16 April 2013

Eating Solids

Update: We want to extend our sincere condolences to the people of Boston and everyone affected by yesterday's bombing.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
This is an example of what baby-led weaning looks like.
While my mom has been busy traveling around Vermont and stocking up on penny candy at the Vermont Country Store, we've been exploring the world of solid foods with Rainier.  It doesn't take long as he doesn't seem to like food.  He will look at the food, open his mouth, and then make a horrible face once he realizes what happened to land on his tongue.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  There are a couple of notable exceptions - he loves apples when he can gnaw on the whole apple, and he really enjoys orange slices.  He hates liver.  On the other hand, he seems way too interested in coffee and alcoholic beverages for a kid his age.  We are taking the French approach with these beverages and waiting until he is at least a year before introducing them.

There are a million books out there on how to feed your kid, what to feed them, when to feed them, how to let them feed themselves, what not to feed them, when not to feed then, when you should not let them feed themselves, and what it is they shouldn't be feeding themselves.  While it makes it a difficult subject matter to research, I do find the amount of dissension reassuring.  You can find an expert who will agree with you no matter what your philosophy.  And maybe there is no perfect way to start solids that works for every child.

Even though Rainier isn't that interested in real food yet, we sit down and try various foods each day.  I want him to get familiar with the different tastes and textures, and enjoy sitting at the table and sharing a meal with mama and papa.  I tried baby-led weaning, which as far as I understand it involves putting baby size bits of food in front of the baby and letting them feed themselves.  The idea is the kids eat when they are ready, and can choose to eat what they want.  (I haven't read the book.)  This approach hasn't worked for us so far, as Rainier grabs most of the food and throws it on the floor or smashes it into the table.  After this happened a few times, it began to feel wasteful.  I'm not opposed to using this approach in the future - but right now it's not working for us.

So that's where we are at for now.  If anybody has any advice or suggestions, or just wants to share how you started feeding solid food to your baby, I would love to hear it.

Rainier and his cousin Rowan.

My dining partner.


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