bottle feeding at 8 months old or later
By 8 months old, at the very latest, babies should be showing some interest in some type of food (puree, soft table foods, or crunchy foods). If they don’t, despite repeated attempts, you would want to consider they have a texture sensitivity, oral motor difficulty, or a possible medical issue like food allergies, silent reflux, or a tongue tie, to name a few.
Make sure you talk to your pediatrician and see a pediatric GI to rule out any physical difficulties you might not be aware of.
#6. Baby or toddler won’t feed themselves with their fingers and/or spoon or fork
Sometimes, children aren’t able to coordinate the action of using a spoon or fork. Of course, I don’t expect a 6 month old to be able to feed themselves much, but they should be attempting to finger feed at a minimum.
When a child at 6, 9, or 14 months old refuses to feed themselves with fingers or utensils, it’s a red flag that they either can’t coordinate the movement required or that they’re too sensitive to textures so they’re avoiding getting messy or having utensils in their mouth.
Either way, you can learn how to teach your child to feed themself.
#7. Only will eat when watching a screen or other distractions
If a young baby or toddler is only able to eat by being distracted by a tablet, TV, phone, or a parent standing on their head trying to entertain them, then they again are lacking the intrinsic motivation to eat, which can happen for a variety of reasons. (See the big 5 reasons babies and toddler’s won’t eat.)
It’s a big bright red flag that something more is going on. Older toddlers and children can fall into this pattern for other reasons, but babies that have never been fed successfully another way, often need help to address the root of the problem.
Again, this is often underlying medical issues, sensory sensitivities, and/or oral motor difficulties.
#8. Doesn’t mouth on toys or chew on found items
I often hear from parents, “I thought it was so great that my baby never put anything in his mouth.”
On the surface, that does seem awesome, but there is a reason babies do that. It desensitizes their mouth to different textures, helps build their jaw, tongue, and lip muscles needed for eating, and they get to practice chewing. If your child never did this and has one of the other red flags, it is likely that there are some underlying difficulties.
Busted Myths About Babies and Toddlers Eating…
Myth #1: My baby isn’t eating because they don’t have teeth
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a parent say their child isn’t eating because they don’t have any teeth yet…. Well, you know how the rest goes! I hear this a lot, and I know that seems like good logic, but I want to shout from the roof tops: Babies and toddlers don’t need teeth to eat successfully.
Really, I’m not kidding!
Think about the first teeth babies get, which is anywhere from 6-14 months old. They are the front teeth. We don’t use our front teeth to chew, and babies shouldn’t be either. Their gums are strong and they should be chewing on them, right where their molars will be. It could be a year later before those molars come in.
Of course, the gums aren’t strong enough to chew steak or raw carrots, that’s why we don’t give those foods to babies.
Otherwise, babies and young toddlers were designed to eat successfully at meals without teeth.
Other foods they shouldn’t eat because they don’t have a teeth and are a choking hazard are:
- nuts
- lettuce
- popcorn
- other tough meats
- most other raw veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and celery
They need teeth and more advanced chewing skills to manage all of those foods. Other than those tough foods and a few choking hazards like grapes and hotdogs, babies are able to eat a wide variety of foods without teeth.
Myth #2: They will grow out of it
I hear this A LOT too! But, it’s not from the parents of babies that are under 15 months old. It is from the parents of 2, 5, 8 year olds plus.
While some parents do arrive at this conclusion on their own because they honestly didn’t know what else to do, sadly, most of the time, parents had a gut feeling something more was going on, but their pediatrician told them, “Don’t worry, she is healthy, she’ll grow out of it.”
I’m not trying to knock pediatrician’s here, they are amazing and I have had the privilege of working with some amazing ones, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, many receive very little advanced training in feeding difficulties that aren’t causing medical problems or weight loss.
If you see one of these signs, do some research, push for help, or tap into our resources here so you can be supported!
When it’s Time to Get Professional Help
Generally speaking, if your child has two or more of the red flags listed above, I would highly recommend getting a feeding evaluation, which is usually completed by OT’s (like myself) or speech and language pathologists. However, in a lot of cases, only one of these red flags is enough to warrant an evaluation.
If your baby is not eating any foods by 9 months of age or no table foods by 11 months of age, I would also strongly encourage a feeding evaluation.
