Solids

[Thirteen]

We are nearly there!
Is the consensus still to start grains mixed with breast milk first? Or should we try fruits and veggies?
Hold me...

[MrsK]

I don't think there is a consensus. I was terrified to start BabyK on solids, mostle because I was worried about alergies. Then last night, for a split second I thought of feeding K2 (2.5 mos) kiwi strawberry sorbet. By the time we have a third, I'll be weaning him/her on peanut butter.

[Michele]

I'm in the "baby will eat solids when they can pick it up, put it in their mouth and chew" camp. I don't have the patience for spoon feeding and I honestly don't feel it adds to the the child's desire for food/ability to learn how to eat.

[Auspicious]

I think starting with either of those would work equally well.

I used this website as my guide:

http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/

Even if you're not making your own food, it has a lot of info on what you might want to do at each stage on there.

[ladymoreta]

I loved Wholesome Baby, too! Great ideas for more than just what you can find on the Gerber aisle. I would start with a tiny bit of rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. We did it about 30 minutes after a feeding so he wasn't cranky, and he'd gotten all the nutrition he actually needed. We just did a tablespoon here and there at first starting around 4 months. At 6 months, we started doing butternut squash, sweet potatoes, apples, and pears.

DS didn't like rice cereal at all, so we switched to the oatmeal cereal. It's almost the same consistency.

Have fun with it, and try not to stress! It's just for fun for at least the first year, and maybe longer if you're still breast-feeding. Take pictures!!!

[spotty_dog]

Nope, there's no consensus, though the AAP does recommend that the ideal is *exclusive* breastfeeding for six months. I think formula fed babies have a different guideline but I'm not sure. Personally I wait until baby can sit completely unsupported for at least a bit and can sit indefinitely with a bit of support (eg. in a lap or high chair). Then like Michele I let them have whatever they can get into their hand, from there into their mouth, and from there down their throat. That way I don't have to worry about their gut being mature, or their tongue thrust reflect going away, or their pincer grasp beginning to develop -- if they weren't ready, they wouldn't be able to eat! The Wholesome Baby Food site is awesome, I've been using it since my son was small and they've updated it pretty well since then. And they have some good information on baby-led weaning if you want to look into that beyond what Michele and I have said!

[SoonerTexan]

Julie--that website is awesome! I bookmarked for future use!

[Bittersweet]

I'm loving the Wholesome Baby site! We're planning on baby-led weaning. But, we're new at this parenting gig, so who knows.

[Thirteen]

See? I knew you guys would be a great resource! I'll look more at that website today.
We're in this weird phase, where he's definitely taking notice of what we eat. He reaches for our spoons/dishes/plates/cups. I'm not really ready to introduce them.
(I'm not ready for much, though. He's still so small in my mind, despite the fact that he's wearing 12 month clothing).
He can't sit up unassisted yet, so there's that. I wasn't aware that letting them pick up pieces of food for themselves was an option. (BabyDummy).
I tend to stay away from most baby books, as it feeds my mommy guilt and feelings of inadequacy.

[Thirteen]

See? I knew you guys would be a great resource! I'll look more at that website today.
We're in this weird phase, where he's definitely taking notice of what we eat. He reaches for our spoons/dishes/plates/cups. I'm not really ready to introduce them.
(I'm not ready for much, though. He's still so small in my mind, despite the fact that he's wearing 12 month clothing).
He can't sit up unassisted yet, so there's that. I wasn't aware that letting them pick up pieces of food for themselves was an option. (BabyDummy).
I tend to stay away from most baby books, as it feeds my mommy guilt and feelings of inadequacy.

[scrub-jay]

We followed the recommendations of our pediatrician and when *we* were ready. No guilt necessary, I promise Bean'll let you know and you'll get more comfortable as time goes on. Parenting is hard. Our dd hated rice cereal too, but gobbled down the baby oatmeal + ebm (well, I did eat it everyday of pregnancy...) Good luck!!!

[Thirteen]

DH is worried about choking.
"Well, I've been looking on Mayo, and...." *sigh* He's put the kaboosh on baby led solids, and wants to be more conventional.
For those who didn't do purees, how did you find a way around this? Is there a medical resource that will put his mind at ease?
DS was doing GREAT, by the way, prior to this. :/

[SuzySunshine]

I just made sure everything was small, like pea size. Have you taken a child CPR class? Maybe that would ease his mind a little as well.

[ladymoreta]

DS had a huge gagging issue with non-purees, or even thick purees, for a long time. I started out like SS said - pea size or usually smaller. It might make them gag, but it won't block airways. At worst, you'll have some icky cleanup, but it sounds like Bean doesn't have a problem with that if he's already eaten bigger foods.

[scrub-jay]

I just made sure everything was small, like pea size. Have you taken a child CPR class? Maybe that would ease his mind a little as well.

This. And when my dd gagged, she vomited. I agree with definitely being comfortable w/choking/rescue breathing/CPR though.