Starting solids? - Baby Led Solids Chatter #2

[kelebek]

Hey Laura, how big are the bits of banana you are giving Sam? I give bits of banana about the length of my finger - most of it gets squished but their grip does get better the more they handle the softer foods & learn not to squeeze so hard unless they are hungry/tired etc... things like brocoli has a natural handle, I have been giving Dusty wedges of pear & leaving the skin on so it isn't as slippery, from time to time I do have to get the skin out of his mouth cause it's a bit tough for him to gum up. I also give him zuchini both as the round circle or as a finger about the length of your finger cut into 3 segments IYKWIM? I also give him fingers of carrot (all steamed of course).

Well we have built up to giving him solids twice a day, atm he looooves his pear & has toast with avo or banana, he is mainly sucking the toast atm but does swallow some of it, so cute.... I can't eat anymore without giving him something, little bugger

We have also started a vegie patch so I am a bit excited, can't wait to get some fresh vegies/salad, yummo.

Sirenz, have you been feeding DS mush before starting on finger food? cause I noticed he is a bit older than my bub, that could be why he isn't spitting it out but is gagging cause he wants food just isn't used to the feeling of the bigger bits of food IYKWIM?


Roquen, I would love your bread reciepe (sp) do you use a breadmaker? or just the oven? can I PM you or something? TIA

anyway that's me for now must be off to bed, chat later. Love sharing this journey with you ladies & hearing your stories thanks.

[loulabelle]

Thanks Nic, He does seem to be getting slightly better holding things.The banana still get squished though! I have been letting him hold the whole thing while I hold it too and he just eats it that way.
He tried pasta with pumpkin sauce last night and absolutely loved it...I'm still finding little bits of it around this morning though!

[happymel]

Hi everyone. Have had a quick read of everyone's posts. I have twins just over 6 months now. Will loves eating his weetbix and veges, fruit purees etc. He also tries to eat whatever i am having! Addie doenst like to eat. She clamps her jaw **** and you have to play games with her to open her mouth- smiling and laughing seems like the only way.
I want to start baby led solids but i just dont know where to start. Im worried about choking, and im not sure which foods to begin with. If you have any hints id be so appreciative. Im starting to get worried about Addie, naughtly little minx!!
Thanks, Melissa

[Sequoia]

So we started Baxter on solids last night, he had 3 tastes of rice cereal before he shut his mouth and turned away! DH and I were in fits of laughter, I can't believe we thought he would like that, so gross! So then I cut a wedge of apple and rather tentatively he had a lick and a suck. We'll repeat tonight with the apple. I have some pumpkin in the fridge, is it okay for me to steam/boil it and give him a chunk? Can I freeze it after I've cooked it?

Cheers

SG
xo

[Sammiejane]

Hi Happymel and Shoegal -
i found that the easiest foods to start with are the ones with a natural handle - like cauliflower and broccoli, but basically i started with veggies, cut ito finger shapes/slices and offered them to her.

Choking is always a worry and the first time that you see your baby gag, go red and cough and have tears is a bit alarming, but it does settle and it is a process that they learn so that they dont swallow bits that are too big. MJ will still sometimes gag, but this is not choking. They will bring the food forward into the mouth and either try again or spit it out.

MJ is now eating a wide range of foods including pasta, chicken and lamb, tuna, quiche, pasta and basically anything else that we are eating that does not have added salt.
Yesterday she had weetbix for breakfast - if you make it thicker then pop it on the tray in front of them they will pick it up and eat it (and play and make a huge mess )
for lunch she had pumkin, broccoli and cauliflower that was steamed and some cold roast chicken
for dinner she had avocado on toast, sweet potato, potato and some natural yoghurt sweetened with some apple puree (made by just steaming and mashing an apple)

MJ hates to be fed too - sometimes she will accept it (i spoon fed the yoghurt) but usually i load the spoon and she feeds herself.
Also i put all the foods in front of her, that way she can select which she wants to taste (much like we would if we have a late of food). Sometimes she will not have broccoli, other days she cant get enough.... i guess thats the beauty of BLS.

