BR: question for moms w/babies on solids

mrspresley

we are getting ready to start solids with miss A next month so I was starting to look at different spoons... I didn't realize there were so many out there....who knew I'd have to do research on spoons of all things! LOL

so I thought I'd turn to those w/experience and see what you like best do you have a favorite brand/type of feeding spoon? seems they come in all shapes and colors!

MrsZiz

We use the Gerber ones. I like them best because the "spoon" part is covered with a thick soft rubbery coating. They are also thin as far as the width goes.

My SIL used these other plastic ones and hated them she said she felt like they were big and they were really hard.

On a side note, Bella gagged a LOT when we first started solids because the texture was completely different not to mention the method of feeding. It took a bit for her to get used to moving the food to the back of her mouth and actually swallowing it. At first we ended up with more on her bib than in her belly! Now she mostly does fine, unless it's green veggies. She hates green veggies. However when we give her orange veggies (sweet potatoes and carrots) she opens her mouth really wide and you can't shovel it in fast enough! We also make our own babyfood and it's so easy and so much cheaper.

Good luck, can't wait to hear how A does and what she likes and dislikes.

Married2MrWright

not there yet, we'll start in July...but the more I look into it, the more I think we're going to do Baby-led Weaning (BLW) where you don't use pureed foods and let baby feed themselves with their hands...

http://www.baby-led.com/

 

mie

We use Gerber and Munchkin spoons.  I like the Gerber spoons because they're soft and not too wide.  The Munchkin spoons are similar to the Gerber spoons, but they change color if the food is too hot.

MauiMary

I just picked up those disposable spoons "Take and Toss".  I like them because they're small and come in a ton of fun colours.  I have some other ones, but I find I use these most often.   He's been on solids for about 6 months now, and seems to like them.  We're working now on holding the spoon and not launching the food to the wall.  LOL  

And as others have said, takes time for the gag reflect to settle down. So just take it easy.  I found that butternut squash, sweet potato, carrot were all nice things to start with.  And if you can, make your own food - so much healthier AND you can make a ton of it and freeze it  

mrs.winter

MauiMary:

I just picked up those disposable spoons "Take and Toss".  I like them because they're small and come in a ton of fun colours.  I have some other ones, but I find I use these most often.  

And as others have said, takes time for the gag reflect to settle down. So just take it easy.  I found that butternut squash, sweet potato, carrot were all nice things to start with.  And if you can, make your own food - so much healthier AND you can make a ton of it and freeze it  

Ditto the spoons and making your own baby food. I just tried to do a chicken recipe but he had a major gag reflex.  I just bought my first jarred food of Chicken and Rice by Earth's Best and he loved it.

vanceandlori

I use any kind of baby spoons. We have the take and toss and a few others. Our pedi. told us to start with the most disgusting vegetable you can think of and work from there ... the logic being if you start with something sweet like fruits or whatnot, they won't want to eat vegetables like peas and green beans later on. I don't necessarily think that's true, but it's what our pedi. said

MrsZiz

vanceandlori:

I use any kind of baby spoons. We have the take and toss and a few others. Our pedi. told us to start with the most disgusting vegetable you can think of and work from there ... the logic being if you start with something sweet like fruits or whatnot, they won't want to eat vegetables like peas and green beans later on. I don't necessarily think that's true, but it's what our pedi. said

We started with peas because I figured they weren't as sweet as other veggies, she refused them all 3 days! We also tried green beans and she took one bite and gagged! She seems to really dislike green veggies and we've attempted reintroducing them several times!

 We're going to start meat dishes next week. I've head they can be difficult to make so time will tell! 

Mrs.HulaHunnie

We use many different types. We started out with the take and toss ones and love them. When we're out and about and she drops them we just throw them away. Ditto with the take and toss containers too. We just started using the Nuby ones and like them too. We started with the yellow/orange veggies first (carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes) then greens and then veggies. Then we went into the meats mixed with cereal. She loved it and here we are at 10 months and she REFUSES baby food, she much rather feed her self finger foods. Cut up chicken, pancakes, turkey, and so much other things. It's cool to see her feed herself..

myday1708

We also use the Gerber ones, but only because I had a coupon. At first I got a pack of 4 plastic ones from Playtex but they have a weird shape and the handles are weighted so they tip out of the jar. 

