We started Georgie on solids when she was about four and a half months old. It was on the early side, but she met all the pre-reqs (sitting up with assistance, strong head and neck control, watching us intently when we ate) and I just had a feeling she was ready. And my oh my, was she ever!
Her first bites were this organic oatmeal cereal mixed with breastmilk, and since we started her on the early side, we kept to that for about three weeks before introducing anything new. She got the hang of the whole eating thing really quickly (when babies aren’t ready for solids they push the food out with their tongue as soon as you put the spoon into their mouth), and it was heartwarming to see her take her first few bites.
Georgie has now had carrots, avocado, peas, apples, sweet potatoes, green beans, peaches, pears and butternut squash. Her absolute favorite is carrots (I can never get them in fast enough!) and she was pretty unsure of apples and green beans when I first gave them to her, but I kept trying (I read that it often takes five or so tries for a baby to get used to certain tastes) and on the second or third time, she had come around. This girl has quite the mature palate!
We have the Beaba Babycook Pro which allows me to easily steam and puree the food I serve to Georgie. I make big batches and freeze everything in these (the 4 oz. size) or this, so she has options for several days. The Beaba also heats and defrosts her food, so I never have to use the microwave.
We use these cute munchkin bowls and these spoons, and also have these dips for when Georgie gets a bit older and more interested in / able to feed herself.
For traveling, we have this food dispensing spoon which is the BEST! We fill it with Georgie’s puree and bring it with us when we go out to eat, so she can feel like she’s enjoying her own little restaurant meal. She loves it! We also have this silicone teething feeder which is better for a thicker puree / fruit, and apparently also great for teething – you just fill it with frozen peas or bananas and let baby go to town.
I fill Georgie’s Lollacup with a little bit of water to start getting Georgie used to a cup and straw. She sometimes gets a few sips, but mainly likes to chew on the straw and handles.
Even though I am somewhat OCD when it comes to cleanliness, I love letting Georgie make a total mess of her food. Feeling it with her fingers and moving it around on her tray helps her to learn and experience the joy of eating, and it’s so fun and adorable to watch.
Oh, and I love this book and this blog for food tips and recipe ideas!
