We have been feeding my 6 (almost 7 month old *gasp*) baby cereal and first foods for about 2-3 months (Per ped. advice). My question to all you helpful moms (and dads) is: when is okay to switch to second foods? She can pull herself into a sitting position, but I wouldn't call her an indepent sitter yet, as she's still a little wobbly. Guess I'm just looking for advice on when is it okay to increase her choices and flavors...
And any advice on "finger foods" to keep her occupied?
If she does well with the first foods and you want to try the second foods I say try them. If you want to experiment with finger foods Gerber makes puffs that disolve in the mouth. My boys love them (yes, my almost 2 1/2 year old will still eat them lol). A lot of our feedings were trial and error. And really the second foods aren't much thicker than the first foods. The third foods are the ones that have the chunks in them.
We adopted an infant from Guatemala. When we went to visit him at 6 months he was already eating applesauce, cereal, rice, beans, and many other adult foods mashed up. He at 10 months only ate finger foods (chicken, fruits, rice beans, hamburger...) and mashed foods along with 3 bottles a day. He never was on baby food.
So I would say try different foods with your child. If they are ready they will eat it. If not wait until he/she will eat it. Just stay away from peanuts, honey.
My biological son did not eat even baby cereal until he was one year. He had texture issues with foods.
Good Luck
My son ate 2nd foods at that age. He acctually ate four meals until he was a year old...but that's not what your suppose to do. My son was quite the chunk! hehe. What I would suggest is a jar of fruit and bottle for breakfast. Then a handful of Gerber cereal pick up things (sorry I can't think of what they are called at the moment)or a teething biscuit. A jar of vegetables and a bottle for lunch. Then a handful of Gerber cereal pick up things or teething biscuit. One to two servings of rice or oatmeal cereal(sorry I can't remember how big a serving is???). Then a handful of Gerber cereal pick up things or teething biscuit and a bottle.
I switched when they could pick up small things. Also when they had a couple of teeth and had all the food choice, switched to table food which I mashed or ground up with a chopper. All my kids wanted to eat what I eat, which helped me eat healthier. Good Luck!
We started solids at 6 months with both boys, and we made all our own baby food. www.wholesomebabyfood.com is a great resource, you can customize the consistency of the food, its much healthier, cheaper, and tastier for baby.
By 7 months my boys were eating mixed foods like mashed peas and pureed chicken. I have no idea the difference in the gerber/jarred type foods, we never used them, but I would suggest you try making your own baby foods. :)
