My 1 Yr Old Only Wants to Eat What I Am Eating

okay! my kids were eating table food at 8mos. you just find soft foods to start...mash potatoes are great!! any noodles cut up in small pieces, rice seasoned or unseasoned...those rice packets from the store are good, apple sauce, really if he's a year old he can even have things like fruit in small pieces, meats in sm.pieces (hotdogs need to be cut into non-circular pieces), Just don't let him shovel it in. He should be fine with quite a bit of table foods!!

He's ready for table food. Just ease into it slowly with softer foods that he's less like to choke on. You'll quickly find they don't choke as easily as you thought. My daughter was eating table food around 8 months with no teeth.

I am a grandmother of 5. When my girls were baby's I never fed them jar food. They always had adult food. I would grind up all there food. When they got older I just cut up every thing real small. It is no different than the snacks you give them. Just serve them very small. Baby food is very boring, they want to eat what we are eating.

My son no longer ate baby food by the age of 10 months. He, developmentally, is ready to move on to "real" food. Here are some ideas for great first foods:

Breakfast
(all cut up of course)
Fruit
Pancakes
Waffles
Toast with Jelly
Oatmeal
Eggs with Cheese
Cereal
English Muffins

Lunch
Grilled Cheese
Steamed Veggies
Fruit
Chunks of Meat/Chicken/Tofu
Cheese
Chicken Nuggets

Dinner
Pasta with sauce
Veggies
Any of the lunch items

Snack
Wheat puff cereal
graham crackers
fruit
cereal

Good luck and go with what your little one is telling you!!:)

Don't worry for the most part he will be fine eating regular foods. You can give him dry cereal to snack on. Make a supper that consists of breakfast foods such as pancakes and eggs on occassion and I bet he will eat that. He is getting out of the baby food stages and he wants real food. By now he should have plenty of teeth to be able to chew chunks of food. Just keep an eye on him. There are all kinds of regular foods he can eat now. Make him a grilled cheese sandwhich for lunch. He can also eat soup. You can give him chunks of fruit such as pears and mixed fruit to eat out of the can. Or you can buy fresh fruit and dice it up. Also bananas are a good option. These are just a few foods that he can eat and should do just fine. I have 3 boys and have been married for going on 12 yrs. My boys are ages 10,7, and 4

Check out this site:
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/

It has recipes and food suggestions for every age of development. Remember to inroduce new foods slowly to so that if any allergic reactions occur you will know exactly what caused them.

Also ask your pediatrician what he/she recommends!

Puree and juice......You can prepare the same foods, just prepare the child's a bit different when it comes to those things you're afraid of. There are also books out there on how to do some of this. FEED ME, I'M YOURS is one I'm fond of.

Dear S.,
Get yourself a hand-operated baby food grinder which you can have at the table and into which you can put meat, or vegetables or fruit, or pizza, or whatever.
Then he can have "grown-up food" that is the right consistency for him to eat.
And it is great when you go out to eat.
We used one with all our children and now our grandchildren use them.

First of all... at age 1, he won't choke - I promise! Second of all, why not give him what you're eating? Kids this age love to feel independent and all you need to do is cut up some of what you're having into some bite sized pieces for him. It's much better to have a kid who is in the habit of eating a variety of good food than one who lives on macaroni and cheese and gerber snacks all the time. Kids will naturally do this if you give them the chance, but if you always feed him "baby snacks" that's all he'll want to eat after a while. At this age your son has definitely outgrown baby food and is ready to move on. Even having given our son "real people" food for some time now, we took our son out to dinner with us around Christmas (he was 19 months at the time) and he surprised and thrilled us by chowing down on California Rolls (sushi) and miso soup. Kids are amazing - don't stifle it :)

Get one of those little food grinders.,...best, cheapest little invention ever for giving your child good nutritious food that you prepared, rather than relying on processed, pre-prepared food. You can keep it right on the table with you. If you're eating any cooked veggies, just grind it up. You can even grind rice, beans and potatoes. When they see it come off your plate, into the grinder and then into their dish, it often times appeases their desire to "eat big food like mommy"

At a year old, he should be eating everything you are. Some items needs to be cut up into mini pieces, like hotdogs. Other than that he needs the nutrients. His body is craving what he needs. Just let him go and eat whatever he wants. He should be off bottles and transiting to a sippy cup. Little ones tends to go through phases. He might just want to snack all day. That's fine too.

At 6 months my 2nd son was eating everything I was. He had no desire for formula and baby snacks. He ate pasta, apple sauce, yogurt, bits of apple and pears, bits of hamburger and bread. Basically anything he wants... just make it into mini pieces and he should be fine.