Shoegal, i tend to cut up 2-3 days worth of veggies, steam/boil them (depending on what they are) and then pop them into containers in the fridge. As its finger food i dont see the point of make a massive batch as its not that much hard work as there is no puree/mashing involved.
I wouldnt see a problem in freezing though

When we first started, there wasnt too much consuming, it was more tasting and experiencing, now there is def. heaps of eating going on.

HTH and enjoy

[onthefly]

Hi
We have given DS brocolli (liked), banana (bit worried after he swallowed some chunks), strawberry (liked it), pumpkin (loved it, and especially loves smearing it everywhere), carrot (not so keen), avocado (liked it ok), orange (LOVED it). I also mashed up some apple for him and spoon fed him a bit, which he didn't mind. That was only cause I tried giving him a piece and he tried to inhale it, which worried me a little... Otherwise we just give him pieces that he can hold and away he goes. Like SJ says, things with natural handles work best to start with.
It's messy - we now take off his clothes and put him in his high chair to eat. It's a lot easier to clean up that way.
HappyMel - Some babies still aren't that interested in food even at 6 months. It's not something you should worry about at this point - milk is still their most important nutritional source till they're 12 months. Maybe just give her a piece of something to play with - she'll get the hang of it eventually.

[Sequoia]

Thanks for your awesome post SJ, for how long did your bubba explore food before she ate it? I'm interested to know when, thanks.

SG
xo

PS - what should I do in the case of choking?

[Sammiejane]

Shoegal,
MJ started solids via BLS at 5.5 months. She was consuming small amounts right from the start (i know this cos i found bits of broccoli in her poo ) but nothing really substantial, mostly it went on the floor, around her body, over her face, in her hair etc etc (the dog now lovingly sits under her high chair at meal times)
It took about 3 weeks to see less food wasted, she still drops loads (we have a 3 sec rule in our house), but there is substantially more that goes in... but some meals she is less interested than others, but that OK as she knows if she is hungry or not - look for theiir cues, if their not interested dont force the matter, let them play but if they dont want to be there, do something else.

OK there is a big difference between choking and gagging.
Gagging is when they are coughing, tears are streaming and they look like they are retching... its hard, but dont do anything, they actually have a fantastic gag reflex and will bring the food forward themselves... if you stick your finger in you may cause a spasm of the throoat and then there can be choking.
Choking is not breathing, turning blue etc etc... in this case DO put your finger in there and try and get it out. Blows (soft) to the side of the chest and also the back (thrusts) will also help

To avoid choking make sure that your baby is upright when you feed him/her and dont leave them unattended when eating.
Also avoid small foods that they can get caught like peas, corn, rice, sultanas, nuts etc etc... these should be avoided until they are more advaced at self feeding - usually if they have a fine pincer grip and can get a single peice of corn up with the finger and thumb, they are better at eating these things. MJ can pick them up, but i am not happy to give them to her yet.

Like MArcellus said the mess is something that are just goin to have to get use to... its not neat and MJ has a bath directly after dinner which is when she gets the most messy and has more things to squash and play and eat

hope this helps to clarify, let me know if you still have q's

[Sequoia]

That's great, thanks heaps SJ.

SG
xo

[jenjams]

Shoegal- I can't believe Baxter is 6 months already! Where has the time gone?

Amber is loving her grapes at the moment. When she started, I was peeling them for her but now i just bite them in half and give them to her length wise and she demolishes them.
She is also liking avocado sandwiches and hardly wastes anything. I am now giving her raw apple slices these days. She sucks on it for awhile before dropping it.
i find too she is not wasting too much food anymore. A lot of it is being swallowed.

[Sammiejane]

I still peel MJ's grapes, she tends find it more difficult still.

Skye cant remember if you posted it in here or baby buddies, but i gave MJ tuna mixed with avocado - she scoffed more than i thought that she would - in fact i had to make more!

I cant believe how much she is eating now, tonight i made some spiral pasta, some for tonight and some to go in the fridge, she ate the lot (probably 2/3 cup) mixed with a bit of home made spag sauce

She is also loving apple at the mo, i am peeling it, rinsing it and then putting it in the mircowave (i have to figure out how to do it one the stove with out it going brown) for 2 mins and its soft enough for her to gnaw, but not too mushy!

