The Nursing Baby - Q&A

One mother asks:

Hi, I have a 14 months old girl. She's got 8 front teeth. I give her solid foods with small lumps like mashed vegetables and rice. The problem is she is not chewing the food, she just swallows it. So if I give mashed boiled carrots, I see it as such in her nappy. But she eats biscuits and finger foods by chewing. Please advise me to make her to chew solid foods. Could you please reply me as quickly as possible.

I don't know of an easy answer, but if she's chewing biscuits and finger foods, that's a good sign. She may be craving chewier/crunchy food. Let her fill herself on these "fun" foods, she can get a good deal of nutrition from those. Some cheerios (round oat cereal, I know it's called something else over in the UK) are very fun for babies that age, especially learning how to pick them up.

Keep in mind that many foods go "straight thru" - sometimes pasta, rice, corn especially. This is partly a sign of the immaturity of her digestive tract, and partly a sign of normality. Many adults do not process some foods (such as corn) like you would expect. A bit gross, huh, finding it in the nappy!

Is she choking on any of her foods? If not, do not be too concerned that she is not chewing thoroughly. Just keep a thorough eye on her of course while she's eating, and be sure to never feed her grapes or hot dogs without cutting them in half lengthwise. I realize she's a bit young for those now, but want to mention it since they can be so dangerous to kids that don't chew well. They are both big killers of children under 6 - since their windpipes are just about the width of a hot dog.

These tips are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.