https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:26:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods/page/2#post-1541813 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:10:41 +0000 Pumuckl 1541813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: We started with parsnip and squash since LO was having trouble with constipation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1541810 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:10:11 +0000 Greentea 1541810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We wanted to do blw but it didn't work for us. LO did great with purees. We started easy with mushed avo then squash, banana, sweet potato, steamed apple and pear, would make something every three days and then something new. I tried egg yolk (hard boiled) but that gave her gas.</p> <p>So, we got an Oxo food mill and ground quinoa and made her cereal with that. Quinoa is a complete protein with iron. Now we do a lot of smoothies with kale and greek yogurt.</p> <p>Babies need iron so we give her a supplement and I put kale in her smoothies for vitamin c (and iron). She loves blueberry, kale (or spinach), greek yogurt, banana, avocado smoothie. I make her hemp milk (just put hemp hearts and water in the blender and strain!) because it is another complete protein and has healthy fats. She drinks herself with the lollacup.</p> <p>Eta: I guess I recommented, oops! With more detail at least! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1541756 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:55:50 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1541756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: We started with carrots, peas, sweet potato, squash and cauliflower. Unless they were a little sweeter, K wouldn't even touch them. I sometimes mix rice or oat cereal in with the veggies, too - just to add a bit more substance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1541728 Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:49:27 +0000 Ash 1541728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bump! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1494019 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:53:08 +0000 Chillybear 1494019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What veggies are good to start with? I made some carrot and sweet potato purees but these are still on the sweet side to me. I'd rather make them then buy them in a jar </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1428378 Mon, 17 Feb 2014 06:45:36 +0000 delight 1428378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to start with vegs but decided to do oat cereal first. We just started a few days ago. My plan is to introduce sweet potato next. For breakfast I'll do a combo of oat cereal and a fruit or veg and dinner a mix of fruit and veg once I have more on her menu. My reasoning for introducing a cereal is to make sure she was getting iron and protein because I wanted to go through all the recommended fruits and vegs before trying meats/alternatives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1427608 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:52:53 +0000 Lindsay05 1427608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with cereal. We mixed it with breastmilk and tried offering some before a normal milk feeding. If she took some fine, if not, try again another time. After she started getting the hang of eating from a spoon and the whole swallowing food thing, we moved on to pureed veggies and then fruits and meats. My doctor told me the best thing to do is try offering mushed up foods from your own plate. Also not to fully puree foods because the mashing of food with the gums promote teething. I would of course be cautious with how chunky you leave the food! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1427587 Sun, 16 Feb 2014 15:35:25 +0000 MamaMagpie 1427587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: so glad you asked because I was just about to post the same question!<br /> @jetsa: I can't wait to click on that link as soon as I'm done with this comment! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1420595 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:32:50 +0000 Greentea 1420595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I obsessed about this a little because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. My ped is very laid back.</p> <p>I needed to find a way to make it simple so it was sustainable and so I was not overwhelmed. We started purees at 6 mos. Just mashed banana or avocado. Easy. Three days. Something new. Now at 8 mos. we got a food mill and are making her cereal with quinoa. Just grind it to a flour and add fruits and veg. We are vegetarian and that provides iron and complete protein! I also did egg yolk boiled but it gave her extra gas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1420572 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:27:46 +0000 jetsa 1420572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@singingbee: awesome! Its really interesting and seems focused on real wholesome food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1420556 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:23:46 +0000 singingbee 1420556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: that's the book I have!!!! I'm super excited about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1420221 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:40:26 +0000 jetsa 1420221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmerr: @marionberry: @illumina: I just found this website and really like it, it even has some 'recipes' for ages etc. I thought y'all might be interested as well: <a href="http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/" rel="nofollow">http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1420214 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:38:36 +0000 jetsa 1420214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: awesome thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412686 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:28:04 +0000 lawbee11 1412686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@singingbee: @jetsa: We use this kind (it's made for babies). And I also attached a pic of what it looks like dry. When mixed with breastmilk it sorta looks like applesauce. </p> [attach=1395/14/n0sx2v.448x600.image.jpg] [attach=1395/14/n0sx2y.600x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412652 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:15:03 +0000 jetsa 1412652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@singingbee: I was reading just regular whole grain oatmeal that has been ran through a food processor so that it is really thin.</p> <p>@looch: thank you that's very helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412549 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:38:35 +0000 singingbee 1412549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When y'all say oatmeal is it like the kind adults eat? Like Quaker oatmeal or a special kid/baby brand or kind? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412458 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:01:41 +0000 looch 1412458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From what I understand, rice cereal was recommended for a long time because it's a low allergen food. As with anything, you have to be careful, because sometimes you also get milk powder with the rice powder, so it's not low allergen any more.</p> <p>My son never liked rice cereal, but he LOVES oatmeal (he's 3). We've been using the old fashioned as he doesn't care for the steel cut.