@lalala2004 Clearly I'm not lurking. I'm participating, although definitely don't have the time to post enough for y'all to recognize my name. I've learned so much from you all, and I appreciate all your posts. This group needs to be a bit more inclusive to new folks is allllll I'm saying.
This is kind of puzzling to me. In what way(s) was the group not inclusive to you? You've literally posted in this group like 20 times, that's hardly a lot of time for us to get to know you, reply to you, empathize with you, welcome you.
@rachel1008 your initial post was confusing. It made it seem like you lurked and only lurked because you thought it was unwelcoming, but here you are. Obviously there are some things that cause you to want to participate, or you wouldn’t be here. I can assure you that if random posts by random people were welcomed, it would get old fast. 100+ “Is this normal?” and dear diary posts aren’t fun, nor are they beneficial to anyone but the OP, and that’s what you see on a lot of other forums.
I feel like trying to do exclusively BLW or exclusively anything else is crazy talk. Feed the kid. Let them play with their food if they want to. My kid can throw a grape across the entire length of my house- it's pretty impressive! If BLW isn't working at first, pouches are cool. Spoon feed them some things cause not everything can be fed BLW- like yogurt, yogurt keeps my kid regular. If I was one of those obsessive 100% BLW people he'd probably be constipated. Feed the kid however you can get the food in them. And it'll probably be totally different the next day.
I feel like trying to do exclusively BLW or exclusively anything else is crazy talk. Feed the kid. Let them play with their food if they want to. My kid can throw a grape across the entire length of my house- it's pretty impressive! If BLW isn't working at first, pouches are cool. Spoon feed them some things cause not everything can be fed BLW- like yogurt, yogurt keeps my kid regular. If I was one of those obsessive 100% BLW people he'd probably be constipated. Feed the kid however you can get the food in them. And it'll probably be totally different the next day.
Soooooo much this. BLW wasn't like "a thing" with DS1 so we gave him purees. Mostly I homemade his food and put it all in breastmilk storage bags in the freezer until we were ready to use it but we also used pouches and jars. DS2 I did NOT have time to make his food so around 6 months we started introducing food little by little. Some of it was what we were eating and some of it was pouches or jars. My children were fed and that's what I cared about.
Exactly! I homemade some purees, but pouches are convenient on the go and you can keep them in your purse- so no shame in store bought pouches. DS has been mashing bananas against his face for a year. But he's still my sweet baby that likes his mac & cheese spoon fed to him. I have a friend who is obsessive about ONLY doing BLW and I think it's ridiculous. Feed the kid.
We didn't do BLW with DS, we just followed his lead and when he was ready for more substantial food than the purees, we would mix in some oatmeal cereal to give it a little bulk or mush up some peas and let him play with those. Sometimes they made it into his mouth and he would look so proud of himself before he spit them out lol!
Quick soapbox moment - most hospitals will offer an infant CPR class and that will address what to do in the event of choking. I can't emphasize more strongly to just go get the Red Cross CPR certification. It covers the infant stage, toddler, kids, choking, CPR on itty bittys, etc. It's so valuable to know what to do when someone is in trouble and you never know when you'll need the information. I took it when DS was 4 months old and was starting solids but now is truly the perfect time to get certified. Stepping off my soapbox now
Quick soapbox moment - most hospitals will offer an infant CPR class and that will address what to do in the event of choking. I can't emphasize more strongly to just go get the Red Cross CPR certification. It covers the infant stage, toddler, kids, choking, CPR on itty bittys, etc. It's so valuable to know what to do when someone is in trouble and you never know when you'll need the information. I took it when DS was 4 months old and was starting solids but now is truly the perfect time to get certified. Stepping off my soapbox now
So much this. Regardless whether you plan to do BLW or not or a mix or whatever you choose, it is so important to know the basics. Even researching online or watching videos if you can't get certified is so worthwhile. I am suuuper nervous about choking, even still, and having that certification makes me slightly less so.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!! I was literally thinking last night as I was trying to fall asleep that I need to take a CPR class. DS1 choked on a piece of steak last night and luckily was self aware enough to cough it up and then went to the trash can to get it out, BUT it got me thinking that if he actually was in danger I don't know the proper way to Heimlich him and get it out.
@calimom2524 - Mine took an entire saturday but I feel better having taken it. We have a pool too and my brothers in law can be idiots so, you know, just in case. I had the same feeling you did, lying awake thinking about it. I say go for it!
Agreed about CPR classes. I just had to renew my certification for work and it was a nice reminder. I always recommend it to anyone who asks and my family even when they aren't in the medical field. If nothing else, it helps you have something to reference in your mind in those otherwise panic-y moments!
@mrsbubbles-2 I couldn’t love your comment more. All for the CPR! And I don’t think it’s a bad idea to encourage any family members who might be watching your LO’s on a regular basis to take one as well. DS wouldn’t get discharged from the NICU until anyone who would be babysitting came in to learn CPR and how to use his apnea monitor.