Anyone else got anything new that they have started?

[Sammiejane]

Anyone noticed change in milk feeds?
MJ doesnt seem to be taking as much atm, she hasnt been sleeping weel, so i am not sure if its because she is really tired and just falls asleep mid feed or she is not needs as much - she is BF so i dont know actually how much she is taking...

[gemini]

Hi everyone,
(sorry i have just reread and it is pretty long.)
I love the idea of this, it sounds great. I have a six month old, very independent, determined little boy. So far i have tried him on the std rice cereal thing and happily puts it in his mouth, but is happier to use it to blow raspberries (he wont blow raspberries ordinarily mind you). In doing so i have had to contort myself to hold his arms and legs down in attempt to get the spoon to his mouth! After a couple of mouthfuls he screams blue murder anyhow.
So i am so glad that i have been led to this thread, it sounds much more appropriate for older bubs.
I just have a couple of questions, how soft do you make things first up? Should they be nearly mushy, but still holding shape, or with a little more body?
Also, it sounds like most people have been able to introduce a range of things quite early, like the wheats, and meats etc. (well earlier than what i have been told by my ECHN) Does anyone know if i try BLS that i should still hold back certain foods due to a family history of allergies?
THanks.

[MantaRay]

SJ, I found that happened at the same age too. Really they shouldn't be cutting back milk just yet. I cut back on the solids a little bit and found he started drinking more again. And slept better again! Could be worth a try for you!

Gemini, I am so glad you've joined in here. I think you will find it a much better approach for you. I found that I did make things pretty soft at first, but not for very long. Pretty soon he was just having things cooked the same way as us (probably within a month?). But then you do tend to be more confident (and more time strapped LOL!!) with a subsequent child!

As for your other question, I would still be cautious about allergy foods. I was. I waited until the recommended age for everything. Although meat is one that no-one much agrees on, and I think he had that from about 7 1/2 or 8 months.

[onthefly]

Gemini - because of a family history of intolerances, we're avoiding grains (except rice) and animal products for the time being. Actually not sure when you're supposed to introduce things like that anyway...
I think we're having the same issue with DS and sleeping. Will wind back solids and see if he eats better during the day (and sleeps at night...)

[Sammiejane]

Thanks MR - have tried a dream feed also, but that hasnt worked either. Maybe wil try cutting back on the solids.
Im not really sure if she takes less or if she sucks faster, have noticed that my let down is super quick lately so maybe she is just drinking wuicker... dont know.

Gemini, welcome!! I was told that you should wait until your baby is 12mths before introducing anything that has a direct family link of intolerance... also as i have mentioned before, loads of people have an opinion, you do need to make up your own mind and e comfortable with your decision, if everyone else is feeding their baby something but you are not comfortable doing it, DONT...

Marcellus - all the info that i have read and received re BLS says that as long as there is no allergy issue, all foods can be introduced when you are ready, MJ has dairy yoghurt but rice milk or soy with her cereals (DSS drinks rice and i sometimes have soy - plus i think its nicer with weetbix) also she has cheese which is dairy. She has had mead since about 6.5mths and wheat from about the same (but i tend to steer away from the white bread and make my own multigrain)...
However as i said above you need to be comfortable with your choice and if there is any history i would avoid it.
There seems to be very strong opinions on this issue (for both arguments and i dont wish this to be seen as dig at anyone or any opinion), so i would do the research yourself and make a choice as to what sits with you the best iykwim

HTH

[onthefly]

There seems to be very strong opinions on this issue
HTH

I know! It's funny in a way that it elicits such strong feelings - I wonder why that is. I guess, similar to the ff/bf debate, it's cause feeding our babies is so fundamental to being a parent that we all want to be 'RIGHT'.
It's so confusing - I wish there was just one definitive answer. I think you're right it's best to just decide what works best for you and do that.
I'm still not sure whether to just avoid the things DH has/had intolerances to - dairy & gluten - or everything that's a potential allergen (or likely cause of intolerence). Guess we'll just figure it out. Sigh.

[Sammiejane]

OK, if it were me (which its not) i would leave anything that you or your DH had/ave allergies too until 12 months. Everything else i would introduce when your comfortable... (so for me its now)

HTH