On December 31, 2011, I planned a very exciting way to ring in the new year. I decided that I would begin feeding my (almost) 6 month old son solid food. Let me rephrase that, I would "offer" him solid food.
For weeks, he had been watching us eat meals at the dinner table, seemingly interested in the rituals of breakfast, lunch and dinner. I caught him making chewing movements, several times. He had been grabbing toys and attempting to swallow them whole for at least one (1) month already. The boy was hungry!
So, on NYE I offered him 2 organic steamed carrots - whole.
Within seconds of the carrots being placed on his highchair tray, he grabbed one and shoved it into his mouth. I thought, "ok, this could work!"
I had done my research and read all the important resources for parents interested in offering their children solid foods, baby led weaning (blw) style, but I was hesitant. I still hadn't gotten around to officially attending an infant CPR course (though I watched numerous videos online) and I was nervous that he would choke. I am sure this thought has crossed the minds of all parents that opt for this feeding method - probably with regard to any feeding method. After all, I had seen my son choke on breast milk before.
Nevertheless, I offered my son his first meal. He LOVED it.
He had an indescribable level of concentration as he held the carrot in his mouth and gnawed. And, he actually smiled, as if to say, "Mom, this is exactly what I've wanted all along."
Did he gag? Yes, twice. But that just reassured me that, instinctively, he knows what to do to avoid the real dangers of choking.
At one point he dropped his food and got UPSET! He wanted it back, immediately, and let me know it. Once I returned the dropped food to his tray, he was back into full concentration mode.
This week, he has LOVED almost every meal. A success is indicated with an (s) and a failure by an (f). They were as follows:
Day 1 - Dinner: 2 organic steamed carrots (s);
Day 2 - Dinner: 2 organic steamed carrots (s);
Day 3 - Dinner: 2 organic steamed carrots (s);
Day 4 - Dinner: 1 raw haas avocado (s);
Day 5 - Dinner: 1 raw haas avocado (s) and 1 banana (s);
Day 6 - Lunch: 1 banana (s); Dinner: Mango (partial s - was not soft enough, but he enjoyed
the taste) , banana (s), & green beans (f)
Day 7 - Lunch: 1 banana (s); Dinner: Zucchini (f) & green beans (f)
Is it messy? Yes. Is it amazing to watch? You betcha.
Did he take to everything? No. Will I repeat failed attempts? You betcha.
At one point, my Sister in Law conducted an experiment (Day 6 at Lunch). She offered him the banana, in her hands, for him to eat. He declined.
The whole point of this method is to hand over the reins and allow your baby to control what goes into his mouth. After watching him eat this past week - I am a full believer.
And folks....we are off to the races!
