12th Feb, 2006

Solids!

We did it. And it was at least a moderate success. Sam had her first non-milk, non-formula food today! We mixed up some rice cereal with formula, and fed it to her with a spoon. A real (baby) spoon! It’s hard to tell how much she actually took, as a great deal of it landed on her bib, her clothes, her parents, her chair, her floor, etc. (Not really all that bad.) She seemed interested in it. She watched the spoon, she grabbed at it, she chewed it. I have some pictures, and a small video I’ll add when I get a chance.

Responses

How exciting.

This blog will be a really interesting resource in 10 or 20 years (not that it isn’t already).

How did you choose what solid food to start with?

The books and online resources we consulted, plus our pediatrician, recommend rice cereal for baby’s first food. It’s easily digestible, can be thinned to close to the consistency of breast milk or formula, and it’s not allergenic (the way wheat is). We bought Gerber’s single grain rice cereal (they also had barley and oat at our grocery store.)

Once Sam takes to the rice cereal the doc recommended we add stage one foods (fruits, veggies) slowly and one at a time. We’re planning on making our own versions of those with the food processor (pureed carrots, squash, etc.)

I’m glad we waited til now to introduce solids. Sam is so focused on getting things in her mouth that she opened wide for each spoonful!

Just got this email from a friend:
We have been having a bad encounter with barley cereal. New parent tip #332: don’t try new foods at night. Mom and Dad get approximately 2 1/2 hours sleep two nights in a row because Baby with the Congested Intestines is screaming all in pain.

Rice is nice. Barley is not!

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