</p> <p>You can pretty much start with whatever food group you like. Doctors in Europe routinely recommend beginning with vegetables, but have begun to suggest pureed meats now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412440 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:56:13 +0000 jetsa 1412440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: I'm debating my no cereal stance now lol. I may start with oatmeal. Its one of my favorite foods lol :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412436 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:54:17 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1412436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My biggest tip is to not worry a whole ton and just start! That was the hardest thing for me....feeling like I needed a strict plan. We started with whole foods like mashed avo and banana, but he didn't really like it, so we also did some cereal which he was okay with and often mixed it with some fruit puree.</p> <p>Decide whether you want to go all organic or not and whether you want to buy, make everything or a mix, and then just try it out and see what works. You get to start slowly, so you'll have time to adjust if your initial ideas don't work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412363 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:26:52 +0000 edelweiss 1412363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we did a combo of purees and BLW. we started with a mixture of cereal and formula for a couple of days and then switched to cereal and purees. i know lots of people these days like to skip cereal, but i liked that the oatmeal cereal gave the food a bit of bulk and fiber. i think i started by just offering twice a day, after bottles. the first week (or weeks?) he really didn't eat much, maybe a teaspoon or so? </p> <p>also early on i offered soft finger foods. it goes slow and you wonder how this baby of yours will ever learn how to eat solids but it progresses infinitesimally every day until bam! your LO is chowing down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412345 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:18:16 +0000 lawbee11 1412345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: so funny you mention that...DH prepped the oatmeal this morning and made it thicker and she seemed to like it more. So I'm definitely going to keep making it that way! Plus that requires less breastmilk so it's a win-win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412153 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:19:34 +0000 Smurfette 1412153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Try and make it thicker. R liked oatmeal better when it was thicker, then thinner.<br /> @daniellemybelle: We started with one meal a day. Then after a month or so, moved to 2, and then 3 meals by 7.5-8 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1412102 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:07:32 +0000 pmerr 1412102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm interested in this too. Our ped said that if we start before 6 months, to wait to do veggies until after 6 months. I have been debating about cereal. I was given 2 from a friend, but don't know if I want to use it. I'm trying to wait out to see if I can just jump into veggies and fruits, but I know he's been eyeing things. I do want to make applesauce and trying feed it to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410466 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 17:29:13 +0000 yerpie110 1410466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. We skipped cereal as I didn't find it to have any nutritional value. </p> <p>2. We started with banana at around 5.5 months. I wanted to wait until 6 months, but she was sitting up well and showing extreme interest in food. It worked out well and I didn't think those 2 weeks really made a difference. We started with one meal per and gradually increased it over time. </p> <p>3. Have fun and try not to stress! She did hit some serious constipation issues in the beginning, so I learned to always keep prunes + prune juice on hand.</p> <p>ETA: I altered introducing her fruit/veggie/fruit/veggie and it didn't impact her preference for either. At 13 months, she loves both! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410452 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 17:16:39 +0000 daniellemybelle 1410452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following this thread with interest! Hope @marionberry: doesn't mind me throwing in my own question - do you feed solids once or twice per day? How did you decide? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410412 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:28:38 +0000 lawbee11 1410412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: Right now we're doing oatmeal for breakfast and dinner (if you can even call it that...most of it ends up on her chin or her bib). Next week we'll introduce veggies at dinner instead of oatmeal but keep oatmeal in the mornings. Not sure how long we'll do oatmeal...she doesn't seem to like it very much (but it may just be because it's new and not like anything she's ever had). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410409 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:26:41 +0000 marionberry 1410409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@illumina: I have heard the veggies before fruits thing too. Given that I'm horrible with veggies, I definitely want to do these first with J. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410395 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:18:56 +0000 illumina 1410395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: I'm following this thread and glad you asked because the World of solid food seems a little daunting right now! </p> <p>@lawbee11: interesting point you make about the veggies before fruits--I wouldn't have thought of that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410369 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 15:53:19 +0000 marionberry 1410369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: Thanks. I'm definitely going to look into that one.<br /> @Smurfette: This is the exact kind of information I needed. Thank you!<br /> @lawbee11: Awesome information. Thank you for sharing! Do you plan to stop the cereal once you move to the veggies? Or maybe bring it back with the fruits? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-how-to-start-solid-foods#post-1410345 Sun, 09 Feb 2014 15:17:57 +0000 lawbee11 1410345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@marionberry: We just started this weekend! LO is 6 months old. I agree with @scg00387: not to rush it. It seems exciting but it's kind of a pain, especially when nursing is so easy. Here's what her ped recommended. Each ped will be different, but here's where we are:</p> <p>1. Our ped recommended a week of either rice cereal or oatmeal mixed with BM as she's EBF and he said it would be gentler on her tummy. We've been using Earth's Best oatmeal. We mix 1 tbsp of oatmeal with 3 tbsp breastmilk (she has yet to come anywhere near finishing it, though!). </p> <p>He said definitely not to give her anything in her bottle. </p> <p>2. After the week is up he said to start her on vegetable purees and do all veggies first (the same veggie for 3 days in a row to make sure there aren't any allergies), then move onto fruits. He said if you do fruits first the baby may reject veggies as the fruits are so much sweeter. You could also forego all of this and do BLW if that is your preference (I am too paranoid about choking so purees is our preference for now). </p> <p>We give her oatmeal about an hour after I nurse so that she doesn't fill up on it before nursing. </p>