Now that Joseph has turned one years old, so many things about him have changed. It has been amazing to watch him develop and change so quickly, but in a way it has been overwhelming for a first time mom. Not all the changes have been confusing, for example, he is getting so close to walking and he is so proud of himself because of it. I just love hearing him giggle when he is walking around the table or couch. He is much more independent now that he is more mobile. This independence leads me to the challenge I am facing and I am hoping some of you moms can provide some helpful advice that may make this transition easier for all of us :).
While we were in Washington, Joseph got sick. At the same time he decided he was a big boy and no longer wanted to be spoon fed. I was frantically trying to figure out what to feed him because I had not mentally prepared for this change. I know it seems silly, but I just hadn't thought through this to make sure he was getting a balanced diet. I am starting to get the hang of meal times now. So far I have started feeding him:
Dry Cereal
Fruits: Banana's, grapes, applesauce (when he lets me spoon feed him)
Veggies: peas, corn, carrots
Yogurt
Cheese
Mac n cheese (although I am trying to do less of this)
I need more ideas of finger foods to give him. Any suggestions would be great.
My next problem is the transition from formula to cow's milk. I am not sure how to do this. Joseph has never been a big drinker. He never seems to be too thirsty. I give him a bottle 4 times a day and he usually takes 6oz in the morning, 3-4 oz at lunch 3-5 oz at dinner, and 6 oz before bed. I have been giving him a sippy cup since he was 8 months old, but he uses it for sips of water and when I tried to put formula/milk in it he uses it the same way, for small sips. I can't force him to drink it down. When he does this he only takes about 1 oz of milk. So my question would be, how should I a) transition from formula to cows milk, and b) how do I get him to take the sippy cup so that he will drink all his milk, and c)I am using the Nuby sippy cup, any other suggestions. Should i try a straw cup?
Thanks for helping me out.
Hey Athena!
ReplyDeleteClare seemed to have an easier time with a sippy cup that has a rubbery sippy part. We're using an avent one. I don't know what the nuby is like. Clare is also a big fan of quesadillas and burritos. Quesadillas are easy for her, you might want to try that. You could also try to help him spoonfeed himself. When Clare started wanting to be more independant she started insisiting that she feed herself, but she still let us help her. So you can let her hold the spoon/fork but just guide it towards his mouth and that might help! Another trick we started using to help Clare gain weight was giving her full fat yogurt milkshakes with strawberries etc. I also learned how to make homemade peanut butter granola bars which helped her get a lot of calories in and protein etc. Hope that helps Momma! If you want the recipe for the granola bars just let me know!!
Athena, sounds like the typical one-year-old drama - JAck did the same thing and it drove.me.nuts.!! However, he will grow out of it! We use think baby sippy cups which have a top that feels like a bottle nipple - makes the transition easier. And don't worry - my doctor just told me some kids don't drink a whole lot. Also try popsicles, especially when it is hot there! We make our own so they aren't as sugary. And yes, I agree with Val - straws are good (just don't let him walk around with it in his mouth - ask me about that later...:( They just declare their independence and want to do it themselves! Now Jack doens't care if we spoon feed him again. Hang in there!! I know a site that has good baby food suggestions - I just have to find it and I will let you know!
ReplyDeleteHey Athena, I'm always trying to find new finger food for John, so I look forward to other moms posting comments on your blog post! Here are some of the things I do for John, off the top of my head...
ReplyDeleteSnacks:
--Whole wheat ritz crackers
--Goldfish crackers
--cheese cubes
--Soft fresh fruit - strawberries, blueberries, mango, banana, kiwi...
Breakfast
--pancakes, cubed - sometimes I add almond butter to the batter and it adds more calories and flavor.
--I buy canned pears and peaches (not in heavy syrup, but in fruit juice - it's called "light") and then I slice the up so they are bit-sized. I buy the big cans and store the leftovers in the fridge.
