We are experiencing the same problem with one of our twin boys. Yesterday after chewing a mouthful of his roast dinner for a half an hour, we had him finally spit it out. Going to try a new strategy. He loves yoghurt. Going to try and give him a yoghurt chaser...will see what happens.
I can tell you what the problem is...Its up to you'll if you 'll want to believe it or not but I have noticed this happening with my niece and now I see it happening with another niece of mine.
The reason why they do not swallow their food must be cause you guys started to introduce solid food very late and only kept giving them blended food.
I started of with blended food at 4 months and the 6th month I started giving my baby solid food.
My sister in law had the same issue for her elder daughter and than 1 day she asked her what is it she will like to have and she said yogurt and rice. So they gave her yogurt and rice all the time till she started herself asking for other food which was after a very long time.
Now my issue here is that sometimes my daughter just swallows her food and when she poohs you can see the fruits which she has swallowed and my mother-in-law says to mash it and give it to her she is 17months and I do not have a problem with it but it gets to me whenever my mil tells me to mash the food as she says that the food has only be swallowed and removed out in her pooh and does not affect the body. Which I do not believe. What do you'll think?
My 5 year old step-son has the same exact issue. For us it's not a matter of just trying to rush him either. In fact as we speak, his two older (6 and 11) siblings left for school over an hour ago and he is STILL sitting at the table with 3/4 of his scrambled eggs still on his plate and a cheek-full. This has always been a problem with him and it is getting very frustrating. We first thought maybe he wasn't producing enough saliva?....but then he would be fine with candy or doughnuts (which his mother feeds him daily). Then we thought it could be that at our house we sit at the table and at his mother's house he is allow to stop back at the table, grab a bite and go play again?
We're at a loss and very frustrated. We have been working with him for over a year.
from the 'people who say it' I say it is true
I don't think she's short on time, but more worried why he's not swallowing his food. I have two kids. A son who is 3 and daughter who will soon be 6. My son is a great eater. He will eat a berger and fries then as soon as we get home he wants to eat again. But on the other hand, My 6 year old has all the time in the world to eat. and just sits there with the first bite of food for hours in her mouth.
When I say hours I mean hours(7 or 8 hour). It's usually food she would normally eat(eggs,mcds,pasta,rice,....). She has been doing it since she was 2. I first noticed it with a cherry tomato, my sister gave her one to eat and that was the end of it, so we thought. When she woke up the next morning I noticed she wouldn't say anything. I grew suspicious and asked her to open her mouth,when she opened up I saw what was once a tomato(now sauce) in her mouth. I was shocked, I couldn't believe a person could possibly do that. Well she can and has till this day.
We don't give her candy or sweets(only on birthdays), mostly healthy foods, never any junk food.
Her pediatrician tell's me just make the food ready and just let her get it when she wants("no child will ever starve them self"). I've tried doing that and went on for 3 days with her telling me she didn't want to eat.
When she finally gave in she still kept the food in her mouth for about 45 min (each bite). The Doc has told me time and time again that shell grow out of it, obviously thats not the case.
I too don't know what to do.
So for you people who like to say we have no time or that we rush them. Thats not true.
Does he eventually swallow it? He just holds it in his cheeks like a squirrel? I've actually heard of this before believe it or not but with a child that had other "issues". Since your son is doing well in all other areas---- it's just a 'thing' he's currently doing. I would try to ignore it at home at dinner. But when out of the house or leaving the house, I'd talk about how this is rude. I can get my kids on track after a discussion as to why something is rude and then remind them "manners please" and they usually fall in line. So if he can do this odd thing once in a while and know he can't do it at other times (resturants, lunch at school, etc.) maybe it will go away. I wonder why he is doing it---- have you asked him if it is because he thinks it's cool or if it feels good or something . . . Good luck.
my key board is sticking ..apologies
'we discover hes not eating' why would you want to discover that? is it a race to eat as quickl;y as possible,if its a matter of time, start earlier, the cause of many morning fighhts and frustration is because parenst dont allow enough time for a tired child to wake up and struggle to get ready, Takse a srep back and let him alone and in control of his own eating, why would it amke you crazy, the problem is child /parent interaction try it chill out he is getting anxious from your over reaction.