I belong to a breastfeeding community online. We’re talking the kind of community that has rules against supplementing. I’m pretty pro-breastfeeding. I was planning to wait until six months to introduce solids, which is a WHO recommendation as well as the AAP. I waited for the tell-tale signs of development that would indicate that my baby was ready.
At our six month appointment (baby was 4 months adjusted—he was born early), our pediatrician said it was fine to give him solids. I questioned him about the AAP and six months thing, but he said there was new research out that said otherwise. I should have asked him for his source. While I trust our pediatrician completely, I continued to do my own research. And I waited. And waited. Just before my little babe turned 7 months old (5 months adjusted), I decided to go ahead. He seemed interested.
And he was interested. The kid doesn’t turn any food down. I started with avocados, even though everyone and their mothers seem to think rice cereal is the way to go. I did the research and felt confident that I wasn’t going to introduce a filler for his first taste. We went on to try bananas, and then sweet potatoes. He loved both. Today we started with peas, and he was mildly interested in it. By mildly I should note that he didn’t turn down any of it, just didn’t seem as enthusiastic about tasting the food. We also tasted a bit of rice cereal, which was not a hit. I tried some too, and ew! Tasted like dog food…not that I know what dog food tastes like…but still!
I’m making all of my food. This entails trips to Whole Foods and buying expensive organic veggies and fruit for the little guy. I’m preparing them, pureeing it, and putting the food in icecube trays. Once frozen, I put them in a Ziploc bag and label them. My understanding is that the frozen food is good for about a month.
A website I highly recommend (and use like my baby food bible!) is www.wholesomebabyfood.com. It’s thorough, practical, and just overall amazing for new moms like myself. Definitely check it out. They tell you about the foods to introduce, how to prepare the food, different recipes you could use, and more!
Anyway, I’m afraid to mention anything about my baby food adventures for fear that I will get flogged in the breastfeeding community for not waiting until my baby was exactly 6 months old. But…what does that mean anyway? Do preemies count for that? I mean, he’s been getting food for quite some time (before a full-term baby would have gotten it), so does that matter? I don’t know. I shouldn’t afraid, but I am. Parenting is so stressful.
Okay, gotta go. My peas are almost done. I have to go puree them now!