Food Ideas - Washington,UT

Hi C.,

There is a very informative book you might want to get to reference, it is called Baby Super Food. I got a chance to use it a little later than I wanted to, but it is a great book even for feeding toddlers on.

The one bit of personal advice I can offer for the first foods would be to make a rice pablum with your breast milk.I did this first then avocados, yams, bananas, etc. The breast milk mixed in because that is what she prefers.

I hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

oh, and always offer the foods before breast feeding, that was something I used to switch around and realized how much easier it is to feed a hungry baby food when her tummy isn't full of warm milk. If she is having a hard time just nurse a little bit to get her ready to eat.

First let me say, CONGRATS TO YOU!!! not many people these days can handle having FIVE! kids. Second, I recomend telling her that she needs to eat BEFORE mommy can nurse her. Find things she does like to eat and let her eat more of it. My ped said yogurt is great for little ones. I told him my son was eating 3 WHOLE, ADULT size yogurts a day and he said that it was fine. He said it's better for them to load up on milk through things like yogurt and cheese than just to drink it all untill they're full. So maybe giving her some cheese and yogurt. We also have a 3 bites rule. My son doesn't have to eat a whole meal, but he HAS to take at least 3 bites if he wants to have anything else or to go play. So maybe tell her "Okay, mommy will give you milkies, but first you need to get 3 bites. Ready? Here comes the first bite!" Then help her count out the others. I always try to get him to eat more after we get to 3. If he's full he'll stop me, but often the first to bites were a subject of power struggle. It will get easier. (Which you probably know more than I do!) I hope you get a few more ideas. These ladies are pretty great! Take care ~J

C.,

My year old really likes refried beans and cheese on a tortilla. I just heat it all up in the microwave and use a pizza cutter to make the cuts ( a great tool for cutting tiny pieces). Have you tried soft pieces of pear (steam them up so they are nice and mushy)? My one year old likes the tofu at whole foods (or as we call it whole paycheck). It is cooked in some yummy terriyaki sauce. We have also found these frozen patties at Whole Foods by Dr. Praeger's. They come in a long rectangular box. Potato and broccoli, potato and spinach, and fish. You just heat them in the microwave and they are VERY soft. I usually heat the fish in a pan and then the breading comes off so I can just give the fish.

Hope this helps! Good luck,
K.

Hi C.!
I have a 9 mo old son that I have breast fed from birth -- and we are still going strong. He was born at 36 weeks and had a "lazy" suckle, but I luckily had access to a couple of fantastic lactation consultants. Our pediatrition is also very supportive of breastfeeding and homemade babyfood. He had us start Cameron on a lot of foods at 6 months. He goes through phases of really wanting food or only wanting to nurse. Usually though, he eats 3-4 times a day. Yesterday he refused everything on a spoon, but wanted to feed himself. Does your daughter like finger foods? Well, back to your question about recipes... I love (my husband does too)"the petit appetit" cookbook by Lisa Barnes. It is for baby to toddler years and beyond (all 5 of your children and grown ups too). The recipes are simple, and taste good -- and we are true foodies. We keep it organic for ourselves and it makes even more sense to us for our son, but I know not every one feels it is the most affordable option. I hope this helps. I got the book at Boarders, but it's online and I'm sure any bookstore can get it.
I wish you lots of luck. I only have one son, but I love knowing where his food is coming from, and that we are doing the most we can for him. He was and is our little miricle man.

Since I work in this area my first question would be why do you want to wean?

I saw only one sentence close to touching this and that was in your introduction about only bfing the last 2 children.

I would say know your facts before making your decision and why you want to stop breastfeeding

American Academy of pediatrics recomends bf is the US until the age of 1. I actually attended a conference where the person who helped pilot this recomendation gave a seminar. A female MD and LC - lactation consultant. Anyway, after lots of research the Academy of pediatrics was able to agree BUT only to a year because our culture would never even consider the world wide recommendation which is until 2 years old. And not just for culture but for strong evidence that suggests from the ages of 1 to 2 children do not eat all food groups. They get picky.

Whats my point. My point is that if you are not ready to stop bf do not let society take this wonderful and nessecary gift away from you and your daughter. Weaning actually begins the moment you offer your child something other that breast milk! Many people dont know tha fact. So breastfeeding is only recommended exclusively until the 6 month of life. Once you start offering solids the amt of breast milk they take decreases if not alot some. And that is the begining of the path to weaning.