I have fed my 10 mth old son "my food" from about 4 mths. I test things out, as long as he can chew it or break it down then I let him have it. I am from a hispanic home and we love to eat. My mother fed us pureed vegetables from 2 mths. You have to just try. If it's good for him and he likes it then let him have it. You should stop giving him the jar food if he doesn't like it anymore. Most of that food has very little flavor. "our food" is chocked full of flavor...no one likes bland food! You want him to try everything like that he learns to eat well and not be so picky. And don't worry, being a first time mom your scared at trying new things, but you will see he will let you know when he is ready, like he is doing now.

Good news! You could have started tables foods as soon as he could pick them up on his own! Just make sure you make them small pieces. Don't worry, they have a great gag reflex. If you haven't yet, I do recommend you take an infant CPR class, it's something all parents should know how to do.

Good Luck! And enjoy not having to spoon feed him all the time :)

My son is sixteen months now and he has been eating off my plate since about eight months....their gums can chew almost anything that our teeth can, you just have to cut it up real small and stay around him when he eats what you are having....well good luck

Hey S.,
I'm the mother of one 3 year old boy, and I was also the first time mom who freaked out about everything, especially when my son was smaller. It sound like he's ready for "real" food and as long as the pieces are cut up small enough and you're not giving him super chewy food, he'll be fine. It sounds like you're going to have to eat whatever you're giving him for a while but he'll probably grow out of that soon too. Don't fret.

At 1 my boys stopped taking the bottle and started to eat table food. If he's ready for table food, make sure it's cut up very good and you're always there with him.

It is absolutely okay to give your child chunks of food now, especially if that's what he wants. It is actually GOOD for him to taste REAL foods and textures as this will help him build up a healthy love of food and a variety of foods as he becomes a toddler. If he's gumming the food and especially if he has teeth, it's absolutely fine. Remember, protecting the kids TOO much can lead to other negative things later.

If you're that concerned, talk to his pediatrician about it. Just give a call and speak to a nurse in fact. Just start giving him things like cut up bananas (I used to cut them in quarters), yogurts with chunks of fruit in them, broccoli head (the stalks can be too tough still), steamed carrots are GREAT, even grapes that are cut into quarters (you can peel the skins for now if you're concerned about those).

And, honestly...not matter their age, the MAY choke. That's why they have us! :) Usually they're great about coughing it up w/ a little help from us parents, but sometimes - like w/ my daughter - you gotta flip them upside down and pound their back. The best thing to do is just give small portions, make sure he doesn't stuff a ton of it in his mouth all at once, and make sure the foods aren't mush, but aren't hard for him either (like raw carrots or the stalks of broccoli if they're too tough). Oh, and pasta is great. Whole Grain pastas are really good since they don't have as much starch in them. Let him get messy and explore...bathtime could come after dinner.

Have FUN! This is the best! It's fun to see them discover new foods! :)

Children are supposed to be eating table food at 12 months. It's totally normal for him to want your food. Look, he has to learn how to eat chunkier foods. When I first started giving my kids table food, mashed potatoes were great, hot dogs cut in little bites, you can basically give him anything, just cut it up. If you don't get over the paranoia, and allow him to learn how to maneuver different textures in his mouth, you're holding him back from wonderful learning experiences. They say by the time a child is two, they should be using eating utensils. My little boy was closer to 2 1/2 or 3 for that one. In other words, no matter how scared you are of him choking, you can't stop mother nature and he NEEDS to be allowed to eat food. I think it's great he wants to eat your food, you may not run into the picky eater phase that a lot of us go through, and believe me, it's not fun!

If he starts to choke just a little, teach him to put his hands straight up over his head. It is a quick simple (and fun for the kids) way to open things up in there and allow them to swallow easily. I always told my kids "put your hands up" and they loved it, plus it always worked.

Its time to leave the baby food for babies! Your son is old enough now that he can start adult foods. If you look at the baby food containers stage 3 is for 9 months and older. Start making him softer foods in the begining, like pancakes for breakfast and just cut them up into small pieces. Same goes for lunch and dinner. Peas and cut up cooked carrots are also good...little finger can grasp them. Also for speech reason he needs to start the chewing action to strength his muscles in his mouth! I also noticed you mentioned bottles...just a heads up if hes still using them...its also time for the sippy cup. That may be a hard transition and it will take some time for him to get used to but he dosent need the bottle anymore. I hope this helps..just think how much money you'll be saving if you stop buying baby food.