We didn't do BLW or staright purees, we did a mixture of it all and I agree that sticking strictly to one thing or another is just plain hard. At home we did some BLW, but I always purreed some things or mashed it up for him. For daycare we would pack some purees because it was SO much easier than having them do BLW or assuming there was something on the menu that he'd be able to pick at or try. Choking is one of my biggest fears as a parent and even at almost 3 I still cut up a lot of DS's food. Because of this I was probably a little hawk like when he was doing the BLW, but hoping this time my anxiety may decrease a little (although that's probably not going to happen! ha). I couldn't encourage the CPR course enough!! I had to be certified back in the day for my previous profession and I've kept up with it since. You just never know when you may need the skills!
@lolog531 DS is almost four and I still cut up all of his food. Our grocery store has some humongous blueberries and I even cut those up! DH thinks I’m nuts.
We always packed gerber purees for daycare. At home They got whatever we were having, before sauces were put in. The kids now get nuggets and chocolate milk on the weekends. Its our Sunday Morning treat. Chocolate milk, muffins or donuts, and snuggling in bed with mom and dad. Most week days they have milk with lunch and snacks, while they get juice with dinner. Daycare is more crunchy homemade food than we do at home, so I know she gets them lots of variety and balanced diet.
Formerly known as Kate08young August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Me: 28 H: 24 Married: 7/22/14 Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017. Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
For anyone interested, there is an online adult/child/infant CPR course through the Red Cross for $25. None are publically offered in my area, so that seems to be my only option.
RE: Baby Led Weaning, technically foods that are traditionally spoon fed can be a part of BLW, you just encourage them to grab the spoon and actively take part in eating instead of just shoveling food in their mouth. With those guidelines considered I did it 100%. Some people on BLW Facebook groups are so militant about the “rules” it’s ridiculous. Once you realize it’s just giving your baby food, there are no rules! Other than obvious ones like avoiding honey, choking hazards like whole grapes, etc.
Yes to CPR - I have to take it to renew my fitness stuff every two years and it's great. Now, would I still panic if I had to do it - probably, but at least I have some awareness.
Totally yes to the cpr! I did it and made my mil come too since she was watching DD when she was an infant. I actually had to use it once a few months ago.
We intended to do baby led weaning, but DS turned out to have issues with texture, so he didn't like to touch his food with his hands. So we quickly switched to purees and spoons. Around a year, we started giving him whatever we were eating, and he likes most things. He actually refused to eat straight fruits or vegetables for quite a long time, but he's outgrown that mostly. He's a couple of months past two, and he still likes to be fed by us. We generally do it because it keeps dinner calmer and cleaner and he eats more. He has to feed himself at daycare, so we know he's getting practice and isn't bad at it.
DS eats a fair number of processed foods. Sometimes we just need a snack bar or a cup of animal crackers on hand. We generally save dessert for after he's in bed, so he doesn't eat a lot of that (he's very excited that it's my sister's birthday tomorrow so he'll get to have cake).
I used to wonder why kids were even given juice in the first place. Then DS started having trouble with constipation and we tried everything else before giving him a cup of juice at around a year old. We never give full strength juice, usually around 1/3 juice, but he does drink 1 to 3 cups a day. I'm sure he doesn't need 3 cups a day, but I think he does need one to keep things moving.
I just signed up for a CPR class at the library, I had my certification years ago but definitely could use a refresher, I don’t know why I never took one before DD was born
@lalala2004 Oh, that's good thinking. I think we're probably too late on that, though. This kid loves his juice, so I don't know if we'd be able to take it away. Maybe for this next kid!
Re: UO 4/5
August 18 Siggy Challenge: April Showers
August 18 Siggy Challenge: April Showers
Quick soapbox moment - most hospitals will offer an infant CPR class and that will address what to do in the event of choking. I can't emphasize more strongly to just go get the Red Cross CPR certification. It covers the infant stage, toddler, kids, choking, CPR on itty bittys, etc. It's so valuable to know what to do when someone is in trouble and you never know when you'll need the information. I took it when DS was 4 months old and was starting solids but now is truly the perfect time to get certified.
Stepping off my soapbox now
Me: 37 Him: 38
Married 11.07.2015
August 18 Siggy Challenge: April Showers
Me: 37 Him: 38
Married 11.07.2015
I couldn't encourage the CPR course enough!! I had to be certified back in the day for my previous profession and I've kept up with it since. You just never know when you may need the skills!
DS: 5.28.15
DS#2: EDD 8.31.18
Most week days they have milk with lunch and snacks, while they get juice with dinner. Daycare is more crunchy homemade food than we do at home, so I know she gets them lots of variety and balanced diet.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
DS eats a fair number of processed foods. Sometimes we just need a snack bar or a cup of animal crackers on hand. We generally save dessert for after he's in bed, so he doesn't eat a lot of that (he's very excited that it's my sister's birthday tomorrow so he'll get to have cake).
I used to wonder why kids were even given juice in the first place. Then DS started having trouble with constipation and we tried everything else before giving him a cup of juice at around a year old. We never give full strength juice, usually around 1/3 juice, but he does drink 1 to 3 cups a day. I'm sure he doesn't need 3 cups a day, but I think he does need one to keep things moving.