check out baby-led weaning - http://babyledweaning.com/

i think you'll find that so long as you don't leave him alone when eating, it'll be fine. The site should give you some ideas of what foods are good. See how it goes. Don't be overly anxious if you can help it, or you risk transferring that food-led fear to your little boy. Relax, it'll be fine.

Good luck!

xx

Hi My number 2 cherub did not get teeth until she was like 14months old....(Then they all came in a rush...) But she could eat anything without her teeth....Including bits of steak!!!

I would cut it up quite small but the power in those gums of hers was amazing, I think it also helps with the teething process, and is good for them to discover new tastes and sensations...As long as you are there when they are eating you should not have a problem with choking and as rusty said they are amazing when it comes to getting something a bit stuck, they get it back up quite well...

Good luck and enjoy this messy stage

cheers Spinnychic

My son is also about 11 months and he eats both baby food and home-made food but he prefers the home-made one as I always try to add some gravey or herbs to make it tastes better. If you're worry about choking just try to start with rice  and add a bit of sour yogurt or you can prepare a pumpkin soup instead. You can then start giving him some stuff to snack such as biscuits but you have to stay around as they sometimes choke when they start eating solids. 

Mashing up normal food or using a hand  blender to mash up stewed fruits, bananas, rice and potatoes might help. Mostly it depends on what the baby likes the best.

I HAVE 3 KIDS MY YOUNGEST IS 12 MONTHS OLD AND SHE HASN'T EATED BABY FOOD FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS OTHER THAN HER BABY CERIAL IN THE MORNINGS...

SHE HAS TO EAT WHAT EVER HER BIG BROTHER AND SISTER EAT OR SHE WILL NOT EAT... YOUR BABY WILL ALWAYS LET YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE READY FOR GROWN UP FOOD. AS FOR CHOKING THEY HAVE AN AMAZING WAY OF GETTING THE FOOD BACK UP AGAIN IF IT GOES DOWN THE WRONG HOLE I AM ALWAYS AMAZED...

MY DAUGHTER DOES CHOKE ON OCCASION AND I AM ALWAYS BY HER SIDE WHEN SHE IS EATING BUT SHE ALWAYS SEEMS TO MANAGE IT ON HER OWN, I THINK THE CHOKING TEACHES THEM TO CHEW BEFORE SWOLLOWING AND IS A LESSON THEY HAVE TO LEARN.

GOOD LUCK

RUSTY XXXXX

any foods we eat mash up for him to eat, doesnt take 5 secs to mash a banana or some cooked pumpkin. try him on that and  leave it a little  lumpy for him to chew, just watch him