More importantly though, if you feel like you don’t know how to help your child and something in your gut is telling you that there’s more going on, then get some help. You will be glad you did.
*Please keep in mind that babies born prematurely or present with developmental disabilities may be on a different timeline. Also, every child is unique and this information is tended to be a guide for parents to make decisions about potential interventions to help their child. If you still aren’t sure if your child needs more help, leave a comment below.
Where to Get Eating Help for Your Baby or Toddler
We specialize in helping babies and toddlers eat well. It’s so important to address it sooner than later because the older a child gets, the more ingrained the challenges become.
We have an online program designed for babies and toddlers struggling to eat table foods called Table Food School and another one for picky eaters called Mealtime Works. Plus, we have two free workshops:
- Click here for a free workshop to help babies and toddlers learn to eat table foods
- Click here to a free workshop to help picky eaters (toddlers and older)
If you’re in the states, you can also look into early intervention. What’s covered varies by state, but the evaluation is often free for kids 0-3 years old. Feeding therapy may also be an option. Check with your individual insurance company first to schedule at a private clinic, outpatient facility, or children’s hospital.
Learn to Eat Table Foods Printable for Babies and Toddlers
Want some concrete tips in your hand right now? I have a free printable that will help give you some direction and ease your worries. It’s for parents that are struggling to get your toddler or baby to eat table foods. I’ll send it right to your inbox:
Grab the Free When Babies Won’t Eat Table Foods FAQ Sheet right here!
More on Babies and Toddlers Eating
8 Tips for Nursing Moms Returning to Work With a Baby That Won’t Take A Bottle!
The Best 9 Month Old Baby Food + Table Food Ideas!
How to Teach Your Baby to Chew
Feeding Milestones for Babies and Toddlers
Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 19 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
So my 8 month old doesn’t really have trouble eating but there is something I’m curious about. I usually give him some spoonfed stuff (puree, oatmeal, yogurt, etc) at the beginning of the meal before giving him his plate of table foods but he’ll usually only take one or two spoonfuls before refusing. But if we stick a toy in front of him to look at, he’ll let us feed him a lot more. Why is that? Should we stop using the toy?
I should add the whole reason we started doing that is because we needed a way for him to get more milk because he doesn’t like taking the bottle for some reason. Otherwise we’d just give up and give him only the table foods which he eats just fine.
Hey Stacy,
So we do recommend removing any toy/distraction from the table/during mealtimes. When there is a toy/distraction present then the child is not really interacting with the food, so you aren’t working on the underlying cause of “why” they are not wanting the food. I’d try doing some play with the pureed foods and seeing how he will do touching it/engaging with it. Also offering him a spoon to use to feed himself. These can be helpful in them being more accepting to this texture!
Best,
Desiree
HELP!! My son just turned 2 last month. He only drinks milk in a bottle with some oatmeal cereal in it, will have a yogurt here and there and Oreo cookies which the grandparents introduced. He seems to be interested in my food when I am eating however if I offer anything or put a little piece in his mouth he gags and spits the food out. The Oreo’s he sucks on and won’t chew. He is now starting to choke when he tries to swallow the cookies so I refuse to give it to him. Figured he would at least learn how to chew the Oreo’s which is why I allowed him to have some. I don’t know what to do at this point. Should I take him to a specialist? Any other ideas? Thanks.
Hey Jessica,
So sorry your little one is having trouble. Sounds like working on some chewing skills will be really helpful for him. I’d first start brushing teeth/gums/tongue 3x’s a day, this can help decrease the gag reflex. You can take him to a specialist they can at least evaluate and get some eyes on him for specific recommendations. You can also take a look at This Article for some tips for teaching chewing.
Best,
Desiree
Hello,
My son is 17 months old. He is only 20.2 lb. He always rejects foods. I can only give him puree because he can not chew. And he takes long time to melt any table foods by his tongue. But as he is on 2.5 percentile on his growth chart I am worried and I have to blend foods to feed him. I need to divert him during feeding. He accepts 1-2 oz watching cartoon. Then he starts to reject. And if he does not watch cartoon I can not feed him even 1 spoon. He is very skinny and I can see his ribs. He was active but specially in this month I think he gets tired easily. Doctor told me to give him pediasure which he does not like and gags. He gags and chokes very frequently. And sometimes he vomits. I am giving him famotidine. But my son shows interest to our meal. And takes 1/2 bite. But as he can not chew I can not give table food in his meal time because it takes long time. And also it takes almost 1 hour to feed him puree. Doctor recommended for NG tube. Do you think he should be given NG tube? He does not have any other medical complications. But perhaps he has acid reflux. Why does not he eat? For behavioral problem, for reflux or he simply does not like puree? I am so frustrated he is not gaining weight. Any suggestion will be helpful.
