[cmom80]

My baby is almost 10 months, and still about 98% breastfed. I do a little organic veggie puree but she eats very little of it. And she's thriving, chubby and healthy.<br><br>
My pediatrician (I sought out a good one!) is totally cool with a baby who consumes nothing but breastmilk for the first year. He encourages it, in fact. I feel comfortable with my decisions... but it's getting harder, as she gets older, to deal with the pressure from people.<br><br>
Gotta love in-laws. Last time they were over, they kept quizzing me on what she has and hasn't eaten. They gave me the third degree about oatmeal (I'm delaying oatmeal because of the possibility of gluten intolerance), and made jokes about the whole grains I'm giving C. Of course, these are people who formula-fed their kids, some of whom have obesity issues...<br><br>
They are pretty polite about it in general, but I can tell they think I'm ridculous. I keep hearing them say stuff behind my back, like "That kid needs a Whopper!" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
Now, even my friends who breastfeed are starting to give their baby more and more baby food. Am I going just a bit overboard? How do I know when enough is enough? How do you make the transition?<br><br>
I'm not breastfeeding to be all "crunchy"-- I just want to do what's best for my baby. What if she wants nothing to do with food, ever? Frankly, I don't mind BFing her as long as she wants to, but doesn't she need something other than milk at some point?<br><br>
Unfortunately, my DH doesn't get home until late, so she can't eat dinner with us. Finger foods scare the crap out of me. I refuse to give her that jarred stuff, but you know, steamed/ pureed collard greens aren't exactly appetizing. I'd prefer a milkshake too!<br><br>
I'm totally confused.

 

[mothragirl]

she'll let you know when she wants/needs solids, don't stress it. sounds like you're doing great.

 

[woodchick]

It sounds like you're doing well to me. I started very slowly with solids with dd. Some days I even forgot to let her try any at all!<br><br>
I tended to put dd in her high chair and gave her a couple pieces of soft finger foods: avocado, banana, cooked veggies: small enough not to be a choking hazard, but big enough to pick up.<br><br>
If you offer and she wants it, she'll take it. If she doesn't want it, don't worry.<br><br>
As for your family-- if you're offering food (and maybe there's some on the tray of the high chair) maybe they won't think so much about her not eating it. I used the same trick when I used to go out with friends. I'm not much of a drinker but others were always foisting drinks on me. I made sure to ALWAYS have a drink in my hands (even if it was just Sprite!) and they stopped bugging me!

 

[alegna]

I'd offer her finger food. You're not doing her any favors by being afraid of it.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
That said, my dd wasn't really interested in solids at all until around a year.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[ashtree]

My 9 month old ds isn't really interested in solids either-unless paper and dirt count....<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/duh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="duh"><br><br>
I'm gluten intolerant so we're also waiting to try oatmeals and cereals.<br><br>
What do you mean by finger foods?<br><br>
My ds is a pretty big little guy, so I'm not worried about him being soley breastfeed, but it can be a pain in the butt nursing a 25 pounder all day. Sometimes I feel like all I do is eat.<br><br>
Is she interested in purreed fruit at all? My ds (currently) only likes pears, it must be all the natural sugars. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[BlueStateMama]

I never did "baby food" with mine - I just offered finger foods when they seemed developmentally ready (sitting upright really well, pincher grasp, etc) and interested. Nursing, parenting, etc all breaks down to "don't mess with Mother Nature" for me. Biology is smart. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> When baby *can* feed themselves (and want to) then they're "ready" for solids.<br><br>
I start with chunks of ripe banana, avacado, really ripe pear, steamed sweet potato, etc. I do space out food introduction, watch carefully, and let baby enjoy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ashtree</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8000080"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">What do you mean by finger foods?</div>
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Not spoon feeding. Giving baby chunks of foods they can feed themselves.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[waylonsmama]

My DS is 9.5 months old and he barely eats any solids. He loves his mamas milk. I also get the comments from my parents and my in-laws, but I chose to ignore them and listen to my baby. My mom likes to joke with me on how she is going to take ds to McDonalds the first time he stays with her. I just told her that it does not look you will be keeping him then. He will eat solids when he is ready...he won't and can't bf forever. You are doing exactly what your baby wants. Good for you...keep it up <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[quietserena]

