That was a wake up call for me and I knew I needed to get him adjusted to taking a bottle. I started trying to give him a bottle at least once a day. He wouldn't budge. Between trying to potty train my daughter and bottle train my sun, I was exhausted. Both of them are extremely strong-willed and didn't want to participate in either process. My daughter was very helpful with trying to get her brother to drink from a bottle, but both of us were met with resistance. I temporarily gave up.
A few weeks ago, the process became even more challenging when he was going on another outing. I talked to his pediatrician about it and she told me that someone else would probably need to give it to him. In the midst of trying to prepare him for his day, my manual pump broke (after only a few uses). So, I had to get a quick plan B. I decided to get some soy formula from the health food store. I am not a real fan of formula (although I had to use it with my daughter; that's another story) but, I found one that had only a few ingredients. He still wasn't taking a bottle but, I figured my friend could try to give it to him while I wasn't around.
He was uncompromising. By this time, I had also tried giving him brown rice cereal. He would eat a couple spoonfuls with me but, that was it. When he was out, he ate a couple bowls! That gave me the idea that I should start trying more solid foods.
Since that time, I have tried brown rice cereal, cornmeal porridge, carrots (which he ate in the beginning but, now wants no parts of), sweet potatoes, peas, and bananas. I've tried to warm the baby food and I have given it to him at room temperature. I've tried sticking with one vegetable for the week to get him adjusted, that doesn't help. I've tried both jar food and homemade. He won't even acknowledge it most times. If I do manage to get some in his mouth, he looks like he is disgusted and starts swatting at the spoon to prevent any other sneak attacks. Did I mention that he is the strongest almost 9- month old on the planet? The only thing as of late that he successfully ate for me were prunes! He ate the smallest jar over the course of two days.
My sun is a "bubs" baby. He doesn't need anything else in the world but his milk. He savors every moment and rarely wants to part with them. And while it has been a beautiful experience, I need the flexibility of having other options. My life is getting busier and my babies are beginning to spend time in others' care more often. He doesn't seem to have the same problem with eating baby food with others but, he won't entertain the bottle or sippy cup (I forgot to mention I've tried that too). And it would be nice to have my body back, just a little. I still want to continue breast feeding, but I'd like for him to have other sources for his food intake too.
This experience has been so different than my daughter. As I said before, I had to give up (sadly) trying to breast feed her because she never latched on properly. Every transition she made in the process of getting her to eat was much smoother. And now, she can't stop eating! But, my dear sun has taken on a different approach, and I am all out of ideas.
I am turning this one to you Mamas and/or Papas, what do you suggest I do??
My intention is to really try to keep this short and simple, but since Im just a few steps ahead of you on the same journey, my experience is quite fresh. I must preface my response by saying that I'm a fan of baby led weaning and introducing anything besides the breast is the beginning of the weaning process. My daughter clearly gave me the indication that she was ready for solids around 8 months and even then it was a few spoons per day. Breastmilk is designed to meet their nutritional needs at least through the first year. Introducing solids is merely providing opportunity for babies to experience tastes and textures so quantity of food isn't as major as those 4oz jars make it seem. Also another little known fact is that the process is different for babies who are bottlefed than breastfed. I quickly realized that my exclusively breastfed daughter didn't have the ability to grasp using a utensil that she needed to turn upside down to drink from. The breasts are simple, just suck and swallow. She met using a cup or a bottle for water with resistance just as she did spoons and forks.
ReplyDeleteMy simple solutions are to offer great tasting foods. Jarred baby foods taste like crap. I know that you are skilled at making purees & don't be afraid to add simple seasonings like cinnamon. Offer foods from your finger too.
I know that we rarely think of breastfeeding as a self feeding process, but it most often is an act of the baby feeding himself. So allow him to feed himself when possible. HappyBaby makes an organic puree that comes in a pouch. It tastes amazing and he can feed it to himself by just sucking it like a smoothie. This is what I leave with grandma or use for car rides. They are least expensive at Target (.99).
Lastly if you offer anything besides your breast for drinking, do so in a way that makes it easy for him to drink independently. I use the Munchkin cup with a straw (1.97 @ Walmart).
Happy feeding...
Thank you. These are really awesome tips. And you are absolutely right, it is a totally different experience from a bottle fed baby. Originally, I wasn't in a hurry to introduce solid foods. He did seem to show interest in foods though. He would grab at mine and his sister's food all the time...he would even attack her bowl at times lol.
ReplyDeleteI like the ideas you suggested for self-feeding and it also makes me realize that he doesn't have to eat an entire serving in one sitting, which was what I was looking for. I will take my time with it now.
I definitely prefer to make my own baby food. Do you know if Sprout baby food is still sold in stores? Its made by this chef, I forget his name but, it was really good too. It used to be in Publix but, I haven't seen it. I'll try the one you suggested too.
Thanks again, sounds like it will be happier feeding.
Great, Yes sprout is sold in stores. They now carry the full line in Walmart. I like Happybaby because they offer four blends made with chia seed too.
ReplyDelete