[twoboys]

William is almost 100% eating the same food as me and Jack! He hates being spoon fed, will refuse to eat peas and carrots, however, given them in edible pick up form and he shovels them in So I am not wasting money on baby food anymore! He is a pasta eating maniac!!

[MamaCGE]

That's impressive! My daughter doesn't have any teeth, so we're still working on the mushy spoon-fed foods.

[megpie]

It's sooooo much easier, isn't it???
Babies don't need teeth to self-fed----even when they have 8 teeth in front they don't use those teeth to chew anyway.

Jude is eating lunch right now----frozen peas, club crackers, and sliced bananas.

[MamaCGE]

Originally Posted by twoboys

however, given them in edible pick up form and he shovels them in

How do you make the food into edible pick up form? Right now she eats carrots, broccoli, and fruits, which I soften and then blend in a processor.

[RobinJS]

Originally Posted by MamaCGE

How do you make the food into edible pick up form? Right now she eats carrots, broccoli, and fruits, which I soften and then blend in a processor.

Eli can use his thumb and fore finger to pick up little bits of food that I put on his highchair tray now. Other stuff I cut into a chip shape and hand it to him. He gets mushy food too though.

[MamaCGE]

What does he eat with his fingers? I'm not about to put a dollop of carrot mush on the tray and let her pick it up...

[RobinJS]

Originally Posted by MamaCGE

What does he eat with his fingers? I'm not about to put a dollop of carrot mush on the tray and let her pick it up...

Nooooo I don't recommend self feeding purees! That would be awful. I spoon feed him his mushy food and then throw bits of well cooked broccoli, cauliflower, beans, egg yolk, crackers, potato, sweet potato, pasta, etc. Basically whatever part of our meal that doesn't have too much salt, sugar, spices or tomatoes on it. I'l be giving him tofu next. I just spoon feed him cereal mixed with fruit and yogurt. Everything else I give him solid in small pieces. He's really good about gumming things until they're mushy enough for him to swallow.

[.H.e.a.t.h.e.r.]

I pushed Mattea's appointment up to this friday. Her gag reflex is way too strong IMO.

not only does she gag on everything but purees but she also gags on her soother,bottles and occasionally my breast.

[Amazona]

We just started cutting carrots (really well steamed) into very small pieces and bananas.
But he does use his front teeth to chew! It's so funny to watch
He eats small, thin angel hair noodles too.

Go little by little... I started out making the purees less thick and then mashing with a fork.

[taterm]

B is eating almost everything I eat too. She hates purees!

[caring21]

I gave William a whole puff today and he didn't choke!! I was so impressed. I am totally scared about choking. I am not ready for him to self feed just yet. I don't think he is either. But I'm slowly training him and myself.

Can you guys give examples of things you started with? That won't make me panic too much.

[twoboys]

Originally Posted by MamaCGE

How do you make the food into edible pick up form? Right now she eats carrots, broccoli, and fruits, which I soften and then blend in a processor.

I just cut carrots up really small into pieces the size of cheerios, and they are soft enough for him to swallow without hurting him, he pics em up and gobbles em!! peas I just leave the size of the pea! I try to make everything pea sized and he loves it. He ate cut up tortellini tonight, and he easily ate as much as Jack, he wouldnt stop!!!

Originally Posted by caring21

I gave William a whole puff today and he didn't choke!! I was so impressed. I am totally scared about choking. I am not ready for him to self feed just yet. I don't think he is either. But I'm slowly training him and myself.

Can you guys give examples of things you started with? That won't make me panic too much.

pasta is great cut up, spaghetti, tortellini, alfredo, ravioli.
rice
boiled potatoes cut up small
eggs
carrots cut up

If its soft and small enough, William will pick it up and eat it.. he LOVES pasta. I get the Michelina's meals they are about $1. I save what he doesnt eat and give it to him the next day, white sauce, red sauce, he isnt picky about pasta!!

[Heaven]

We're moving away from purees as well. I do still mash her food a little bit but I make sure to leave some texture. I mostly give her fresh fruit now and steamed veggies. She eats a lot of our table food as well but not always cause I sometimes forget to count her in with us and end up putting too many spices/salt, etc.

I have to say though that feeding her has gotten MUCH easier now that there's more variety. Yogurt and protein and eggyolk are such nice additions! You can mix so many things with them.

[twoboys]

I agree, its MUCH easier!! I love it, William is a real part of our dinnertime now, if that makes sense... I just see him "enjoy" his food more!!