I'm not at that point yet but I can see it approaching. Everybody (and when did everybody become an expert???) outside of me and DH seems to be of the opinion that DD should have had solids mashed and blended in a bottle at 4 months. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
I've chosen to just ignore the whole business as much as I can. When they ask "well how is she eating" i answer "great" and try to change the subject. These are people who don't seem to understand baby led solids and would have started spoonfeeding her a long time ago. I've heard comment like: "Let her stay with me for a few hours, I'll give her some real food." Whenever DD cries, someone says it's because she's hungry. But when I nurse her, they say that she's manipulating me.<br><br>
Man, if I listened to them.. well... I wouldn't be the person that I am today.<br><br>
So here's my plan and maybe it can help you too. I'll be doing my own thing and not be discussing this with anyone really. I've become an expert at changing the subject and diverting. When someone really presses me, I tell them she's not interested in food yet and that I'm not pushing because of DH's allergies. Usually people stop there. Usually. I've got an aunt who calls me up to advise me about these things all the time and as far as she's concerned, I'm trying all the purees out there and DD is enjoying them but still nursing most of the time. I just keep it vague.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
If it helps any, I'm really trying to stay out of what other people's kid's eat because I see way too much that makes me cringe.<br><br>
ETA:<br>
Another thing that I've told people and they've nodded. "I only get to nurse her for a short time, she'll have the rest of her life to eat solids." Some have taken this as me being 'selfish' whatever that means, so you have to pick your crowd. I save that one for my breastfeeding friends.

 

[JenMidwife]

yeah, you can't win... can you? Be strong & know that you're doing the best for your babe.<br><br>
If you think that your baby wants more than breastmilk, but seems put off by chunky finger food, smooshed banana or avocado (smoosh it up in a Ziploc bag for easy, but disposable) is a good compromise b/w finger food & jarred baby food.<br><br>
Personally, I don't think jarred baby food is evil (when used appropirately), I just think it's a marketing gimic that's occasionally useful. Also, whole milk organic yogurt is good when you're ready.

 

[Klynne]

dd is 10.5 now and I nurse every 2 hr. She only eats finger foods. She LOVES thawed chopped spinach and peas. I break the spinach up and give it to her with my finger. The peas and everything else she eats her self. About the family and friends. I'm in the same boat as you... only my hubby and mom support what I'm doing.<br><br>
It's best for you to listen to your baby and get support from others who are doing the same thing! From what I understand, babies can go a long way on bm. Your doing a great job!!

 

[simplemama]

I'm so thankful for this post! I am definitely taking this approach with my 2nd, ds is 6.5 months old and my dd is 3.<br>
I put some mushy avocado on his plate the past couple days and he plays with it mostly. I figure this is the exploratory stage and it will help him get used to the different taste and feel. So is it 'ok' to let him try sweet potato the next day or is it better to wait a few days in between different foods?

 

[cdahlgrd]

I don't think you should be afraid to feed your child food that is healthy and prepared appropriately (ie soft cooked veggies vs. raw, etc.). Kids know what bothers them andwhat doesn't. I let my kids tell me what is ok for them. My oldest hardly ate any solids until about 2-2 1/2 (with food allergies). The twins were eating bagels at 5 1/2 months.<br><br>
Foods that might bother them taste bad, or make thier mouths feel funny, so they won't want to eat more than a bite. SO as long as you don't force them to eat foods, they should be fine. And don't be in a hurry to introduce new foods, so you can see if there any delayed reactions (diaper rash, etc.).<br><br><br>
As for jarred food, there is nothing wrong with some jarred food. It is much easier to feed a child a jar of babyfood while at a restraunt than finding OK food for them there. It is also a way to introduce foods you don't normally eat. My kids frankly hated to be fed, so I used very little.<br><br>
As for table food, when my kids reach for the food off my plate, I let them have most everything except things that are hard to chew or could be a choking hazzard. My kids love greens, frozen peas and carrots (yes, right out of the bag), frozen fruits, toast, crackers (you can get gluten free), etc. All of my kids think broccli is the best treat in the world and prefer it to ice cream. So don't let your tastes influence your child's too much. Let them try things, they will suprise you.<br><br>
So, look at your child. Is she trying to get the food off your plate and eat it? Or is she completely oblivious? Let her tell you what she needs.

 

[BlueStateMama]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">So is it 'ok' to let him try sweet potato the next day or is it better to wait a few days in between different foods?</td>
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Well, with my first I was really careful and didn't try new foods too close together - I'd write it on the calendar and let 4 days to a week go by...<br><br>
With DD, I was pretty relaxed about it (with no ill effects.) I think if you're just starting to road-test some of the more allergenic foods (wheat, soy, dairy, strawberries, eggs, etc - obviously we're talking about an older baby) then I'd be more cautious to isolate those foods to watch for a reaction (esp. if you have a history of food allergies.) With foods like banana, avacado, sweet potatoes and the like though? I think you're OK just giving them. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">