Confession: I'm scared of moving past purees.

leslienpete · November 2009

At 9 mo. DD has only had cereal, pureed fruits, pureed veggies and some yogurt. I have not started her on meat nor have I given her anything to gum besides puffs and Mums. I don't know why I am hesitant to move on. Part of me thinks it is because of the danger of choking. I really can't put my finger on it. But, now that we are moving next week and my stash of frozen food is dwindling for her, I guess now is a good a time as any.

Any good suggestions for finger foods I could try with her? How big/small do you make the pieces?

COlori · November 2009

I have an irrational fear of choking. I took the CPR class so technically I know what to do. I can't answer your question because I am not there yet with the food but wanted to say I know how you feel.

me&mymonkey · November 2009

Steamed carrots are good (and mushy) to start with. I am still torn between what size is best for ds. Sometimes he seems to do better with the larger chunks that he can hold and take small bites of. But then other days he will try to shove that whole piece into his mouth so I switch back to little bite size pieces. Then he'll have trouble picking it up.

Sunndraggon · November 2009

I had read a rule of thumb about cutting harder foods (pasta and such)into pea size bites, and softer foods (banana, avocado, baked pototo) can be a small marble. This seems to be okay with Carson.

We started her with peas, corn, baked potao, and black beans. Now she eats pretty much everything.

CaliJenny · November 2009

I hate even thinking about it lately. DH has a fear of them choking so he isn't making it any easier. ugh!

Mine is more laziness. Purees are easy. Now I'm faced with having to cook and plan yet another thing on a daily basis.

So far we're doing scrambled eggs (ok'd by pedi at 9 mth appt), pancakes, waffles, can of mixed veggies, pineapple, macaroni and cheese (cut up smaller), spaghetti, cheerios, cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas. Hope this helps. You can also go into the graduates section at the baby food aisle and see what they have and then just make your own. It give you a good idea of soft pick upable food.

kbs0929 · November 2009

I started Max out with Puffs, Gerber apples & Gerber carrots, cheerios and grilled cheese cut into teeny tiny pieces. Now, he eats everything.

sweettarte501 · November 2009

I'm right there with you in the hesitation! I think mine is because I know exactly how much puree to feed him, but it seems harder w/ other solids. Do I just throw some steamed carrots at him for lunch and that's it? How many? what else do I include? Once he moves past purees what constitues a meal? Is steamed carrots for dinner enough of a dinner? I dont' expect answers to these questions, it's just what is running through my crazy brain as I stir up his oatmeal and pureed fruit each morning!

LynnJones · November 2009

I'm right there with you! But we have tried some finger foods and I usually go with the puree's she has really liked. So I usually give her pieces of sweet potatoes and squash. I usually cut them into sizes as big as my pinky nail, sometimes a bit bigger. I just make sure the food is really soft and easily mashed with her gums.

We just started some pieces of cheese as well and sometimes if we're out to breakfast I break off pieces of toast and she does really good with that. I'm not in any hurry though to move onto foods that are harder (cheerios), so I'm taking our time in that department.

Geekchick921 · November 2009

Sarah LOVES apples made this way.

Peel an apple (I think it cooks a little more evenly if the peel is still on but it's a PITA to get off after it's been cooked), cut it in half and carve out the core. I put it core-side down in a small bowl or ramekin with a little bit of water (about a centimeter). Nuke it for about a minute. I run it under cold water for a minute or two so it's cool enough to handle and eat, and cut it up into little cubes for her. Sometimes I sprinkle cinnamon on it. The consistency is just like baked apple, so it's firm enough for her to pick up but very easy for her to mush with her gums. She has this for breakfast a few times a week.

mrsbliven · November 2009

Babs eats everything I eat including chicken and such and she has no teeth. Typically if she gets a bite thats too big, she gags on it, i sweep it out with my finger, and the meal goes on! any of the veggies/fruit you have already given LO are safe to give seriously overcooked. it will be fine. just sit right there with her!

jerzeygirl4ever · November 2009

You are def not alone. I always worry about feeding her solids. I would start with some banana since that is easily accessible (no cooking involved, lol) and easy to eat. I buy a bag of frozen mixed veggies and over cook them. I started with just the carrots since they were softest, moved onto the peas, then the green beans. We haven't done corn since it's constipating and doesn't have much nutritional value anyway.

It takes time. My advice is feed her the puree's first and then give her a few pieces of finger food. Start with fruits & veggies since they are softest. Then move onto cheeses, bread, and meat.

I'm at the point now where I'm deciding how much longer I need to continue with the puree's.

me&mymonkey · November 2009

jerzeygirl4ever:

It takes time. My advice is feed her the puree's first and then give her a few pieces of finger food. Start with fruits & veggies since they are softest. Then move onto cheeses, bread, and meat.

This is what I usually do (I don't give finger food every meal though). It works great if I am trying to eat at the same time because while he works on the finger food I have a chance to take a few bites of my own food.