Thanks for reaching out, so sorry you are dealing with this, we know how hard it is. I’d first start to work on having your son play in some different foods that you are wanting him to eat touching of foods is the first step to eating. Engaging him this way can be really helpful. We do have a free workshop that will walk you through some of these strategies to work towards chewing as well as what foods to offer. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My daughter is not 2 and has been the same way. I have struggled with her eating for so long she doesn’t chew and vomits daily for past 8 months. After dozens of specialists and feeding therapy, she is not any better. I’m taking matters in my own hands. I purée food for her mix high calorie foods use blender, make it a consistency she will eat and not gag/vomit. Do a lot of tongue, mouth, jaw movements. She doesn’t know how to properly chew and swallow food. No one told me this. Ever. Please let me know if I can answer any questions. Its difficult. Don’t put a tub on him ever. Have patience and advocate for him.
Hey Alisha ,
I have been following your work and your excellent .
My daughter is 20.5 months old and extremely picky eater I am worried stressed and cry often
Shows poor motivation to self eat or being made to eat.
She plays with her food a lot , put it in her hair at times ( feel its more attention seeking that time )
She eats food with distractions especially mobile videos (when I put food in her mouth )
She swallows her food most times (when I put food in her mouth – eg rice oats )
She will eat pieces of banana / watermelon /egg but with distraction or me constantly on her head
Doesn’t like eating Toast/ bread / roti
She has shown love for chicken to hate for chicken
She shows poor consistency in eating / liking whatever she eats
She likes to eat on her own , even picks up sunflower seeds or raisins and eats but not eat like a meal. She picks up Annie’s cheddar bunny crackers / some gerber etc and eats but no toast or filling stuff
She eats extremely less quantities and I am worried if she will gain any weight ( she weighs on the Lower border of her age group )
Extremely active and hyper child
She gags when she is upset / needs attention
She has 4 teeth on the top and 4 below and is currently teething with 4 more on the way
Honestly tired and worried 😟
Hey Karishma,
Thanks so much for reaching out! So sorry you are having a hard time feeding your daughter. It sounds like you are doing a great job at providing opportunities for allowing her to play and touch the food. This is a great first step in eating and I would make sure to continue to provide those opportunities for her. We do have a free workshhop that would be perfect for your situation and learning some strategies for moving forward with her picky eating. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
I have a six month old son. My doctor said he was ready to start eating solids before he was five months old because of how well he was holding his head up. I still waited until he was just about 5 months because I didn’t want to start too early. I started with a baby oatmeal which he really did not like. I kept trying it, and he would make faces and let it dribble out and gag. I then moved on to purees. First banana, he didn’t like it, avocado, he seemed to like but now he will spit out and gag. I have tried about 10 new fruits and vegetables and he doesn’t seem to like any of them. I thought he liked pears at first, but now he gags. He’s starting to gag with every bite and he still won’t open his mouth for the spoon, despite the fact that we’ve been trying solids for nearly six weeks once a day. I’ve tried not thinning them so much, to see if he would like a thicker texture, but he still does not like it. Should I be concerned? Do I just keep trying the way I have been?
Hey Mindy,
You are just starting out in this feeding journey! I would keep trying, but also making sure he has opportunity to touch and play with the textures as well, this can help with them eating it! We do have a free workshop that could be helpful for what you can be looking for and doing! Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
I have a 1 year old who eats nothing but baby food still. Should I be concerned that she does not try any new foods I’ve tried giving her soft table foods and meltable cereal chews. What would be the best option?
