Question re: solid food for babies

[ElsaVonM]

I don't know why this is stumping me, but I have a feeling it's something you more-experienced moms can answer easily. 

The babies are 9 months old now and we started them on solids at 6 months. We've been introducing things slowly because of Jen's food allergies (she is both gluten and lactose intolerant, though thankfully not celiac). We've also been lazy about ramping up the amount of solids we give them, and we're still doing the same once-per-day that we were when we started. The pureed food is so freaking messy, and I think that's why I'm kind of lagging - the cleanup seems to take forever even when I use huge bibs and roll up their sleeves, etc. So I'm trying to think of NON-pureed foods they can safely (and less messily) eat at this age, so we can do the veggie purees once a day and something else for the other meal(s). Mister Baby has 6 teeth and Lady Baby has 4. This is what we've done so far:

Banana and avocado pieces rolled in rice cereal for easy pick-up
Cheerios
Tiny pieces of chicken (Mister Baby did great with this, Lady Baby just gummed it and spit it out)
Those Baby Mum-Mum crackers (rice husks)

What else can I try? And/or is there any way to make feeding puree less messy at this age, or do I just have to suck it up? 

[mk]

Baby S HATES purees. We just can't get past it! We found he would much rather eat food that he can pick up and chew. So, we give him the following: smashed beans, avocado, bananas, those organic veg/fruit puffs, rice, any veggies that are cooked enough that he can mash them with his non-toothy mouth. I love that they aren't quite as messy as purees. I have SO MANY tiny bottles of purees that I don't know what to do with now, though. Think I can bake them into bars or something? Like, instead of applesauce? Probably!

[quinny]

Noah loved steak tips. Like a big chunk he could hold into an gnaw on, as gross as that sounds he also loves rice with veggies (like carrots and peas small and really soft) but that might be tough until they are better pinchers. Potato wedges, pasta, macaroni, grapes and blueberries cut up, toast squares lightly buttered, scrambled eggs. Also you could try giving them the purée pouches to hold and suck on. Noah loves to suck from them. Occasionally he squeezes it but surprisingly not that often. He's eated what we eat, modified, since 6 months. He had Indian food at 6.5 months, mildly spicy and loved it. K had a hard time getting over the fear of him choking but it never really worried me so I was in charge of feeding him.

They say introducing them to a big variety of food young helps them develop a wide interest but that didn't happen with N. he ate everything in the beginning and is now the pickiest eater, ever.

MK you can make toddler muffins with the purées. I found this recipe but haven't tried it yet. Apparently there are a lot on Pinterest too.

m.allrecipes.com/recipe/219330/toddler-muffins

[quinny]

Also people on my BMB make their own pouches. We use them to get him to eat veggies. He wont eat them from me, but hand him a pouch and he sucks it down. I can't imagine how to make pouches but your so crafty you should figure it out no problem
Here he is around 6-7 months with a steak tip and a pouch. Sorry if these are huge (or don't work) I'm on my phone.

[twotrue]

We did blw so purees were really limited. Things I seem to recall dd liking were veggie patties, polenta, cheese, eggs, pastas, etc.

sent by phone

[2brides]

Feb 8, 2013 8:29:52 GMT -5 quinny said:

They say introducing them to a big variety of food young helps them develop a wide interest but that didn't happen with N. he ate everything in the beginning and is now the pickiest eater, ever.

Amen. The kids ate all kinds of things until age 3y. And then it has gone to hell in a hand basket for Carter. Gray is still willing to try things, but Carter's tastes are so limited. It drives L nuts - but really, she isn't one to talk since she has a litany of foods she won't eat.

[tattooedmeegs]

Honestly, let them try any fruit or veggie. We did BLW with Gwen, so we skipped purees completely and just gave her the food whole. Roasted carrots and green beans were big favorites.


This was at 6 months.

[ct]

by 9 months I'm pretty sure my girls were eating everything (except honey and PB, we waited on those until a year). If you dont like purees, ditch 'em! but i have to warn you...regular food is not much cleaner for at least another year

[2brides]

Feb 8, 2013 11:32:04 GMT -5 ct said:

but i have to warn you...regular food is not much cleaner for at least another year

LOL. I was thinking the same thing. Purees were so much cleaner than a baby trying to feed themselves spaghetti!

[seattlekari]

Ditto the others...lots of soft fruits and veggies in small pieces, small pasta shapes, the organic puffs for snacks (E loved those), soft cheese in small bites, smashed beans for some protein, eggs. I hear you on the purees, they are a pain, but yes, expect messy eaters for a while...dogs are good to help with the cleanup.

[ElsaVonM]

Knew you guys would help! Thank you for all the ideas. I'm ready to be more adventurous. Trying cheese is next.