Baby's First Food

I had been equally looking forward to and dreading this moment. The moment that my baby takes in nutrients from a source other than me. Sure sure, it's not until about a year old that baby's main calories and nutrition will come from food rather than milk, but still, it was one of those big moments where you realize your little guy is growing up!

Because I'd heard about the recent studies suggesting starting solids prior to 6 months increases the child's risk of developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, eczema and celiac disease. So I held off, despite one of our doctor's trying to persuade us to start solids at 4 months (story on that here). I waited until after getting the green light from another doctor at our 6 month visit. She suggested starting with orange vegetables, a new one every 3-5 days, and then green vegetables, then fruits. No idea where the color idea came from, but sounded like a reasonable and doable approach.

Leaving the doctor's office I was all pumped - "Yay you're gonna have real food and it's going to be fun!!" but then faced with a big decision... to make or to buy the food. I knew I wanted to go organic. That was all I knew. I headed to the grocery store and they had a pitiful selection of single ingredient organic baby food. Most were mixed like green peas and brown rice, and I didn't want that. I found an Earth's Best Carrots and the ingredients were: organic carrots, water. Literally. That's it! Some of the other brands had fish oil (what?? seriously??), ascorbic acid, etc. Remembering a friend who's baby took weeks (months?) of introducing solids before he would actually eat anything, I wasn't really looking forward to making a big ol' batch of baby food myself (pumping milk, steaming the veg, blending it all together, freezing in little ice cub trays), so buying one little bottle of food to try for now seemed justifiable (oh no, have I just entered the rabbit hole of buying pre-made baby food??).

We waited until Daddy's next day off to start the adventure of solids as a family, which happened to be the Fourth of July. God baby strapped into his high chair, bib on, tray snapped on and "WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" oops, guess it was milk and nap time! I ordered "Abort Abort" as I had read it's not good to try food when they're cranky, so I fed him the tried and true way and he went down for a nap. Later that day we gave it a go and this time we had a happy baby on hand.

Mommy was the feeder, daddy was the photo/videographer. The first couple of teeny tiny bites went right in and down. I was surprised he wasn't spitting it out! I read about the "tongue push reflex" and when they're ready they will swallow rather than push the food out of their mouths, so I guess he was ready! But after a couple of tastes he started making a "yuck" face and wouldn't take any more. I wasn't expecting him to down the whole jar, and I call our first go at solids a huge a huge success.

I did find my mother's DNA coming out in me as I instinctively scraped baby's chin after each bite and the second he got something on his hand or cheek I wiped it away with a wet wash cloth. Sure sure I know it's probably good for his development to play with the food, but not good for my sanity!! I have friends who have to take a shower with their baby after each meal. Seriously? Must be hilarious and a great photo opp to let them go to town and get avocado goop all over themselves and the kitchen once or twice, but 3 times a day? I'm just not down with that, yet. I know there will come a day when I can't easily control it, and hopefully I'll just be able to let loose and deal with the cleanup afterwards. But right now, a simple swipe and wipe is all it took and everyone stayed nice and clean :) On a side note, we don't have AC and it's in the 90's here this week. Sorry, I will do whatever it takes to avoid any unnecessary housework this week!

For curious minds, his next poo was slightly orange. Haha! Funny how even the littlest bit of non-milk can effect the poo! I gave him his 2nd "meal" the following night and he got about the same amount in, just a couple of teeny tiny spoonfuls. I did try it myself, and had to coerce hubby to try it as well. I think it tastes just like tomato soup rather than carrots. Not exactly "Oh yum give me more", nor should it be with no added salt or sugar, but definitely not bad at all!

Would love to know what food you introduced first to your little one, and how the experience went!! Are you a purely DIY or Pre-Made jar baby food feeder? I'll probably do both... from a jar is just so easy, and if you can get it on sale it's probably cheaper (or close enough) than making it yourself, and if you get the right organic brand without all the added unnecessary stuff, what's the harm right?? Haha does it sound like I'm trying to justify it to myself or what!?

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