My DS was slow to want solids and I was happy to wait until 6 months to start, a) because he just didn't seem ready and b) because we have allergy/dietary issues in the family and he has eczema.

Once we got there it was a VERY slow process. He has a hypersensitive gag reflex and would projectile vomit if he gagged. He didn't really want any solids till 8 months and then only started to take them if they were very pureed. It was only then he started taking more than 1-2 tbs a day! Since then we've been working on increasing the texture and also offering finger foods once a day. He's improved on the textures - will take some slightly chunky or mashed foods... BUT he's gone backwards on finger foods. A few more gags & vomits (the last one he found very distressing) and he has just been refusing finger foods for probably a few months now.

We went to see a speech path last week who suggested we get him to play with yoghurt (which he likes)... but when I tried it, even that resulted in an unhappy baby who put his fingers in it for a bit, but didn't want to taste it at all (even though EVERY toy goes in his mouth) and got distressed. I thought it was pretty logical to get him to "play" with a food that he likes, but he didn't even seem happy doing that. I feel he's got really fearful of food and I don't know how to help him get past it. Any suggestions? We've tried offering different finger foods at mother's groups or with another little girl, we try eating with him, we try seeing if he wants what we have... and nothing seems to be getting through. I'm worried that maybe my worry is coming through to him, and I'd really like to have a good messy FUN play with food and help him relax. I THINK i'm as relaxed as I can be (given the circumstances), so any suggestions for how I can try to make food more fun for him? I don't even want him to eat it, I just want him to enjoy it. I've tried putting a plastic toy in the yoghurt to help make it more fun or a spoon or having the yoghurt in a bowl - but so far, everything has resulted in the same unhappy response.... and it makes me dread trying again, but I know i need to give him the opportunity. The speechie suggested we don't try chunky finger foods for now but stick to foods he likes to eat normally. The only "solid" thing he will have happily is a solid rusk (I guess because the food doesn't come off it IYKWIM) and he DID want a bite of my magnum the other day.. so I let him slobber on that a few times. Don't know if I can justify going through a magnum every day tho, and it's not ideal baby food!!

Love to hear some ideas.
TIA,
Belfie