Hi S.,

Mix some of your food into the baby food and make it look like it's coming form your plate. However, he may be o.k. with some of the softer foods. Just make sure he is getting a well balanced diet. During the transition from Baby food to table foods he more than likely will be lacking some of the important nutrients,(since most children don't) so check out juice plus gummies it's full of the fruits and veggies your baby needs and it's a great way to fill the nutrtional gap children need for a well balanced diet. www.jpscience.com
I am a registered dietitian and work with many doctors who also recommend this. It's great for adults too. Dr. Sears recommends it as well! A great pediatritian!

Hope that helps!

T. Hall
www.prohealthviews.com

I would give him soft foods, like eggs, bread etc. Try this. My sons both gave up baby food at a very young age. I think they where eating hotdogs and chicken by the time they where 14 months...Good Luck

Dear S.,

I'm married and a mother of three. It is great that your baby wants to eat what you eat! I always started with the softest/moistest items and gave my babies little pieces. Even without many teeth they gummed at it for a while before they swallowed. I also gave them larger pieces of denser foods (that she can grip) and they would gum/chew on those. If you take it in small doses you will get more comfortable and can also keep a watch for potential food allergies. Happy feeding!

S.; All 4 of my children stopped eating babyfood at 10 months. (Teeth really are overrated!)This is a good thing beleive it or not! They eat great now because they started eating real food at a young age. There should be no need to worry about choking if you feed soft foods. Sweet potatoes and squash are great beginniner foods. They can be cooked in the micro to a very soft consistency and chopped real small. Even small pieces of whole wheat toast with a little butter will be a hit. Oatmeal is great (not baby). All of my kids could use a spoon by 15 months, but at first I let them use their hands, yes, even with oatmeal. Just make sure they have a spoon on the tray and they will eventually pick it up. Other great starter foods: Cottage cheese, toast w/ cream cheese, steamed zucchinni no skin, etc. Pretty much, if you can make soft, go for it. Good luck. And remember: Gagging is not choking. It is necessary at first to let the babies throat get used to the new things. Just watch carefully, and no patting the back!

We have all been first time moms, but don't worry...your one year old should be eating all table foods. And the combo meals are gross and don't contain a huge amount of vitamins anyway. My ten month old is on all table foods, just cut up very small. He eats a half of a slice of bread, cut up cheddar cheese, cut up ham or turkey, cut up sweet potato, and cut up fruit of the day for lunch! (He only has 2 teeth.) He eats exactly what my 2 year old eats. So fear not! Ditch the baby foods, which are much too expensive and full of preservatives anyway, and give that little one some real food! Good luck!!

You can try cottage cheese, yogurt, hard cheeses, cut-up cooked carrots, green beans, peas, cauliflower, broccoli (which they should get almost every day - awesome in fiber, among other vitamins) really any veggie, small amounts of cut up fruit, breads, pastas (my little one loves spaghetti with meat balls), steak, chicken....really anything!! And yea....regular milk! I look forward to that for my little one.

I am in same boat and a first time mom, and indian food is spicy. So what i have done is toned down on spices and give her small bites.

I think is good, so you dont have to transition to regular adult food.

All three of my kids were eating all table food by the time they were 9 months. My youngest was off baby food at 8 months(he was trying to keep up with everyone else!). You can feed him whatever you are eating, just give him his own portion cut up small, and and he will do fine. It's hard to get past that first time mom paranoia,but actually you are building good eating habits for him before he gets into his picky stage.

Good luck!

Does your baby have a lot of teeth? If so, he can eat pretty much anything now without you worrying about choking hazards.

My baby is a little over 18 months now and has been eating off my plate since she was about 9 months old (when we got the go-ahead from the doc that it was okay to have "real" food). Just cut everything in small pieces and keep an eye on him when he's eating. If you or your hubby have any food allergies, then stay away from those things until at least 2 years old. Otherwise, at 12 months old they can pretty much eat whatever they want.

We gave our daughter spaghetti-o's, mac and cheese, steamed veggies (nice and soft), peas, grilled cheese and with me being Filipino, rice is a staple in our house. I don't cook Filipino food, but my mom watches my baby and almost exclusively feeds her Filipino foods--and because of that, my baby will eat just about anything. She is healthy and a very happy child, and I think a large part of it is that my hubby and I are pretty relaxed about stuff (very weird, since we're both first-time parents). They can sense when you're apprehensive... so start by taking a deep breath, and know that babies are delicate--but they won't break so you can relax!

Embrace this change! Think about it--baby food is so expensive! And you always have to bring food with you wherever you go. If you give up the baby food now, you can go to restaurants and actually order from the menu and not have to worry about heating up baby food. Plus, you can help hand-eye coordination by letting him feed himself (after you've cut up those chicken strips into tiny pieces). And baby will be happy with the variety and will enjoy the different tastes!

Good luck!