Wait until you have to "research" which sippy cup to buy! ;-P 

MrsZiz:

On a side note, Bella gagged a LOT when we first started solids because the texture was completely different not to mention the method of feeding. It took a bit for her to get used to moving the food to the back of her mouth and actually swallowing it. At first we ended up with more on her bib than in her belly! Now she mostly does fine, unless it's green veggies. She hates green veggies. However when we give her orange veggies (sweet potatoes and carrots) she opens her mouth really wide and you can't shovel it in fast enough! 

THIS exactly. LOL! Alexa LOVES carrots and sweet potatoes. She hates the peas! She has also decided she doesn't much care for rice cereal or oatmeal anymore, so I sprinkle the rice cereal flakes into her jars of food so she can get the iron.

About texture... I have found that she tends to react almost more to texture than to taste. Thinner is better. Thick stuff gets stuck in her mouth and comes back out because she still isn't quite sure how to handle it.

Oh, we use Earth's Best. I got a veggie starter pack and a fruit starter pack from Diapers.com. I am going to attempt to make some smashed avacado this weekend!!

A woman from my mom's group recommended the book "Super Baby Food," which has detailed information about feeding and also a bunch of recipes (although the author can be quite granola at times...)

HTH and good luck! Best advice from another mom: Let the baby be messy! They like to touch the food, hold their own spoon, stick their fingers in their mouth... It's all part of exploring and learning. They will be messy anyway, so if you just let loose it'll be more fun for you all!

Also -- Get the bibs that have plastic coating, like the ones from JJ Cole, dexbaby or Bumkins.

And -- We have a splash mat from Mimi the Sardine that we use under her feeding chair.  

We also finish each feeding session with a few "sips" of water. Doctor said this was a good idea because it helps clear the food from their mouth, kind of like brushing their teeth (she has none yet). We hold the cup and Alexa sticks her tongue in. Not sure if she actually "drinks" much, but she likes it and it's good practice. She has not gotten the hang of a sippy cup yet. :-) 

myday1708

Married2MrWright:

not there yet, we'll start in July...but the more I look into it, the more I think we're going to do Baby-led Weaning (BLW) where you don't use pureed foods and let baby feed themselves with their hands...

http://www.baby-led.com/

 

A woman in my mom's group (who is studying to become a doula) does this method. She offers large pieces of food/fruit to her son and her son loves it. That said, she does still use Earth's Best jars for when they are out of the house (like when we all went for brunch last Friday) because it's easier on the go. Good luck! I would like to hear how it goes!

Married2MrWright

For those of you mommies who plan to DIY some or all of your babyfood  ...check this out:

http://wholesomebabyfood.com/

MrsZiz

Married2MrWright:

For those of you mommies who plan to DIY some or all of your babyfood  ...check this out:

http://wholesomebabyfood.com/

I love this website! 

mrspresley

thanks ladies! we will probably do a combo of baby food and baby-led weaning... i think the rice cereal with breastmilk will help her get used to different textures...and then i'll make some of my own baby food and give her small pieces of other things as she can take them.  i can't wait to start this next phase

MrsZiz

mrspresley:

thanks ladies! we will probably do a combo of baby food and baby-led weaning... i think the rice cereal with breastmilk will help her get used to different textures...and then i'll make some of my own baby food and give her small pieces of other things as she can take them.  i can't wait to start this next phase

Can I recommend oatmeal cereal instead of rice cereal? Bella has TONS of constipation issues since starting solids and I ended up talking to our dietitian at work and thankfully she made TONS of excellent suggestions. The first thing she said to do right away was stop the rice cereal and do whole grain cereal or oatmeal cereal instead of rice because it has more fiber. She was right, it's helped and B's issues aren't nearly as bad now!