Who knew that feeding solids to my baby would come with its own cardio workout? At least it did for the first few days.
To get my little cherub to eat those first few days, I sang, danced, nearly did a headstand to get her to open her mouth, only to watch her tiny tongue snowplow all of our hard work down the front of her shirt. It was a terrible endorsement for the bib industry.
What's more, did you know that the first few days have very little to do with eating? It's all about teaching them to bring the food to the back of their throats and actually swallow. Sure it seems obvious now and maybe you think I'm ridiculous, but I honestly thought that was just something we knew how to do from birth. Spoiler alert: it's not.
As I write this, we're deep into week 5 of eating solids. Parents, it gets better. She's actually tasting and enjoying foods now. Hooray! As is typical with motherhood, I've learned a lot from this experience despite the rather short timeframe. I hope it helps you as you and your baby navigate solids for the first time together.
5 Things I've Learned About Starting Solids
Portion Sizes are Subjective
I'm the type of person who likes to ask around and get a feel for what others have tried. If you're reading this, I'm willing to bet you like to do the same. Answers to my questions about bedtimes or breastfeeding are usually pretty constant no matter who I ask. But when I ask about how much food a four-month-old should be eating, literally no one ever gave an answer that was even in the same ballpark.
Here's what I've learned:
Babies eat the amount they want to eat.
It's as simple as that.
We get hung up on how many tablespoons of oatmeal to mixed with how many spoonfuls of pureed fruit, but the truth is that infants are learning how to eat. It's the practice that they need, not the sustenance. The main source of their diet is still milk, so keep at that, Mama!
Textures Matter
Even though the amount you're giving may not matter much, the consistency definitely does. Most of what I read suggested a thin, runny serving of oatmeal to start. This made sense, seeing as my daughter is used to liquid. However, she really struggled to grab onto anything from the spoon at first.
It wasn't until I allowed myself to stray from the handbook and go with my gut. I added a little less liquid (eyeballing it) to give the oatmeal a little more bite. It worked! Suddenly eating was a little easier and less messy!
Please remember that I am not a medical professional in any way. Speak to your pediatrician about solids,
as this is completely based on my own personal experiences.
This worked until we made our way to vegetables. Peas were tough at first. Unlike before, a thick consistency made her spit up instantly. So my strategy flipped on its head and my sweetpea began to love her green mush so much more.
The point is...what they eat and how they eat it is unique to them.
Be flexible and experiment a bit!
Keep A Record
Starting solids means there's yet another thing that piles onto your already full parenting plate. For me, keeping logs in my Bullet Journal helps so much. (For more on Bullet Journaling for Parents, click here!)
3 layouts, in particular, have helped me out a lot:
1. Solids Schedule
I go into this in greater detail in a previous post, so I'll be brief here. It's recommended that we introduce new fruits and veggies one at a time over 3-4 days. This allows parents time to notice any allergic reactions and patterns before trying any new foods.
I don't know about you, but I don't remember what I had for dinner last night, so remembering if we're on peas or peaches is much easier when keeping a log.
I like to track the dates during which my baby first tried the foods along with the time of day she ate them. This is great information to share with her pediatrician, and luckily I bring my Bullet Journal with me wherever I go so the information is always at hand.
2. Grocery List
What fruits are we trying this week? Which ones are on the "Organic Dirty Dozens" list (more on this below)? Did I run out of apples?
I keep my grocery list on a Post-It. Generally, this is in my kitchen so that I can keep a log as I go. Then I move it to this space in my journal. Of course, if you're one to forget to move it over before heading to the store, just keep it safely stuck to your page. Once it's used, switch it out for a new one.
3. In the Freezer
With the speed at which fruit goes bad, particularly organic fruits and veggies, I like to make and freeze my purees ahead of time. Who's going to remember what's in there though? ME...because I track it. 😉
Here, I have a spot for what my daughter ate on what day along with whether or not it was fresh or frozen. My frozen stockpile is noted in the columns beneath the calendar. Once all of the frozen items in a batch are used, I'll shade in the box. We still have a pretty stocked supply, so I haven't had to do this yet, but you get the idea.
Notice that I include the date on which purees were made. This is important because you don't want to give your baby food that has spoiled. However you store your food (I use freezer Ziplocks!), be sure to write the date on the outside so you'll know which is which and how long they've been stored.
Shop Some Organic
My husband has the misfortune of loving fruits while being allergic to their pesticides. It's a bummer, I know, but that doesn't mean he doesn't get to chow down on a sweet pear or strawberry after dinner. It does mean, however, that we have to pay super close attention to what some call the "Dirty Dozen" list of foods to buy organic. (SEE IMAGE ABOVE-- GROCERY LIST)
These fruits and veggies are best bought organic to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. I have them all noted right above my grocery list and mark each with a * to ensure that I remember which ones to buy. Organic can be expensive so no need to buy everything from that section of the store. Just stick to a few for a happy, healthy batch of baby yums!
Just in case you didn't scroll back up (who has time for that anyway, right Moms?) here are the fruits and veggies often recommended to be ALWAYS organic:
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Bell Peppers
- Grapes
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Strawberries
- Celery
- Spinach
Be Positive!
Positivity inspires positive outcomes. If we sit down to feed our babies with sour faces of frustration they know it. They sense our moods and they respond to them.
I know it's hard, Mamas. Our days can be stressful, especially in 2020 (oh what a year to be a parent!). Even still, it's so important that we try to bring our best selves to the highchair. So sing your heart out, make silly faces, talk to your little one. It makes all the difference.
***
To recap, remember to do the following when starting your infant on solids:
- Portion Sizes are Basically Subjective
- Textures Matter
- Keep A Record
- Shop Some Organic
- Be Positive!
Let me know in the comment section how your feeding schedule and experience has been. I'd love to hear from you! Happy eating!
No comments