Hi S.,

One year old is old enough for table food, at this point he has kinda outgrown baby food. Just cut it up small and he will be fine. Like another mom suggested, one of the best things you could do for your son is take a infant/child CPR course in case an emergency arises.

You've gotten a LOT of responses, and I'm not reading them all, just adding my 2 cents... You are LUCKY!!! Baby food is expensive and just something else to have to have... Give him whatever you're eating in littler pieces and enjoy that he's got such a varied pallette... He probably won't always feel that way!

Let him have at it! We slowly started introducing table foods around 10 1/2 months and we haven't had a choking incident since. At daycare, our son eats a regular lunch that is served onsite. Continue to offer him a variety of foods to enrich his palate and taste. Also, this is a golden opportunity for you to model health eating and nutritional behaviors especially if he always wants what mom is having!

a 1 yr old s/b eating what you're eating ("table food"). you're lucky that's what he wants, some just want to stick w/ pureed food. just cut it into small, 1/2" sq chunks. perhaps the foods that are not safe to give incl raw carrots which are super hard. but little ones have narrow, almost sharp, jaw/gums and can use these to chew, much like teeth. at least this is what I read from a pediatrician who recommends teaching your baby to eat w/ chunks of food as opposed to feeding pureed food. so, let him eat! of course watch him just in case he chokes. I am only feeding my DD (8 mos) sm chunks of food right now and all is going very well.

None of my children ate baby food anymore when they were one. I cut everything up tiny and let them eat what I was eating. Never had one of them choke. My oldest liked steak cut up very small at 1 year. He didn't even get his first tooth until five days before his first birthday. You would be surprised what kids can gum to death. HA HA! Just make sure he doesn't stuff too much in his mouth at once and you should be fine.

Hi S.-
I would let hime eat what you are eating as long as it is cut up and not too salty or sugary(sp?). As long as you are offering fruit,veddies,carbs and protein in healthy forms he will do great. All 4 of my kids were eating table good at that age and all have great eating habits now. Good Luck with your first! Enjoy him!!
B.

I also have a one year old. He is my fourth so I guess I am a little more laid back this time. And I run a daycare out of my home (licensed) of all boys. However, feeding them can always be a little nerve racking. We feed him alomst anything we are eating. He has fruit loops and a half of banana in the morning or some big kid oatmeal and chopped can pears. For lunch mac and cheese is always a great stand by. Also a jelly sandwich (no peanut butter) or spaghetti O's. We also give him mashed potatoes and rice. He can now even handle chicken and pork. The trick is to start out slow and see were your son is on handling the food and it will flurish from there and baby food will be a thing of the past. Once they have real food they never want that jar stuff again and I can not blame them. Good luck and maybe consider doing a CPR class.

I believe that the only way that you will make him stop eating snacks is stop giving to him. What happens is that the snack will fill him up and he will not eat the "food" because he is not hungry, and then we are so worried that the baby hasn't eat anything all day and we will give him the bottle. It is a big cycle. Also try to prepare your meals in a way that he can eat from it too. Like peas, steamed veggies, fruits. Your baby will only learn how not to choke when he learns how to eat. Well...hope this helps! Take care.

S., It is normal at this time of his life to not be on baby food any more. You have to give him soft foods like jello, yogurt, toast, mash potatoes, peas. There are many other things you can give him too. He is just learning how and what regular food taste like.

First off--chill out---this is a good thing! Your son is growing up; his tastes are changing; baby food is mushy and gross--- he's ready for the good stuff. The day care my oldest was at told me she was ready for solid food when she swiped a tuna melt off the teacher's plate! Both my daughters started off with the Gerber graduates with the chunks of fruit or veggies or pasta in a water type base. They loved picking up the bits of carrots or beans and eating them. The meat sticks were also a big hit (I think they smell awful but the kids LOVED them). I did pull off the casing even tho it is soft just because they did having trouble chomping that up. Again cut in tiny tiny pieces. I also cut the pasta pillows up into finger sized pieces. Cheerios are wonderful too as are small pieces of melon or potatoes. As far as choking, it may happen every now and then. Just be sure your son goes slowly. We found both our girls got so excited to get real food that they would cram a bunch in at once unless we gave them just a few pieces at a time. And don't worry those gums can really smash up food good. Another trick we found was to put pieces of kid ok food on our plate at the edge they could reach. The girls thought the food on our plate looked better than theirs...so even if it was the kid food it tasted better when it came off our plate. Your son can eat about anything so long as it is soft and breaks down well when chewed. I miss my kids being at the stage your son is at...it is wonderful to watch their taste buds change and their horizons expand. My girls are now 6 and 4. I credit their wide variety of foods as babies with why they will try almost anything now.

