Meet Noah
Noah is an 11-month-old who struggled to transition from purees to more textured foods during the weaning process. His parents were concerned that he wasn’t chewing well and seemed to gag often when offered anything with lumps or chunks. Noah had been exclusively spoon-fed purees, and despite attempts to introduce finger foods, he would often reject them or mash them with his tongue rather than chew.
Where They Started
Noah’s parents were becoming increasingly worried as he approached his first birthday. He was still relying heavily on purees and yoghurt, refusing more complex foods. They had consulted their health visitor, who recommended giving him more finger foods, but this hadn’t worked. Noah would either spit out the food or gag, which made mealtimes stressful for everyone involved.
Feeling stuck, they reached out to Milk to Mealtime for help transitioning Noah onto more textured foods and building his chewing skills.
Understanding the Challenge
After assessing Noah, it became clear that his gagging was a protective response. He hadn’t had much experience with textured foods, and his oral motor skills were underdeveloped when it came to chewing. His tongue was doing most of the work, and he hadn’t yet learned how to move food to his molars to break it down.
Additionally, Noah was cautious about new textures, which had led to a cycle of puree reliance. He needed a gradual and supportive approach to help him build confidence and skills for chewing.
The Plan
We created a step-by-step plan to help Noah develop his chewing skills, while making mealtimes more enjoyable for him and his parents:
✔ Introduction of soft finger foods: We began with easy-to-manage foods like soft avocado slices, steamed vegetables, and banana, allowing Noah to practice chewing without overwhelming him.
✔ Texture progression: We gradually thickened his purees and introduced slightly lumpier textures, mixing smooth foods with tiny soft pieces for Noah to get used to.
✔ Oral motor exercises: Simple exercises like encouraging Noah to play with his food using his hands and mouth helped him explore textures. Chewy toys were also introduced to help him develop his jaw muscles.
✔ Building confidence: I coached Noah’s parents to praise his attempts and keep the mealtimes stress-free, allowing Noah to feel more comfortable experimenting with food.
The Results
Within weeks, Noah showed significant improvement. He started accepting soft finger foods and was using his molars more effectively to chew. His gagging episodes reduced as he became more familiar with textures, and mealtimes became more relaxed. By the time he was 12 months old, Noah was eating a wider variety of foods and no longer relying on purees for nutrition.
His parents felt relieved and empowered, knowing they were on the right path to developing Noah’s feeding skills.
What You Can Take Away
Noah’s case shows that developing chewing skills during weaning can take time and patience, but with the right support, progress is possible. If your baby is struggling with chewing or gagging on textured foods, don’t hesitate to reach out to Milk to Mealtime for a personalised plan that helps your little one enjoy a wider variety of foods.
Book your free 15 minute chat today to see if you feel you can resonate with Noah and would like similar results.
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