Hey Cody,
Thanks for reaching out! We can understand your worry and know it can be a hard transition. We do recommend utilizing puffs (meltable). or other meltable solids to work on the transition to table foods. However we do have a free workshop that will walk you through these steps to work towards eating. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi, my daughter is 19months old and as far as foods go she will only eat oatmeal grits mashed potatoes or anything of the like, but at the same time she will eat almost any snack such as Cheetos cookies muffins…etc. I’m not sure what to do I’ve tried and continue to try introducing new foods but she won’t take more than 2-3 small bites and then she has no interest in it. Also have an issue of getting her to drink more than a very small amount of liquid a day, she loves water but won’t drink it from a cup only bottled water and only a few sips here and there… I’m at a loss and worried about her, her urine output seems to be very minimal (2-4 Wet diapers a day with only a small amount each time) please help!!!
Hey Thanks for reaching out! For the drinking I’d try a straw cup to see how she does with that. Some kids like the sensation from it and find it “fun” this may help. For the eating, we do have a free workshop that will help with some tips and strategies to use at home. For starting I’d try to do play with food that you are wanting to work on her eating, you can even do this outside of mealtimes. This can help get them used to touching a variety of textures and feel comfortable around the foods. Save your seat for the workshop HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi! My food loving 2year old daughter suddenly isn’t eating solid food anymore. Anything textured. She eats yogurt/ice cream but anything else she chews and holds it in her mouth for hours. She has been doing that for the past couple of day. I’ve tried different foods but she does the same thing even though she asks for it.?(
Hey Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d first try to rule out anything medical going on, teething, etc.. Then I’d try to remove pressure from mealtimes and make sure she has at least 1 food that is her preferred at this time. Removing the pressure can help get her back to where she was eating (if nothing medical is going on). To learn more about removing the pressure you can sign up for our picky eating workshop, it’ll be some great tips to help get your little one back on track. Save you seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi..my baby turned 6 months old on 14th. And we started solids on the 10th of this month. We have started baby led weaning. The first 2-3 days she seemed ok with chewing though she didn’t seem to swallow much. After that she bites and chews but ends up gagging every time. She is very interested in the finger food I offer but gags and has even vomited a few times. Sometimes she manages the gag but the food usually remains in her mouth causing further gagging, then I give a little water and she swallows. Or she just spits it out gradually, not forceful spitting.
Hey thanks for reaching out! You can try to provide her with some meltable foods such as puffs to see how she does with managing those in her mouth, and see if she is able to move it around. We do also have a free workshop that will help walk you through some other steps that you can take to help you with the gagging and what foods to try! Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
I have a 9 month old baby boy. He seems to be having issues understanding how to use his mouth and tongue. He turns his head when food is offered. He gags, spits up and cries when I do manage to get food in his mouth. I have tired changing the texture of the food, thinning it out, making it thicker. He hates all of it. The main thing I have noticed and I have spoken with his pedi about is he twists and sticks out his tongue all the time . I am on waiting list to get him into food therapy. He is showing signs he is interested in food. He watches us eat, tries to take food off of plates and moves his mouth when we eat like he is eating. He just cant seem to put all the pieces together. I have 2 other children and I never had issues like this with them. I am at a total lose I feel like I have tried so many things. I have tried using the mash bag for him to suck on as well. The tongue twisting is my big worry, he has a lot issues knowing what to do with it. Any ideas? or is food therapy my best bet?
Hey Amanda,
So glad you reached out! Feeding Therapy does sound great for him, hopefully you have found a good fit. It sounds like he has some oral motor and sensory difficulties to address with feeding. I’d work on getting him to allow you to brush his gums/teeth and tongue. This can help with getting the tongue moving inside his mouth to help with the foods. If you haven’t yet seen our free workshop, it’ll be another great resource for things that you can be doing at home. You can save your spot Here
Best,
Desiree
My 17 month old will sometimes very rarely eat solid foods, most times he will chew it till it’s completely mush then spit it out and play with it. He loves to pick up things off the floor and put them in his mouth and chew them. He will eat toddler stage baby food but more times then none when he gets to the end of his meal he starts gaging and eventually throws up. Please I need help I’m not sure if he needs the evaluation or not.