HOw wonderful that you no longer have to buy baby food! Just keep your diet healthy and he'll eat great! And anything can be cut into small enough pieces, our 1 year old eats steak when we have it.

I also have a 1 yr. old (my second) the first was raised in daycare though so this is kinda like my first. She did the same thing, refused babyfood(I think she even knew the packaging). I agree with all the other advice, give it to him...soft foods, he should have some teeth if not he can gum the soft foods( mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, bananas, oatmeal(instant works great if your in a rush plus it's single serving packaged), yobaby yogurt, cantelope, honeydew, watermelon,sweet potatoes,etc. anything soft and make sure you cut it up into small pieces. My daughter will stuff her mouth until she starts to gag(I have never had to do more than pull the food out of her mouth with my fingers and stand her up and lean her forward a little, it works it's self out), so I have to only put 2-3 pieces on her tray at a time or feed her myself. It's a fun time of discovery and new experiences, don't let your fear hold you or your son back, just be cautious and this is a great place to get advice and suggestions on ANYTHING, you can always call your peds. office to if you need a question answered a.s.a.p (I think mine knows my voice already)lol. Enjoy this time.

Whatever you're having, puree it for him. I know a woman who pureed spaghetti, lasanga, chicken, any adult entree. He daughter, now a teen, doesn't really enjoy junk food or sweets. She prefers savory adult food.

Hi S., My suggestion would be to let him eat what you are eating.... One, it's going to be cheaper and two he will have a variety of textures and tastes... Just watch for spicy things but other than that... cut it up small.

Hi S.,

it should be fine that he eats what you eat as long as its not very spicy it won't upset the tummy. Also children under 2 should not eat peanuts or strawberries as these are high allergy foods. You should also stay away from anything that is in whole the size of a dime or larger . Such a grapes, sliced bananas, he can eat them just cut them up in fours where they are small enough to where it won't get caught in his throat.

Unless he has know allergies he should be fine. Just mention it to your child's doctor on what you are feeding him. My kids loved cherrios at that age.

Good Luck and I hope I helped.

S.,

If your son is showing an interest in table food, that is a good thing! Table food is far more nutricious as well as more calorie dense than baby food, which is mostly water. If you are worried about him choking, just give him soft foods such as mashed potatoes or meat loaf. You can even give him veggies such as cooked peas or cauliflower which can be smashed up. Also, just feed him little bites of food at a time, and remember that meal time is never a race. This is a wonderful opportunity for your son to learn good eating habits that will last him a life time. You are his most influencial role model right now as far as eating habits go. If he is wanting to eat everything that he sees you eating, then be sure that you are also eating a well balanced diet. Introduce him to as many new foods as you can, and I can just about promise you that you will never have a picky eater!

J.

I put some shredded cheese on a small tortilla for my 14 mos old - heat it for about 20 seconds in the microwave and tear it in small pieces. It's healthy and tastes more like people food instead of the nasty baby food. Also cooked vegetables like peas carrots and green beans are great. Have them cokked ahead of time so you can just reheat in the microwave. Also canned fruit cut up, or applesauce or fresh grapes quartered. I'm a mother of three and I remember how nervous I was with my first (he's 4 1/2 now)

I don't see the problem... children are supposed to be 100% self-feeding normal food by their first birthday! All my kids were pretty much 100% self-feeding normal food by 7-8 months. They can gum pretty much anything -- none of my kids had a single tooth before their first birthday. You want to know how to get him to eat more -- just take what the rest of the family is eating, cut it into pea-size bits and put on her tray.

depending on what you eat, he can likely eat a lot of it. here are things that my 9 month old eats (some of the ideas I got here at Mamasource from other moms):
petit peas(the really little ones), carrots, squash, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, zuchini, mashed potatoes or soft boiled potatoes, brocolli florets, cabbage, spinach. I cook the veggies a little bit more than I would if they were just for me so that they are easy for her to gum. I cut them into relatively small pieces. chicken tenders cut up small, pasta of all sorts, rice mixed with some baby food or stir fried with egg yolks, egg yolks, bread cut into soldiers (she is really good at gumming this and loves it), tofu, shepherd's pie, veggie pie, pot roast (meat is very well cut up). Lots of fruit - bananas - a favorite, kiwis, melon, mango, peaches, raspberries, blueberries(cut in half), grapes (skinned and cut in half or quarters), strawberries, plums
I try to ensure that some of the things I am eating, she can also eat. The items that she can't really manage are: pizza, apples (unless cooked), oranges. I don't give her curried food yet but maybe she would do fine with it.
One thing suggested at mamasource that worked great was roasting sweet potatoes - peel and cut into little strips, roll in a little oil and roast until tender. Boy she loves those.

