Ce qui peut vous paraître simple ne l’est pas pour votre bébé. Tout d’abord, il y a l’apparition des dents. Les premières dents (les incisives) apparaissent vers 4 – 5 mois, mais la période d’éruption dentaire peut s’étendre jusqu’à 18 mois.
Then there is the transition from sucking to chewing. This is not a simple phenomenon that is decided at a given age. The mechanism that moves food from the mouth to the back of the throat is not the same as that which sends milk almost directly from the breast or bottle to the pharynx to be swallowed. This stage of neuro-muscular development allowing the swallowing of lumps and then pieces can occur, depending on the child, between 2 and 8 months. You can see that the gap is wide.
You will of course help it to evolve by asking it to do so, without it having to be an obligation or a constraint. The evolution of textures will be gradual: from fluid to thick purée, then to lumps and then to chunks - making sure that each stage has been accepted.
If the child refuses the pieces, be sure to eliminate the taste bias. When introducing new textures, it can be tempting to introduce new foods as well, and you know that new tastes can be the reason for (momentary) refusal. So when you change textures, preferably do so with foods that the child already likes and knows.
If he refuses, even though he likes dishes in small pots for example (whose texture is often very smooth and creamy), you can try putting your recipe in a small pot and not on a plate. Then, once he has accepted your recipe, you can transfer the contents of the jar to the plate in front of him, explaining that it is the same dish.
Anyway, don't worry. It will eventually pass the various stages. Don't be too impatient. Let him evolve at his own pace and make these small meals always moments of shared pleasure.
If you suspect oral disordersyou can read the portrait of Véronique Leblanc on this subject.
Dr Laurence PLUMEY
Nutritionist. Paris Hospitals IDF
Professor of Nutrition
Author of numerous books for the general public