Potato - regular this time!

Yep.....took a break from the sweet variety and did some roast potato and roast carrot. He loved sucking the carrot but it was a little too hard to actually chew on. Wasn't so impressed with the potatoes (don't know why - they were blimmin gorgeous!) but I think it was more a case of he wasn't in the mood for food - think he's teething. Saying that he did suck some and swallow a bit I think.
He also took a couple of sips of water which he hasn't done before.

Revenge of the sweet potato!

Well - the title says it all. We have had 3 sweet potato nappies before 8 am today!! Is it sad that I was a little excited to see how much he ate! That boy can swallow some pretty big chunks of cucumber too! How do I remain so cheery at such an early start and the prolific poo production I hear you ask......well JJ slept through for only the second time ever last night ....hurrah!

More sweet potato....roasted this time!

I know .....again...... but I bough a bag of them! I am also a bit worried that I am giving JJ too many different things so though I would keep a constant (not sure why really as he seems to love it but hey-ho - I'm always worrying about something!)

Well I roasted them today in a little olive oil and it was much more successful than boiling. They had a sort of skin and that meant they stayed more in one piece and weren't crushed as easily with those chubby little hands which can squeeze very hard when he gets excited! He was able to suck/gum them for longer and enjoyed it immensely (again don't think very much was eaten but I'm pretty sure that's not the point just yet as mummy's milk is giving him all the goodness he needs still). At one point he had some in each hand and was trying to get both in at once! He also had some roasted courgette which he tried very hard with. I think I cut it too thin though and they just bent and flopped all over the place and there is only so far he can contort his neck to try and get it in before giving in and favouring the sweet potato. I may try again soon with bigger chunks.

He makes such a funny face when he actually swallows a bit - kind of like the face I pull when I have to swallow medicine...but he keeps coming back for more. Tomorrow I think I will give the sweet potato a miss and try regular potato.

If any wise BLWers read this could you tell me if you think I am introducing too many foods too quickly or not? Not sure why I have this paranoia but I do!

JJ had some sweet potato again for lunch today with some pear which I cooked a little to make it slightly soft. It didn't go down as well as yesterday though as I think he was a bit tired (had tried for 1/2 to get him to sleep but he refused!).

He really loved the pear but they are only small ones and very quickly the pieces are too small for him to eat which got him very frustrated! I did try pealing a whole raw pear and cut some notches out to help him grip. He did suck on this but was unimpressed with my notches - preferring instead to wedge it between his chest and high chair and bend down to suck. Again this led to lots of frustration for my tired little boy!

Ah well - will try again tomorrow!

Sweet potato success

Today we tried some boiled sweet potato (must dig out the steamer - lazy mummy!). It was approached with interest by JJ who was still on a high from the broccoli! He demolished lots of it although I am not sure how much was actually eaten. He does worry me as he instantly bites a bit off then shoves more in and I worry he will fill his mouth so much he won't remember to spit it out. Oh well - he survived and seemed to enjoy the experience. I also gave him a baby rice cake. This was a bit scary as it seemed to get eaten but he didn't seem to chew it! I then mushed up a bit of the potato and spread that on for him which he seemed to like (it helped it stick to his fingers so he didn't drop it!)

He also had his old favourite cucumber which he chews on mostly because it feels nice on his gums. I love the squeaky noise it makes as he chews!

I only managed one picture as the battery ran out!

Broccoli Bonanza!!!

Getting to grips....

Yummy!


The remains!!


JJ enjoyed his first taste of broccoli today - not sure who was more excited - him or me! I cooked some florets for him and some sticks of carrot. I was expecting him to munch a bit but he annihilated 3 pieces!! He loved it and ended up covered in green bobbles - at one point sporting a rather fetching broccoli beard! He loved the carrot too, although I think I should have cooked it a little more to help it mush. He did bite off a few chunks which he rolled around his mouth for a while. He had a little cough over them but spat them out quite capably so I am glad I resisted the urge to scoop them out. One thing I will have to watch is his hamster-like tendency for storing bits in his cheek for later! Me and hubby have promised to cheek-check after each meal so we don't lie him down with food in his mouth.

The clean up operation was something to behold (those who know me will know that cleaning is not my strong point - I think that will have to change!).

Oh and the banana from the other day was definitely eaten as it has made its appearance in JJ's nappies - lovely! Can't wait to see how much broccoli made it through - sad I know.
Can't wait for tomorrow lunch time!

Well...We made a start!!!

Hmmm....What's this?!

Look mum....no hands!

For about a week we have given Jacob a piece of raw apple or pear to suck on at the table with us, not to eat really but just because he was getting board of sucking his toys! He loved the taste and got really frustrated when they got slippy and fell out of his hands! A couple of days ago he started to bite chunks off. At first I leapt up like a lunatic and scooped them out of his mouth (trying to seem calm for him!). But when he had some pear the other day I decided to keep the faith and let him work out how to handle it. Well, he gave a little cough/gag and brought it into his mouth again, chewed a bit and swallowed it I think! No drama...phew. I must admit I was a bit worried but now I feel a lot better about gagging....I just need to trust my little boy.

I have been struggling as to whether to start actually giving him food to eat yet or not. He is 5 1/2 months now and isn't seeming more hungry. He still feeds as he always has done so there is no reason on that score to start. But he is so interested in food and loves sucking on the fruit and he has started biting and chewing on things rather than just sucking, and had a pincer grasp. I also read through some info on a website ( http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voedsel/rapley_guidelines.html#early)

which said:

The babies who participated in the research were allowed to begin at four months. But they were not able to feed themselves before six months. Some of the younger babies picked food up and took it to their mouths; some even chewed it, but none swallowed it. Their own development decided for them when the time was right.

So I though I would give it a go today on the spur of the moment as Jacob was getting so cross watching us eat our lunch! So we gave him some banana and some cucumber strips which he has had before to suck on. We made sure not to put it in his mouth as the guidelines say so that he could have it if he wanted and was able. Not sure if he actually swallowed anything but he definitely mushed up the banana! He kept pulling funny faces so not sure if he liked it but it kept going back in his mouth! He really loves the cucumber though! I think it feels nice and cool on his gums. He sucks the seeds and chews on it - I can hear his gums squeak against it! I will wait for the nappy tomorrow to see if any was swallowed. But he definitely enjoyed the experience and got very cross when all the cucumber was on the floor!

This is such good fun! I'm in no rush though as he is not yet 6 months and isn't starving. I think I will just give him something if he is awake when its lunchtime ( he often has his nap when I have lunch and is in bed when we eat dinner usually). I am conscious I may be doing this because I enjoy it rather than for his good so want to take it steady.