When my first daughter decided she wanted Mommy's food, I knew she was ready to give up the Gerber. So I made sure that things like Cherrios, where damp with milk, that way they are soft and less of a chocking hazard. Also, I made a lot of pasta (another soft food) usually larger noodles I could cut up into small square pieces (never spagetti which is too thin) also pasta expands in the belly so when she ate she felt full, and if it was a food that I could somehow make softer, like mushing up cooked carrots rather than feeding her raw (crunchy) carrots I would do so. My daughter also loved homestyle biscuts... they are soft in the middle and she enjoyed the texture and usually rolled it around in her mouth before swallowing. A note though, when she went to table food, I got rid of the baby food, she didn't want to go back to it anyway (I donnated unopened jars to a local food pantry). If it's a food you could mush up with your fork it's probably safe for him to eat it. I didn't see how old your son is, so just make sure that he is being careful and chewing well... little babies will try to chew but without teeth... well the food may need to be more mushed up that if you have a child with teeth. Hope this helps!

By this age, they really should be working their way off of baby food anyway...and this is good for you! You don't have to buy baby food anymore! I would just prepare a little of what you are eating for her and if there is some way to cook it a little softer or put a little less spice in it, then do that.

Boy! Wouldn't a lot of mom's like to have your problem! Most struggle to get them to eat real food. Your baby is expressing his independence and telling you he's ready for the real thing. Go ahead and give him what you're eating, so long as it's healthy. That is the goal anyway. Doctors usually encourage self feeding at this time. Just cut the food in small bits and he should be able to mash them and chew and be fine. If you're really freaked out, get some mesh feeders found in the baby section. You can put chunks of fruits, veggies, and other things in it and they chew and suck it through the mesh. My son loves to eat apples and oranges through it. It also helps them learn to chew.

My son did the same thing. I started out by giving him food that I knew if they were swallowed whole, he wouldn't choke, like grapes cut in 1/2, or peas....ect. Anything that you don't have to mash. Chunks of sweet potato, carrots or chunks of avocado were a big hit. If he has his 4 front teeth, he can handle those things, but if he has some back teeth, he is able to chew up almost anything you give him.
You might want to try and give him bitty bits of what ever your eating when he asks, and he will learn about different textures and how to eat them slowly; rather than giving him a whole meal.
I am sure you are doing great with his eating, and in the end don't sweat it, God's got him in his hands!

Well, a one year-old really shouldn't be eating baby food anymore anyway. Just cut everything up real small and see how he does. Boil meats or cook them slowly to make them more tender. A lot of little ones like cooked pasta, then some cut up veggies and fruits. He could probably handle some toast or chunks of cheese, too. There's not much he shouldn't be eating at this age. I think just not popcorn or nuts (including peanut butter). You're the mom, and he won't let himself starve, so limit the bottles and snacks. Just keep an eye on him while he eats, and make sure he's not stuffing in a handful of food at once. It'll be just fine. (((hugs)))

My 2nd daughter was eating by 11mo. I know it is your first...relax and cut small chunks! Be thankful..my first is sooooooooo picky.

At one you can feed them just about anything you eat...as long as it isn't too spicey. Just make sure it is in very tiny bites. Now if he has teeth and atleast one molar, then I don't see the problem. My daughter only had four teeth at 15 months but she would gum the heck out of anything I gave her. As long as it was in a tiny chunck and soft she never had a problem. I just made sure never to leave her unattended when she was eating. I babysit a little one and she's been eating table food since about 10 months. I still supplemented with any baby jar food I could get her to eat, but I eat pretty nutritious meals so I wasn't concerned if she didn't want her babyfood.

Just make sure it's tiny and soft...then sit back and let them explore their world. The more variety they get the sooner, the better eater they will be later. You don't want to fight with a five year old because all they want to eat is cereal and toast. I had a cousin that all he would eat at 10 years old was chicken, hot dogs, or fast food. You couldn't get the boy to eat a single fruit or veggie. The little man I babysit had trouble at first eating a variety as well. His mom was very conservative in what she fed them and avoided any complaints by just giving him what he wanted...and thus he wouldn't eat much. My rule is you have to try a bite of everything on your plate...everytime it is on your plate. The more they try something the more likely they will change their mind about it later. He now eats pinapple, pears, cheese, a variety of rice dishes, and so on. His mother is astounded. His little sister will eat anything, but I've had her since she was very small.

Please don't be afraid to feed them food of the table. If it isn't loaded with jalepenos...it shouldn't be a problem. Soft and tiny...is the rule.

