Stupid questions from 1st time mom: 6-12 months

I've got a burning question. is there such a thing as organic meat baby food that is only meat and not mixed with veggies or fruit? I'm trying my best to do organic baby food (store bought, not made by me!) and it's hard to find baby food that isn't a 'mixed' pack or jar.

why not made by you? it's really easy and loads cheaper than storebought hi-end baby food. If you're intent on purchasing, look for Happy Baby brand, but be prepared to shell out $$ for it. To make it yourself, just boil a chicken breast (or grill or pan fry, etc.), season lightly and puree in a food processor. Throw some peas or squash or something in there -- you're set.

[Deebs]

For anyone reluctant to make their own baby food - just do it!!!! It tastes and smells so much better, and it's LOADS cheaper. Super, super, super easy (especially if you have a food processor or blender)

[Auspicious]

I use a $10 stick blender from the grocery store on mine. (And at first I thought meat would be harder to do than the fruits/veg, but Jenn is right, it's actually one of the easiest things to make--chicken and turkey, anyway).

[GrayMatterWife]

OK, you guys have talked me into it. The infant/toddler meat food I bought for DS and DD#1 really was nasty looking/smelling. I am going to try making my own for DD#2.

[MrsK]

Another question: My baby's day care provider has suggested he may be ready for table food. He is eating stage 2 foods, sweet potatos, pureed broccoli, and the like now. He is sitting up but not crawling. He does not have teeth yet. He's trying to figure out the sippy cup. I've tried giving him cheerios, puffs, rice, and small pieces of canned (mushy) fruits. If I put them in his mouth, he moves them around in his mouth and spits them out. Then laughs at me. (Silly mommy! That's not food!) If I put them on his tray, he picks them up, inspects them, and then feeds them to the dog. Is he ready? When will he be ready? Do I just keep putting a little on his tray every meal until he's ready?

[GrayMatterWife]

If I put them on his tray, he picks them up, inspects them, and then feeds them to the dog.

My six-year-old STILL does this, with any vegetable. I have to watch him like a hawk. And he has all the teeth he needs to eat...

[Vishenka69]

Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered stage 2, we'll see if she likes them, she's a gulper though. As for the bottles, the mold developed on the insert parts as well as the bottle itself. One was Dr. Brown, the other Born Free. I always disassemble the whole thing before washing and store them on the counter in a bottle rack. The only thing I can think of is sometimes the bottles sit in the sink or the dishwasher overnight. Since the inside venting parts were affected too, I don't think switching to glass will help.

As for sleeping, she goes down around 7ish. Some nights she'll eat at midnight and then 5am, sometimes 3am and then 6am, sometimes 12am, 3am and 5am. No two nights are alike. Last night she slept until 5am but my breasts "woke up" at midnight and then at 3am just in case. This doesn't happen when she's not in the next room though (the two times we left her with my parents for the weekend I slept just fine). This is partly why I'm starting to wean. I'm very nervous about DH tending to her at night though because his first instinct is also to grab and run. He's great at entertaining her but has no idea how to soothe.

[moonlight]

For anyone reluctant to make their own baby food - just do it!!!! It tastes and smells so much better, and it's LOADS cheaper. Super, super, super easy (especially if you have a food processor or blender)

Even if I am need to buy organic produce to make it?

[moonlight]

why not made by you? it's really easy and loads cheaper than storebought hi-end baby food. If you're intent on purchasing, look for Happy Baby brand, but be prepared to shell out $$ for it. To make it yourself, just boil a chicken breast (or grill or pan fry, etc.), season lightly and puree in a food processor. Throw some peas or squash or something in there -- you're set.

And where do I get the organic chicken and turkey? Is that in regular food stores?

And where do I get the organic chicken and turkey? Is that in regular food stores?

sure (to both questions). I don't really subscribe to it must be "organic" (as we've discussed on here, it's a loaded term that doesn't necessarily mean better than). I look for hormone-free, preferably local.

[moonlight]

sure (to both questions). I don't really subscribe to it must be "organic" (as we've discussed on here, it's a loaded term that doesn't necessarily mean better than). I look for hormone-free, preferably local.

I'm really clueless here. How do you know it's hormone-free and how do you know if the meat or produce is local? I'm not sure if I've mention the fact that I live in a very limited shopping area. I have access to Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly. Oh and the dreaded Wal-Mart that I hate.

I'm really clueless here. How do you know it's hormone-free and how do you know if the meat or produce is local? I'm not sure if I've mention the fact that I live in a very limited shopping area. I have access to Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly. Oh and the dreaded Wal-Mart that I hate.

They will be labeled as such. It will absolutely say "hormone free" if it is, and anything local usually has a little tag by the case that says "local". My mainstream PriceChopper and HyVee will both carry hormone free stuff, as well as local.

[Vishenka69]

For formula feeding moms, how do you know how much to mix? Sometimes she feels like eating only 5oz and I have to add, but next time when I mix 7, she decides to only eat 4. I feel that I'm constantly pouring formula down the sink.

When do you move on from the infant tub to the regular one? She seems to be barely fitting in the infant but I'm too paranoid about just plopping her in to the big tub.

How in the world do you run errands with a baby? 7 months later I still haven't figured it out. My infant carseat doesn't clip on to the shopping cart (I think it's because it's European). And what about post office/dry cleaners/drugstore, i.e. places without shopping carts? How do you balance baby and other stuff?

[MrsK]

When BabyK was in the infant carseat phase, I used to put the carseat inside the cart. (I was afraid he'd fall off the front of the cart.) Then I'd put my groceries around him and underneath the cart. Post office, dry cleaners and the like are a PITA because they are quick errands and I hated shleping the carseat with me. Around 7 months, BabyK began to sit up reliably. Then I was able to take him out of the carseat in put him in the baby sling or let him sit in the front of the cart. That makes errands MUCH easier and he enjoys them more too. Yesterday, we went to Target, picked a devil horns headband out of the dollar bin, and he sat in the cart wearing the horns and making friends while I did my shopping.

I'm still using the infant tub inside the big tub (BabyK is 9 months and about 19lbs, 25"). I don't know what type of tub you have but ours is designed for infants and toddlers. I think he's almost outgrown it because he's been trying to stand up in the tub and climb out. I'll probaby switch him to the big tub soon.

[Michele]

A friend of mine used to mix up a pitcher of formula in the morning and keep it in the fridge all day, pouring bottles out like it was milk. I have no idea if that's "acceptable" but it worked for her.

I'm all about baby wearing for errands. At this stage, ring sling, pouch, wrap or soft structured carrier are all appropriate. An Ergo or Beco would be grea for ease of use.

I never used an infant tub. I just bring the baby in the shower w me. I started the boys on tub baths just 6 months ago.....otherwise they showered w us.