As far as the child needing your milk, you better believe she does. As a mother starts producing less milk the calorie content and nutrients get super concentrated. In some of our testing at our clinic we have found values as high as 87 calories per oz. For an exclusive baby that stays between 25 and 30 per oz but still depends on the child. And talk about immunities. Well when your child nurses our breast are a two way street the milk comes down, the child drinks, whatever is not consumed INCLUDING saliva goes back into the areolas. Next the body gets busy making antibodies for your child.

I say all this to make sure your making an informed decision. If you want more freedom from your daughter bf has nothing to do with it. She is your daughter and you are going to want to be around her. You will miss her the same until your last day on earth and enjoy her the same. I would say...purchase a good pump like Madela or anything not created by the bottle companies to mess up bfing (gerber, etc) Go on a vacation. Doesnt have to be out of town just you time. Could be at a local hotel with store bought groceries. Have a refreshing time as long as your family and work situation allow. But pump. I know some children will not take breast milk in a bottle but this is just to keep your milk supply. Then at the end of "mommy time" (we all need it) Make your decision.

If you decide to stop bfing your 1 yr old (not wean) take one feeding away at a time and remember that its your body. She needs your milk the 1st year of life (US) after that its a privelage. End with taking away the most important feeding usually the bedtime feeding. Be stern. Make sure that in your decision you are ready to follow through because giving in can be very confusing to a child.

Anyway my thoughts.

Hi C.!
Congrats on your baby being one, my Madelyn will be there next month. I can only tell you what Madelyn does, because each child is soooo different. Even if she is full, if she sees me eating, she want's to try some of what I have. If I feel it's safe, I share with her, and it helps her to try many different things. I commend you on breastfeeding so long!!! I would still be going strong with Madelyn, but I'm pregnant again, and my dr. told me I needed to stop. I was getting so many different opinions, that I took the safe route (that was AFTER my lactation consultant told me that if my daughter had an allergic reaction to my giving her formula, that would be completely my fault. It was pretty hard to stomach hearing that from someone who knew how much stress that was putting me through). Anyway, Congrats again, and in short, offer her what you eat, as long as you thing she can chew it up well enough.

C.,
My son turned on in late febuary of this year. I know what a deal it is to get them to eat. But with that said, i would suggest you find out if she won't eat because she doesn't want to be fed or if it's because she being stuborn. I have found out that I am no longer "allowed" to help my son eat. He wants to feed himself. I feed him things like easy mac, mangerin oranges and gerber wheels and snacks. he loves them and I always eat the same thing so he gets jelouse and wants some too. I stopped feeding him in his high chair so that he could see mommy eating all her food and he does the same. It's worth a try if you don't mind a little mess around the house.

Since she probably has little or no teeth feed her things that are easy to gum. Like yogurt, soft fruit, cheese, cottage cheese. You can give her little bites of cottage cheese with a low sugar jam for a little taste. Just keep trying new things and you'll get the idea as to what she'll eat and what she can't. These are great source of protien and calcium too. Hope this helps with ideas....

Hi C.!

My son Reed is turning one on Wed. I have gotten him to where he eats all food and only has formula once a day now. I will sit him in his high chair with a handfull of fruit loops (Now he will eat cheerios which are better) I had to start with "interesting" stuff first. Once he found something he really liked, when he was hungry I would put him in his high chair and put whatever it was on his tray. Sometimes he would still cry not realizing that he could get full by eating it. After I didn't pay mind to his fits, he would start to eat whatever was there. After a while, he started to realize that the formula/milk was a drink and the stuff on his tray would make him feel better when he was hungry. It's all about transition when changing anything in their life. If they don't know any better, they have to teach themselves. Eventually, they will figure it out on their own. You just have to provide them with opportunity. ;)
Hope this helps. There are never any right answers, its all about how you feel.

Good luck!
Jenn

My Son will be one on the 30th. He is a fantastic eater and we are slowing down on the breastfeeding in lieu of whole milk at the moment.
What I found was most helpful was the super baby food book (my son actually eats pureed kale) and annabel karmel has a book called first meals. The latter book has great ideas for toddlers.
In the October 2006 issue of Parents magazine, they had 52 food ideas for your baby/toddler (pieces of mango, cut up turkey meatball, etc) and I have that taped to my refrigerator (I do well with colorful pictures).
I just made homemade turkey meatballs - turkey, carrot, zuchini, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper.
I also go to the store and try out different produce, fruits etc.
I had a nutritionist tell me that every meal should contain at least one fruit/veggie, one protein, and one grain.
Quinoa is a fantastic grain!!!
Good luck