Dear S. S,
I am a mom of 2(3 yrs & 1 1/2 yrs.) My duaghter (my first) took a long while to start solid foods, but my son (my second) was eating them well before he was a year...don't be afraid - God gave each of us the abilities to start with milk and end up with solids it's the porcess of life. Start slow with baby cereal, cream of wheat, or oatmeal...yo baby has yogurt out that's great and healthy. If he wants to eat what you are eating eat healthy things he can taste (not just snacks)...just cut them up into little pieces, give him one at a time, watch him, or sit with him, etc. Friuts are fun to start with, cooked noodles, cooked veggies that are soft...get creative and trust in the abilities that are God - given!! Good Luck!

I would say try to give your child bananas (cut up)- they are mushy. There are some foods you shouldn't give your child- so check into that (ask your doctor etc). I know grapes with the skins on (you can take it off- it is the skin that can make them choke). Also not hot dogs (I think it is the skin too- plus they aren't to healthy either).

I freaked out the first time I gave my child cut up bananas (actually my friend gave it to him) and I freaked out. Her child was about my son's age and she said her daughter was eating it. The hard part is they change and you are used to giving them mashed when they are ready for chunks.

Bananas and something that can mush a bit would be a good start (maybe avacados if they are ripe?). The main thing is to watch them while they eat.

If your child wants what you are eating (pretend to eat the food you make for your child and then give it to your child).

Oh, also, there are some kind of "Puffs" that you can get at the store (Gerber kind?) that are small- kind of big rice puffs, but they melt in the childs mouth. This will give your child some experience chewing but like I said it will melt- put it on your tounge and you will see for your self. They are veggie & fruit puffs (go to http://www.gerber.com/prodcat?catid=524)
That will give you a picture of what they are.

Don't worry we all go through this- I just went through this a year ago!!!
-D.

There's no reason a 1yr old can't just eat table food. And it will make your life one heck of a lot easier! We start our kids late on solids (at 10 mo) and we never do baby food. They just start at 10 mo on mashed table food--whatever we're having, just mashed up with a fork really well or cut up into tiny pieces with a knife. We've done this for 2 kids and it's so much easier and cheaper than doing the baby food thing. And, because they aren't used to totally soupy baby food, they progress well to regular finger food. My daughter is 13mo and I haven't been mashing things for quite some time. I just cut or break up our food into tiny pieces and she does just fine chewing them. You do want to be careful and not give them some adult foods (nuts, crunchy crackers, etc), but it's really pretty few things. They can handle tiny chuncks on fruits, veggies, meats, grains--all sorts of stuff--by a yr. So let your son eat off your plate--it'll make your life easier and he'll probably eat better because he's getting "mommy's stuff!" (On a different note, you may want to watch giving him too much like Rice Krispies and Gerber snacks (whether it's the puffs or fruit snacks or whatever) that really have no nutritional value. (I have no idea why, but they do not make baby foods as healthy as they could--no fiber, extra sugar, tons of chemicals.) Toddlers eat so little that you have to make sure eat bite counts as much in nutritional value as it can! It's tough when that's "all they'll eat," but it he's willing to eat off your plate, he'll get much better nutrition!)

At one year old, he shouldn't be eating baby food anymore. He should be on finger foods. My little girl was eating table foods when she was around 8 or 9 months old.

Take an infant CPR class and recognize that he's telling you he's ready to eat table food. Start with soft fruits (my son started with peaches) and maybe macaroni and cheese. My son hated banana untill i stopped cutting it up for him. he likes to take bites on his own, and the learning of how much food he can stuff in his cheeks is a good lesson. Just keep a close eye and all will be fine. I have had to do the baby heimlich a couple of times, but it was weird because I didn't freak out till after the ordeal was over only cause I knew what I was doing. Even if they don't have a lot of teeth, babies gums are powerful mashers and they can really eat a lot more than we would normally give them credit for.

You should be happy! At age 1 your son should be eating more table food and less baby food. He should be learning how to handle foods with different textures. Just keep the peices small, my rule is no bigger than a cheerio. Your son will thank you!

You've gotten a lot of really good responses! I just had to add my two cents. We give our dd canned fruit in juice, not syrup and canned veggies with no salt added. She just seems to like them better. Plus, she just got her teeth and isn't sure how to use them yet. The canned fruits and veggies are much softer than fresh. And they are much much much cheaper. And be prepared for him to get messy. I mean really messy. My dd gets food everywhere. She rubs it all over her face and in her hair. It's a normal part of learning to feed themselves. Plus, it provides for some comic relief at the end of the day!

