Cooper's First Week of Some Real "Food"

After we went to the doctor last week and got the ok to start trying some solid foods, we all went to the grocery store to stock up on a few essential items. Rice cereal, baby food, and little bitty spoons. I'm really wanting to try making our own baby food... I don't think it'll be that hard, but I'm also impatient and really wanted to go ahead and try some with him. So, we bought a few jars to get us started. We also got a little bottle of baby apple juice (I'm still trying to figure out what the difference is other than it is way more expensive!) because he was a little constipated and the doc suggested a little bit of juice to help with that.

Day 1
Tuesday night was the big night. I followed the directions exactly for starting with an infant. I mixed one tablespoon of rice cereal with 3-4 tablespoons of breastmilk. I was so focused on following the directions that it did not occur to me that this was going to make the cereal more like milk than a solid. By the time I realized, it was to late and I wasn't going to waste my precious liquid gold so we gave it a try.

I tried it at first with the spoon. The first bite was hilarious. He was all excited with his mouth open and arms and legs kicking. But he is always putting things in his mouth these days. When he got the first taste, he started making this smacking face and scrunching up his nose. He took a 2nd bite and the same thing happened. By the third bite he was over it and looking at me like "what in the world is this stuff woman". He turned his head and closed his lips together. Never seen him do that before! I tried a couple of times but he was not having it and started fussing and crying.




I didn't want to make him, so we stopped. I really didn't want to waste my liquid gold so I thought I'd try it in his bottle just to see. I mean it was that thin! He got a little bit in his mouth and got the same look of "you are one crazy momma if you think I'm falling for this". He closed those lips and turned his head and was having no more of that stuff. A couple minutes later, he burped and spit up most of the cereal.

Sadly I had to pour the rest of it out because the directions clearly say to discard after use. And I won't take chances when it comes to little man. Not to mention he hated the stuff!

Day 2
I tried a little bit of the apple juice but watered it down for him. I gave him the bottle and he took a little sip and then made the funniest face. I'm sure it was super sweet and strange tasting to him. He would not take any more of the juice! Thankfully, we ended up not really needing it.

I learned my lesson and added just a little bit of milk mixed with the rice cereal. It was much thicker, more like a puree than a liquid. Last night I had him in the bumbo on the table, but tonight we tried it in his little rocker and I think that helped. He seemed to do a little better in that seat. He ate a couple bites and actually swallowed! It took him a few tongue smackings but he did much better. He probably got about a 1/2 tablespoon worth of the cereal down before he was over it. No crying tonight though. He did make some pretty funny faces with the new weird texture. He smacked and wrinkled up his face.

Day 3
Did great with the thicker cereal. He was actually opening his mouth for me! He ate about a tablespoon worth and it only took us about 20 minutes.

Day 4
We went out for a little shopping for the Cooper, played at the Apple store, and then went to dinner. Cooper slept through most of it, but woke up as soon as we got home. He knew it was time for a little more of that yummy rice cereal. I got him set up and he went to town. He showed off how good he's been doing for his Daddy. He was still opening his mouth for me most of the time and even made a couple of his funny little faces for us. He ate about another tablespoon worth tonight.





Day 5
One more night of the rice cereal just to give little man a little more practice before trying some baby food. He did great again! Ate about 2 tablespoons worth and even opened his mouth up for me!

Day 6
We started with a green vegetable... peas. I kept him in his little rocker since he's been doing well with that. He was not really a fan of them at first. He did his lip smacking and scrunching up his face and looking at me like I'm crazy! But he still ate about an ounce of the jar before he was done.



Day 7
I warmed up a little more of the peas and he ate all of them and acted like he wanted more. So I fixed the rest of the jar for him and he ate all of it too! Such a good little eater!

Day 8
He ate a whole jar (2.5oz) of peas! He actually only got fussy in between bites. He saw me with the bowl and spoon and he started getting excited. When I'd take the spoon away to get a little bit more he was twisting toward me and fussing until I got the spoon back out for him. I'm so proud of my little man! Tomorrow... on to sweet potatoes or carrots.


Bonus... A really long video for those who are just dying to see little man eating his peas for the first time!