Hey Starlette,
Thanks for reaching out to us! It’s always a good idea to reach out to your pediatrician as well to let them know your concerns. We do have a free workshop that will provide suggestions for gagging as well as which foods to have him try first to see about the chewing/swallowing. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My son is 3yrs old and he has been a VERY picky eater since he started eating. He only eats few foods such as french fries, noodles and 12-24 months baby cereal, chips, candy, and the only meat he will eat is beef jerky. He gags every time we try to feed him new things, practically pukes when a fork/spoonful of something new is near his face. Or he will start crying and freaking out when we ask him if he wants a taste of something we are eating, he’s just completely disgusted with just about everything. We’ve tried being food role models, we’ve tried telling him he’d get stronger and faster like his favorite character, we’ve tried involving him in meal planning, etc. At this point We’re hopeless and have started to think he won’t ever grow out of it. he’s very smart and can talk very good. help!!
Hey Kimberly,
Thanks for reaching out! We have a workshop that I think you will get some great tips and insight from to help your son! In the workshop you will learn about removing all pressure from mealtimes, as this can have a great affect on them as well. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My 14month old still isn’t eating any kind of food, he doesn’t put anything in his mouth other than his fingers and gags on even 4month baby porridge, I’ve tried all kinds of soft food but the thickest thing he can eat without gagging is a yoghurt. Although since being on antibiotics for an ear infection a few months ago he will no longer even put a spoon in his mouth..I have an appointment to see a peadiatrician but that’s not for another 3months.. any help will be great
My grandson was premature, but wasn’t on a feeding tube then..a procedure was done, to where he needed a feeding tube, cause if he took anything by mouth he will aspirate, he is now 14 months and now he cried for eating through his mouth..now he been eating through the mouth at least for a week or 2 now…. because of the Cov19…we couldn’t go to doctors..do he can see if it safe to eat by mouth…and if his organ is working now…Soo he been eating regularly without any problems so far..you think I made a right decision..??
Hey Sherry,
So sorry to hear what you are dealing with, it can be hard. We do always say to follow up with your pediatrician or GI doctor (or whoever they are seeing) to see what is in the best interest, especially with medical difficulties going on! I’d reach out to them and see if you can discuss through phone/computer.
Best,
Desiree
Kimberly my 3 year old is the same way she was eating rice mac and cheese noodles all kinds of fruits and veggies but just last week she completely quit eating . my biggest problem is she’s still on a bottle but just at bedtime. I think i didn’t cook tator tots long enough and she didn’t like it that’s what set her off.
Hi. Ugh, I need help. My 5yo was eatting okay.. not great but for the most part he’d try different foods but of course loved more fatty foods, donuts, fries, PBJs, etc. About 2 weeks ago, he said something was stuck in his throat.we made sure there was nothing, he drank lots of water and immediately after, when he tried to eat he said it hurt to swallow. I got worried something was really stuck, we took X-rays, nothing. The Dr. recommend medicines for allergies and acid reflux thinking that could be causing a sore throut. It’s been a week, no progress. When I try to get him to eat, he doesn’t even attempt to swollow. He simply chews, usually doesn’t like the texture of the solid foods and spits it out. Nothing is working. He’ll eat yogurt, broth, and peanut butter. And for some reason only his favorite candy– rolos- doesn’t hurt to swollow. His pediatrician is recommending we do a laryngoscopy, which is scary. I’m not convinced that the issue us really his throat, but then again, this happened suddenly, so I’m unsure. Any advice?
Hey Priscilla,
So sorry you are dealing with this! For the sudden onset and him refusing even his favorite foods now, I’d continue to explore medical reasoning, especially with him expressing something feeling different in his throat. Medications can take awhile to really start to work. In the meantime, I’d make sure that you are providing opportunities for him to play/touch and talk about different foods and textures (with no pressure to eat). This can start to build trust again for him to start eating!
Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
My grandson was eating babyhfood for a while than became really picky will not try any table foods at all crys gags if you try to get him to take a bite. Over a month he would only eat 1 type of baby food and now he wont even eat that . Daily we try dif stuff and still nothing. No intesti in any type of food .gags if offered and not willing to ever try any finger foods. So now hes not eating at all. He is 2 .he has a appt coming right up in 5 days. Anytime he has seen the doc they act like it’s normal. Its not. This is beyond fussy. . But they never seemed concerned. I’m very concerned.