What?! You are a lucky mom. One year olds are perfectly capable of eating table food, just in smaller pieces. Don't miss this opportunity to get your son eating a great variety of real foods - toddlers will be picky enough if left to their own devices. If you have a toddler who'll eat what's given to him, you'll be the envy of all your friends! And I agree, one year old is too old for baby food. Good luck and congrats!

after getting an okay from dr-I think u can give him pieces of bananas (if he will eat mashed banana-great-if not take a small circle of banan and cut it into fourths.. try some shredded cheese, toast, i think eggs at a yr are okay-my baby loved tomatoes-just chop them-and you dotn need a chopper or blender-just a knife will do..i dont recall buying alot of jared baby food for my last son and hes fine.. if you worry-just dice the stuff...i think you are to stay away from honey and peanuts for awhile but other than that-let the boy eat! pasta is a easy food for them too..meatloaf/mashed pitatoes..

S., if he wants what you eat, you should pretty much give it to him... only smash it into a substance he can manage. If he's got a couple of teeth, he can chew, just make sure you watch him, so you can save him from choking, that's all. Really, when he's older you'll be glad you did this, too, because he won't be one of the kids who just eats kid food and you'll be happy when you cook somehting nice that someone in your family is willing to eat it. Like mother, like son!

Good Morning S.!

I have always believed that if your baby is hungry, feed him! I have 4 boys myself and went through the same thing, I just made sure that the food was cut into VERY small bites and no bones. Mashed Potatoes were (and still are) a big hit in my house! I would also serve peas a lot because they can be mashed easier. Also, just put a little bit of food on his plate and watch him.

Hope this helps

God's Blessings
D.

I also have a 14 month old. I tear up bite sized pieces of toasted chesse sandwich for him at lunch, which he loves. He also likes peanut butter sandwich on toasted bread. I usually serve him a sandwich with baby food vegetables at lunch along with either applesauce or a cut up bananna. For dinner, as long as we are eating something soft like cooked chicken and vegetables, I just mush it up really well with a fork and knife and he is fine with it. Any meat or vegetables that are cooked so they are soft and you have mushed it up really well should work. Soups are good, too. Joshua loves a chicken/rice soup that I make. I just make sure to mush up the pieces of chicken really well. Joshua has 7 teeth and will work the food around to the front of his mouth to chew it up. Cheerios are a great snack, too. They are also nutritious!!

This is my third child an he is 11 1/2 months currently....but when he turned 11 months that was the end of eatting baby food all togeather....Just cut up the big chunks you can also buy the gerber graduates meals..

When my kids did this, I would put a few finger foods on their tray and why they were busy working on that I would quickly scoop in some baby food. Soft cooked pieces of veggies should be fine, too like carrots or peas and most kids can handle cooked noodles.

I would say- dont buy any more baby food and give him what you are eating with in reasobn- aviod berries, peanuts etc. make sure food is cut up enough to avoid choking. by the time my children were nine months they ate what we ate so I avoided seasoning our meals etc..

Don't you have pediatrician? Most kids are on adult foods by now. You start them with soft things. Rice cereal, then fruits, then soft veggies (mashed potatoes, not too firm), and desserts. When they're chewing they go to softer protiens firstbaby hot dogs, scrambled eggs, sliced cheese, oatmeal,etc. No candies, they can choke the child. You can eat all these things with him mom. It's been 30 years since mine were babies so these are the basics that I remember. You can always call the dr. office. Good luck mommy! Jeanne Elk Grove Village, Il

May i suggest like scrambled eggs, waffles, pancakes,cheerios, banana's, peas, baby yougart,american chees, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, pasta's antyhing like soft you test it too. Also gerber sells cut up fruit and veggies in a jar and they are pretty soft. i used to test it.... i would use my gums not my teeth and see how it breaks down. Babys are good when it comes to learning to chew they have the instinct of what to do. I just cut things that need to be cut into small pieces and give a little at a time. My daughter loves to put a bunch of food in her mouth at a time so i don't give her a bunch at once anymore. I also still feed my daugther once in a while baby fruits/veggies & cereal in between what she is eating so i know she is eating. (she is a little picky) I also now give her a spoon and fork for her to feed herself. good luck and just go with your gut!!!!

Hi. My son was the same way. I just made sure I gave him small bites and kept an eye on him while he ate. Mostly he will naturally cough up what doesn't work for him. I never had any real choking insidence. My son is 2 now and I have more of an issue with him trying to stuff too much in his mouth, but again, I pay attention when he is eating. Also, I am certified in infant and toddler cpr and first aide so I am secure in knowing that if he needed it I could save him. You can get these certifications either through the fire dept. or your park district. I have never had to use any of it, but it is a useful security blanket.