Yesterday was the one month mark of when this little one and I embarked on the solid food train. What a ride it has been! Liv has always been a good eater (nurser, nursling, whatever). If I let her she would nurse all-the-live-long-day. Everyone that met her would tell me that she would love eating solids because she was such a hungry baby. They would tell me that she was still waking in the middle of the night because she was hungry. If only I gave her a little cereal, all would be well in our sleep deprived world. I didn't give her cereal. In fact, going completely against what my family has done with their children I waited till Liv was six months to feed her solids, and I didn't start with rice cereal.
It isn't so much my inner crunchy momma that believes this, it is my logical side that believes a baby's digestive system simply isn't mature enough for solids before the six month mark So, we waited. Right around her six month birthday, I started to realize that whenever I'd eat something Liv would stare it down like it was the most delicious thing her little eyes had ever seen (it was, she just didn't know it). There were a couple of times she would reach for my food. So, I thought, perfect, little miss sassy pants is ready!
And, she was. Till she wasn't. We started out with avocados and breastmilk. She loved it! We did the whole 3-4 days waiting period before transitioning to the next food. I thought to myself, she is a natural, she's got this. Then we tried zucchini; she hated it. Then we tried white sweet potatos; she hated it. Then we tried broccoli; she hated it. Then we tried bananas; she hated it. And the drama began.
From that moment on she would associate the spoon and the bowl with something she didn't like. So, little miss sassy pants would clamp her mouth shut and refuse to eat as soon as she would see me bring the bowl out. When I would get close to her mouth with the spoon she would scream. Instead of being a fun adventure it was frustrating and exhausting to try and feed her. I was upset, she was upset; it just wasn't working. Somehow I had failed as a momma, or so I thought. Why wouldn't she eat? All the food was homemade with care and love. Yet, every time I tried to feed her she would cry. I cried too. After a particularly trying Sunday I sat on my kitchen floor and had a meltdown. Liv just stared at me smiling as she held her spoon (empty, of course). I felt defeated. I read blogger after blogger gush about how their babies were great eaters. It just seemed that everyone around me had a baby that loved solids immediately (Or so they say). What had I done wrong? What was I doing wrong? Felipe assured me that everything was going to be okay. Eventually she would want to eat. He reminded me that Liv is on her own schedule. And, finally, I agreed. So, we took a break.
Five days later I tried again. This time it was roasted blueberries with cinnamon. And, wouldn't you know it, she ate them, tear free! So, then I mixed blueberries with bananas, oatmeal and bananas, oatmeal and blueberries. She ate them all! Fast forward to quinoa and raspberries, and the drama ensued once more. Girlfriend just knows what she wants, and it isn't quinoa.
Now, I feel better. If she doesn't eat what we try, it's okay, we can try again tomorrow. I read that,"Food before one is just for fun!" So, we will keep experimenting with new things, new ways, and see how it goes. Just know that if you are experiencing the same thing, YOU AREN'T ALONE! And as my husband reassured me, "Don't worry, she's not going to be asking for your boob at five." Let's hope not!
xx
Renata
Aw you poor thing. Every milestone comes with challenges, but it sounds like you have the right attitude about it! Good luck mama!
ReplyDeleteExactly! She has her own timeframe for doing things. I've discovered she is a lover of blueberries. Add blueberries to anything and she will gobble it up. Thank you!
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