Feeding questions...need some help and advice!

MyShellyBelly · December 2011

Hi ladies!

Our LO's will be eight (8) months old on Sunday and I'm thinking about starting them on some meats. What meats did you start your LO's on for the first time? I'm thinking about going with chicken, but am not sure how I would prepare this. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

Also, when did you start dairy for your LO's? What dairy did you start out with?Yogurt? Cottage cheese?

What about finger foods? Both LO's seem to have their pincher grasp down pretty well, so I was thinking about starting some types of finger foods.

Both of our LO's do not have any teeth yet (is that strange for 8 months old?)...do you see that as posing a problem with starting finger foods, meats and/or dairy?

And last but not least, I was thinking about introducing sippy cups. I went to the store today, but was completely overwhelmed with the options.

Any advice you ladies have would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Just as I felt that we had starting solids down pat, it got confusing again!

Thanks and (((hugs)))!

di0607 · December 2011

We started yogurt around 8 or 9 month. Both kids were atleast supplementing with formula so we knew milk was well tolerated. We did chicken/turkey around 10 months. I would blend it in with his purees. Very simple! Finger foods we do cooked fruits and veggies. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, etc... Sorry about the format I'm on my phone.

RoxBride · December 2011

I would start throwing whatever you are eating at any given meal their way, in little bits, and let them have at it. No need to over think it at this point, just avoid any foods on your pedi's do not have list, and go for it!

dana316 · December 2011

The idea of pureed meat was kind of gross to me, so we did meat as finger foods. At 8 months, even with no teeth, they are ready to try finger foods....for sure!!

Caroline loved chicken thighs...and they are full of good fats and iron, so a good choice. I would cut them in small pieces and boil them in a scant amount of water...and then feed them as finger foods.

Whole milk yogurt is a great choice for that first dairy... Yo Baby is fantastic.

Pick a sippy cup and give them water with meals. My advice is to pick one and stick with it...the only ones I've found that don't leak EVER are the hard spouted Nuk cups.

Food should be fun...don't stress about it too much. Just go with it, and have a good time!!

BeccaLandes · December 2011

MyShellyBelly:

Also, when did you start dairy for your LO's? What dairy did you start out with?Yogurt? Cottage cheese?
we started with yogurt, i want to say around 8 months. i assumed no dairy allergy since i had been eating dairy and nursing without trouble all their lives. they didn't like cottage cheese, so i stopped trying it. i would get whole milk plain yogurt and mix it with a fruit puree, and they liked that. it was cheaper and less sugar than yo baby.
What about finger foods? Both LO's seem to have their pincher grasp down pretty well, so I was thinking about starting some types of finger foods.
finger foods are so easy and fun! i agree with roxbride who suggested little tastes of whatever you are having- that's what we did. they had toast with butter, bits of vegetables, and later small bits of soft meat, like brisket or chicken. i don't see a problem with their not having teeth, because what you are giving them will be soft enough to be gummed/worked with the tongue.
And last but not least, I was thinking about introducing sippy cups. I went to the store today, but was completely overwhelmed with the options.
sippy cups are hard to find one that doesn't leak. we started with munchkin sippies, which they found easy to use, and later moved on to straw sippies, which they now prefer.