Search Results for: blog 5 cultural myths about starting solids

Introducing Solids Part I

I had a plan. I was going to try to wait until my daughter was closer to a year to introduce solids into her diet. I felt like I forced my son into eating solids before he was ready. Even though he ate most of the baby foods that I made for him, he never really showed an interest. When he did start to really want foods, he only wanted foods that had a smooth texture, like the purees I made him. Regardless of when my daughter started eating solids, I had decided that I am not going to puree … Continue reading →

Myth: Your Baby Will Sleep Longer If You Feed Her Solids

If your baby has been having a hard time sleeping through the night, you’ve probably had more than one well-meaning person tell you to add cereal to your baby’s bottle or start solids. “Think about it, it’s hard to sleep if you’re hungry,” they’ll say. There are several problems with this myth however. First of all, there is no evidence that solids increase a baby’s total sleep. They may fall asleep a little quicker if they are stuffed, but babies wake up for many reasons which have more to do with their biological clocks than their tummies. The circadian rhythms … Continue reading →

Two Tricks for Feeding Solids to Twins

This is not really a blog on the what, and when of starting solid foods. I’ve written several articles on starting solids with babies and I’ve linked them below. That aspect of starting solids is no different than starting with a singleton. However, when you have twins, you quickly learn that you need an extra set of hands that are frequently not available. You need one hand to feed one infant, another hand to feed the other, and a third hand to wipe up the ensuing messes. Since I have yet to meet a three handed woman, I thought I’d … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Extra Water for Breastfed Babies?

The question: It is so hot here, I think it was over 100 degrees yesterday. I breastfeed my 2 month old daughter. My mother in law told me that it was so hot I should give her some extra water out of a bottle to make sure she doesn’t get dehydrated. What is your opinion? My opinion is that your dear mother in law is operating on information that was taught to breastfeeding moms decades ago. You absolutely should NOT give your breastfeeding infant (especially if he’s feeding on demand) water unless it is directed by a pediatrician on a … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: What Solids Should I Avoid?

Question: My baby seems to have a sensitive stomach. He seems to react to foods that even I eat. He is 4 months old and I want to start him on solids soon but I’m not sure which solid foods will make him constipated or irritate his stomach. Any advice? I think that as parents we spend most of our time with our babies feeding them. I can think of nothing else that takes up as much time as does feeding. Consequently we also spend the most time worrying and wondering about the how, what, when, etc. of starting solid … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Tips on Making Baby Food

Good morning readers! I am introducing a few new categories here in the baby blog. The first, is ‘Ask a Baby Blogger’. We bloggers love questions, especially ones that gives us blog fodder! So if you have a question, feel free to comment or leave either Heather or I a private message and we’ll try to answer as best as we can! Our first ‘Ask a Baby Blogger’ question has to do with making baby food. I am trying to make my infant’s baby food. I used the blender method but it came out all goopy. What did I do … Continue reading →

5 Cultural Myths About Starting Solids

Believe it or not, much of what we do as parents, is culturally dictated. If we lived in another part of the world, we may not use diapers or cribs. We may walk around with our babies strapped to our backs or even breastfeed not only our own children, but our neighbor’s as well. So it is also with starting solid foods. When the twins were ready to start solids, it pained me to feed them jarred food. It’s different when you’re feeding one baby (or at least it was for me) but with two, I just watched the money … Continue reading →

Toddlers and Grossology

I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on all things baby. I mean really, it’s hard to have 5 kids and not know at least something right? I have studied breastfeeding research ad nauseum, am current with AAP guidelines (even the ones I disagree with), and even know a fair amount of psychology and child development. . .but one thing eludes me still. Why are toddlers fascinated with all things that are gross? One might say, they are fascinated with their own bodies and well, our bodies do produce gross things now and then. But having five children in the house, I … Continue reading →

Does Your Baby Have a Food Allergy?

I am writing this in part because I’ve heard countless mothers say that their baby is allergic to their breast milk because the baby is spitting up and in part because I think many people fail to understand food allergies and babies and how the whole ‘solid foods’ thing works in general. So consider this a primer on recognizing food intolerances in your baby. Breast Milk and Allergies It is virtually impossible to be allergic to breast milk. Some babies are sensitive to things that mom eats–the most common culprit being cow’s milk protein. However, actually physically being allergic to … Continue reading →

Gerber Cereal Causes Choking?

I am partly using this blog to inform those of you who read it, that Gerber has recalled its organic rice and organic oatmeal because of a potential choking hazard. Apparently some of the cereal doesn’t dissolve in milk or water. However, there are literally hundreds of recalls on products that are pertaining to babies and I cannot possibly write about them all. I admit I have an ulterior motive here and that is to talk about, once again, old school vs. current research on feeding your baby solids. Gerber is essentially covering their all important back side to avoid … Continue reading →