Lunch/Dinner:
--sandwiches - use a rolling pin to flatten out the bread and I use almond butter and jelly, then cut it into cubes, I've also done this with lunch meat, thinly sliced cheese, and mayo... the possibilities are endless! =)
--I just started slicing up chicken breasts in strips and then breading them with Italian bread crumbs and baking them at 375 for about 20 min. (until cooked all the way). I do a big batch and store them in the fridge. They are a quick lunch. Cut them up and let Joey dip them in ketchup or eat plain. They're like homemade chicken nuggets!
--I second Val's quesadilla suggestion
--Mini "pizzas" with either bagels or English muffins. I use pasta sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake them in the oven or toaster oven if you have one. Cube and serve(One of John's favs!)
--Real pizza - we have homemade pizza every Saturday night and John is always a fan - he especially loves when I put olives on it.
PS. The pizza cutter will be your new best friend! It makes cutting any food into bit-sized pieces quick and easy!
Hope that helps!!
You've had some great food suggestions. I would also suggest vienna sausages they're like a hot dog, but extremely soft and mushy. I also would make grilled cheese sandwiches and cut it up into bite size pieces (and yes I too used a pizza cutter). I also cut up mini pizzas and chicken nuggets (although I did minimize this) Pretty much all fruit and veggies. They can eat almost any veggie as long as its steamed or boiled. One of Ava's favorite foods at about this age was waffles. I would have her dip it in yogurt vs syrup. I would also cut up lunch meat, cheese and then give her crackers to make her own little lunchable. You will be surprised by how much of what you eat they will eat, like spaghetti, lasagna, tuna casserole, etc. Just cut it all up small and give him double the amount you think he should eat because you know half of its going on the floor. I always use whole wheat as much as possible with cooking, noodles, rice, bread, crackers.
ReplyDeleteI also second the soft rubbery nipple type sippy. I used that for Ava and Katrena also if has a hard time with the switch itself because of the taste do it slowly like 4 oz formula or breast milk and 2 oz whole milk, keep changing it until you are strictly whole milk.
The most important thing is just enjoy every minute of it. He will be fine nutrient wise and remember they don't need as much food as we think they do.
I give Graesen whatever I am eating and have since he was about 9 months old. I just cut it up super small. He wanted to feed himself, and so I decided to just go with it and give him that bit of independence. Graesen only has two teeth, but as long as it is cut up small enough, he does fine. It has made my life so much easier to do this. I can give him his lunch and am free to eat mine beside him, or do dishes while he eats.
ReplyDeleteFor a while I was worried about Graesen getting enough, but I was told by more than one person that babies are better than adults at self-regulating their food intake. They will eat when they are hungy and stop when they are not.
Hey Athena, so cool how many ideas and suggestions there are! Lots of support :)
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Janelle in, we gave both of them whatever we were having for lunch/dinner most of the time and just cut it up into small bite sizes. Much easier! But if you have the time, I occasssionaly give the boys, chicken nuggets cut up, banana (actually a half of one and they can hold it and eat it at their pace-they loved this), goldfish, cheese cut up, ritz crackers, strawberries cut up, blueberries, green beans cut up, CORN (they love this), sometimes dry cereal (kix), pretty much whatever as long as it's bite size for them. You are a GREAT mama, and this time shall pass, and you'll have another little one and be much more laid back about everything :)
As far as sippy cups/formula go, I never used formula, and they went right to whole milk about 10-11 months (dr. said it was fine), and never used bottles...sooo I say, maybe giving Joey the sippy cup with whole milk as the only option and if he's thirsty he'll drink. You could just try that out and see how it goes for a morning or something? Good Luck! It'll be fine!
One thing that really helped us was to let Elena hold a spoon and then feed her with a second one. That way she could play and learn with the food, but we could still feed her like normal.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you got some amazing food suggestions! Elena's been something of a picky eater, so we're still working on conquering this list everyone gave. Bizzarely, though, she loves broccoli as a finger food... you never know with kids! :)