soooo...talk to me about solids

redshoegirl

I don't think there's any way we're going to make it to 6 months before our dudes want solids. They're sitting unassisted (up to 2 min at a time now), grabbing at food, watching us eat, etc., plus they're wanting more and more in their bottles lately. So I don't think 6 months is realistic, although I'm holding out for at least 5 months (which I just realized is only one week away! ack! where does the time go?).

Tell me what you did to introduce solids to your LO... Rice cereal first? Any particular order you went with veggies (I've read that it might be a good idea to go green first since they're the least sweet)? 4-7 days between new foods?

Married2MrWright

We're doing Baby Led Weaning so no...no cereral or purees.  FWIW, if you do chose to go with cereal, I recommend baby oatmeal or barley...it's more nutritionally dense than the typical rice cereals that are offered as first foods.

You can skip cereals altogether and start with veggies...sweet potato is a great first food...rarely allergenic and packed with nutrients.  Plus babies like the sweet and mild flavor.  Check out www.wholesomebabyfood.com, especially Stage 1 since you think you'll be introducing sooner than later:

https://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/stage1_homemade_baby_food_recipes.htm

Avocado is a great first food too and again, nutritionally dense. Here's more information on starting solids:

https://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/readyforsolids.htm

MrsZiz

We started rice cereal first, but it made Bella SO constipated. We gave it to her every other day. After 10 days of not pooping (yes I said TEN!) I called her pedi who said "call when it's been 2 weeks"... uh NO! I gave her a glycerin suppository, talked to the dietician at my work who suggested oatmeal cereal. She did MUCH better with that. After every other day of oatmeal cereal for about a week (which was about 4 servings of cereal in 7 days), we moved on to green veggies. We started with peas. We made our own which I highly suggest, it's so easy and cheap. I think then we went to squash, carrots, other veggies and then fruit.

On a side note, I can't believe your pirates are 5 months old!! 

redshoegirl

Thanks for the advice ladies!

Yeah, I'd been thinking about skipping the rice cereal since I'd heard that it can cause constipation and that it's not really a necessary step anyway. 

I'll check at my store for oatmeal cereal, but failing that I'll just go straight to veggies - funny that you ladies mentioned peas and sweet potato, because I was tossing up between those two for a first food! (And thanks so much for the links, Lori!)

Sarah, I totally agree about it being easy and cheap to DIY food - I actually mentioned to Ben that I'm not really sure why people buy baby food in jars. It's not difficult or time consuming to boil and blend veggies, and you can get so many servings out of something like a sweet potato. Not to mention that there aren't any additives and it's so much cheaper!

This reminds me, I'll need to get more ice cube trays so I can freeze food...

mrspresley

we started w/rice cereal at the recommendation of our pedi. it did not cause her constipation.  it helped b/c it allowed me to give her something w/a different texture from milk but it still tasted like milk.  i think that is the main thing, b/c she was soooo against anything that wasn't milk flavored at the beginning.  after about a week of rice cereal we started the veggies. i did start w/the green ones first, just so she wouldn't get 'hooked' on the sweeter veggies/fruits and reject stuff like peas.  after we did several veggies then we started introducing fruits. we went about 3-4 days between each new item but sometimes longer just b/c i hadn't had a chance to go to the grocery. i think she was on purees until about 8 months when i started giving her small pieces of food instead. i tried introducing them sooner, but she choked/gagged so i just waited a few more weeks until she was fine w/them.  but we haven't done any purees in the last 2 months, i just cook things and then cut them up into small pieces for her....

oh and i think she was probably like your little dudes...ready to eat solids sooner than 6 months...but b/c we have a big history of food allergies on both sides of our families (including myself) i really wanted to wait until 6 months.  when i finally did introduce solids, she was lunging for the spoon and absolutely ready!!

kauai_luv

We went with rice cereal mixed with breastmilk for the first "solid" food when Wai was just over 5 months. It was at the recommendation of our pediatrician as well. We didn't have any problems with constipation, but I absolutely think that whatever you decide to start with is the right thing to do! The first food my mom gave me was papaya. Not cereal, green, or even veggie, and I love my healthy food! Haha! The next food we introduced was sweet potatoes, and we tried different veggies and fruits from then on - about 4 days in between new culinary adventures. She loves all kinds of fruits and veggies now, and isn't a picky eater at all. Since kids are so different I think it is hard to say what works and what doesn't. It's all about trial and error through your own experience. Best of luck with starting solid foods. It will be fun!

sanae78

We totally don't have a system for introducing foods.  We're kinda whatever about it.  The first thing we gave her was avocado because they were on sale.  But she gagged a lot...it was pretty hilarious.  I think it was mostly because of the texture.  Now she's used to texture and she's figured out how to eat so she loves it.  The second food we gave her was poi.  Since then she's had rice cereal and various purees (peas, green beans, squash, sweet potato, banana).  She seems to like most of them.  We've also given her bits of fresh banana, papaya, watermelon and cantaloupe. 

She was the same way with being all curious about our food.  But don't be surprised if the boys gag, too, at first.  I don't think it's because they don't like the taste.  They're just not used to the thickness.  Whatever you decide to give them first, be sure to capture it on film!  It's priceless!

Married2MrWright

sanae78:

But don't be surprised if the boys gag, too, at first.  I don't think it's because they don't like the taste.  They're just not used to the thickness.  Whatever you decide to give them first, be sure to capture it on film!  It's priceless!

Gagging is a natural reflex to avoid choking so it's a good thing that babies have a very strong gag reflex.  As they get closer to one year old the reflex moves further back in the mouth...that's why when they're younger they'll gag on their own fingers, pacis or first foods.  Gagging is perfectly expected when introducing solids to infants...it keeps them from choking.