RELAX!

Isaac eating dinner


Like most new parents, I was really scared of everything when it came to Isaac. After seeing some of my friends who are "seasoned" parents with their kids, I saw how much anxiety I was creating for myself by worrying about every little rule out there in regards of child-rearing. I came to realize that raising a child is more about your "gut" than following all the rules in a guidebook. Now I'm not passing judgment on you moms and dads you follow all the rules- if that what puts you at ease- good for you! But for me, it did more harm than good!

Today I want to focus on Nutrition.

First of all- I am NOT an expert on nutrition! I just want to share my experience ;)

Isaac has been eating "solid food" (AKA pureed versions of what most adults don't eat - lol - fruits, veggies, and rice cereal) since he was about 3.5 months old. Some may say "WHAT! THAT IS TOO YOUNG!" I understand not all babies want food at 3.5 months old! At 3.5 months old Isaac already spent a lot of time in his high chair, and sat with us at dinner. He was eyeballing our food like- hmm that looks good. He sat up well with support. I figured giving him a spoonful of baby cereal and seeing how he did couldn't hurt. The first few tries he spit it out, but after he figured out how to suck it off the spoon and swallow it, he was ALL about it. "MMMMMM!" was usually how it went down. Don't be worried if your baby doesn't want to try solids until he is 6 months, 9 months, or ever over a year- Just remember its about listening to your own instincts, and paying attention to what your baby is ready for. Not all babies like rice cereal too, his pediatrician said bananas or avocados are also great first foods, so if cereal is getting rejected, try one of those!

He only ate about a tablespoon of rice cereal once a day at first. I took the advice of experts and only introduced 1 new food a week (they said every 3-4 days, but I just made it every Monday). By the time he was 6 months old he was eating solids twice a day, and had tried squash, zucchini, sweet potato, corn, green beans, peas, apples, peaches, raspberries, pears, baby rice cereal with a little apple juice or pear juice, and oatmeal.

A little while after his 6 month appointment, I let him start self feeding the rice puffs. They melt in your mouth really fast and are hard to choke on. Once he seemed to master those and start chewing a bit, I gave him cheerios, and then every night would give him a little of whatever we were eating. He sometimes coughed a little bit or had something go down the wrong tube- but he was learning to eat- in my opinion, that would be expected. Slowly he stopped wanting to be spoon fed and only wanted to self-feed. It was easy to tell when he didn't like something or was full, he would start playing with his food or spit it out.

Overall, I try to think the most natural way a baby would be raised without all the rules and regulations. I take what I learn about certain things into account, and I am cautious, but I also know that a lot of companies use fear tactics in regards to parents wanting to protect their children to sell their products, and one should keep that in mind when buying things at the grocery store. I have noticed that things designated "baby" are a lot of times exactly the same as their adult counterparts just much more expensive and in cuter containers.

I buy adult juice, I water it down usually 1 oz juice: 7 oz water. I have never bought the baby water to mix with formula. We pay for ice mountain to deliver for our water cooler- its clean, and its in a BPA- free 5 gallon REUSABLE jug. I give him adult apple sauce and yogurt- I get natural applesauce- without added sugar, and I do buy nonfat yogurt.

Isaac is now 10.5 months old. He has been weened onto 2% Cow's milk. We tried vitamin D and it was too much, he really doesn't need full fat anyway- even nonfat milk has the same amount of vitamins and minerals as whole milk- and if you check the ingredients of your regular formula- its made with nonfat milk. We weened him "early" because I saw at this point he only drinks maybe 18-20 oz of formula, and is getting most of his nutrition from food, not milk. We either buy organic milk, or milk that has not come from cows who have had the extra hormones and junk (if you are not sure, ask your retailer or email the store's president).

I posted this to share my experiences and to help others. I'm not saying that all babies are fed this way- but for you to trust your instincts over the advice of anyone! If you don't know- research and go with what feels BEST for you and your child. You know- trust yourself!