Hey Alice,
There can be a number of reasons for kids stopping to eat, I’d be making sure that she’s not getting sick too. If you continue to have trouble and picky eating you can check out our free workshop that has some great strategies for you to utilize at home to help get them on track! Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
I have an 8 nearly 9 year old who gags easily on many foods. I find that it is usually texture based but seems to be getting worse. She struggles with eggs. Ground beef, cooked veggies and more. I am never sure what will trigger it and once she gags she can’t eat anymore. I struggled very much with texture when I was a cold but am mostly fine now as an adult. I keep saying she will grow out of it but the fact that it almost seems worse now makes me wonder if this is the case. As a child I was kind of forced to work my way through it and have wondered if that is the way to help her but also know how hard it is to be forced because I was there. Should I continue as I’m going, catering to what works for her or try to get her to eat the foods that induce gagging?
Hey Angie,
Thanks so much for reaching out and really thinking through this! We take the approach to address the underlying cause and work on it that way, with no forcing. If you haven’t seen it yet, our free workshop will help you understand the no pressure environment. From the sounds of it, she would need some sensory work, to really work through those textures (which is covered in our full class). You will learn some great tips in our free workshop! You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
I have a two year old that shoves nuggets(one of the few foods he eats) into his mouth, gets angry his mouth is so full, he spits it out. I have to take it immediately. And a lot of the times when he does this, he won’t eat anymore. Should I have him evaluated? Also, any other food he doesn’t want, he demands to have taken off of his tray. My 6 year old is exactly the same. Very few foods. Won’t eat anything mushy and mostly white and yellow foods. He will eat beef, but that is the only meat.
Hey Melissa,
It never hurts to get an evaluation even if you just leave with some suggestions! That said, you can also sign up for our free video series happening now, as it can help provide some suggestions for picky eaters! Save your seat HERE
Hi, my son is 3 years old and he’s always been really weird about food and I’ve made this clear with his pediatrician for almost 2 years and they finally gave me a referral to an Ot. He has sensory issues but but eat will junk food. Speech is great so their are no other concerns & his preference is hard candy, popcorn, French fries, m&m’s, and snicker bars. We give him a daily vitamin as well. When feeding him he initially was gagging but now he will hold the food but eventually swallows and crying the entire time. Whenever we mention it’s time to eat he starts crying which makes me feel it’s behavioral as well. Should we keep forcing him to eat. I don’t want to make meal time anxious for him. He’s making small progress and his OT encourages us to keep introducing it to him.
Hey Ginger,
So happy that you received a referral for OT, hopefully you are finding this helpful. I would still be trying to offer new and preferred foods, however we do recommend in a no pressure environment. I’d take a look at our free workshop on picky eating and this is full of helpful information, especially with your situation. Save Your Seat Here.
Best,
Desiree
I’m hoping for some guidance. My 8 almost 9 month old son hasn’t wanted purées in over a month so I tried table food since he likes feeding himself. He chews but most of the time does not swallow and freaks out . What can I do?
Hey Kayla,
I can totally get where you are coming from! Our kids feeding journey’s can be tricky, but you are doing great with looking for resources for help! I would take a look at this article on Transitioning to table foods. It will talk you through the process of how to transition from table foods with what foods to use and what to look for!
Best,
Desiree
Your Kids Table Team Member
I had my son evaluated at 12 months because he wouldn’t eat much solids at all. He is exclusively breastfed.
He would gag and spit food out, or even briefly choke. The OT said his oral motor looked fine, and that he was just preferring nursing. She suggested I use the tv to distract him to get volume in, which would hopefully cut down on the nursing.
Nothing has worked. I feel like I am at a loss. I worry every single day, and things aren’t getting any easier. He is now 19 months old and primarily getting nutrition from my milk. He tries new foods once in awhile but even the foods he “likes”(ie:raspberries) he will only eat maybe one or two of on a good day.
This month he started gagging at the SIGHT of food almost every single time. It makes me so sad and I just don’t know what to do. Everyone keeps telling me I need to wean him from nursing and he will just “grow out of it”
My mama gut has been telling me for a year that something isn’t right.
PLEASE help 😔
Hey Melissa,
You are doing a great job! looking for resources and following your mommy gut! From what you are describing it seems like he is having a sensory reaction to the foods. I’d start with some play with the foods, outside of mealtimes to get him used to touching everything and decrease the gagging. I’d also watch our free workshop, because takng away pressure can also have a huge impact! You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hey Melissa! How is your son now? I read your comment here and I have a 15 almost 16 month old boy is the exact same and every day I feel sick and in a panic about it. Just wondering how it turned out for you?
🙂