I have a just-7-month-old who has been eating solids (purees only) for about 3 weeks. At 5.5 months, which is when I had started his older sister BLW, he seemed like SUCH a younger baby comparatively (as far as interest in us eating, general hand coordination) and I couldn't imagine him eating BLW foods on his own yet. So I waited.

At 6 months it seemed the same. The ped said to start anyway, so just after 6 months I started purees. He was not a fan the first few times and would just push everything out of his mouth with his tongue. Gradually with making eating/lip smacking noises I've gotten him to the point where he's happy when he's eating, but doesn't seem to actually be interested in or enjoy the food. It's more like he thinks it's fun because I'm making sounds and acting like it's exciting He doesn't like full baby-spoonfuls (he'll just push the food back out with his tongue), I have to keep the spoonfuls tiny, and even then he's just more moving the food around his mouth with his tongue. When he does swallow it, it seems accidental. After the first couple times I thought with practice it should be better in a week or two but there's virtually no improvement.

I'm not sure what to do here, like if this is just something some babies go through and I just need to give it more time? Or if this might be indicative of a bigger problem like a sensory issue? Of note, it didn't occur to me until he started teething right around 6 months that he is a baby that NEVER puts things in his mouth besides his hands and his paci. Not for exploration or soothing or anything. When I try to give him teething rings, toys, washcloths, baby toothbrushes, anything to show him how he can gnaw on it, he just pushes it away and makes a face. Since starting solids I've tried to just give him some teething wafers and other safe things to try to chew on when he's in his highchair and we're eating, and he just plays with it, never even tries to bring it to his mouth even after I try to show him.

This is weird, right? Or am I making a big deal out of something that will work itself out? Has anyone else had a baby that was like this with food?