Starting table foods (Late)

What are some good things to try and how to make them...

Kevin does pretty good with puffs but they just melt so I'm a bit nervous about trying some real food. he only has 2 bottom teeth and getting the top two in now.

I was going to give him bits of nectarine today but they seemed too hard. Can you soften fruit?

I've read that some babys are given pancakes, chicken, veggies, pasta...

Do you give pasta plain or mix it with something?

Frozen pancakes or made from scratch?

Do you poach the chicken or is it chicken from your own plate with the sauce scraped off?

Are the veggies steamed and then cut into small chunks.

Also, how much do you give. Its easy to figure out with the jars to see how much to give because its premeasured.

(You can see I'm pretty clueless...I'm a nervous cook for myself and DH, nevermind my DS)

Re: Starting table foods (Late)

For the most part- I only give Ryan things I know are soft and small enough for him to swallow...

As far as pancakes- I had started off with giving him them- when I would make them from scratch- once I realized he liked them, and did well with them.. I bought a box of mini pancakes... He usually eats one at a sitting... In the morning he has his bottle, his cereal and fruit... If I see that he is still hungry- I just pop the litte sucker in the microwave for 20 secs... (nice and easy)

As far as chicken- I usually just give him a piece of mine... depending on what its cooked in or how its seasoned..

Pastina is a big fav of his... I boil it... add a little formula and a little american cheese... he loves it or just a little butter, and sprinkle cheese...

If I make rigatonis- I usually wipe off the sauce and cut it up small for him...(I make them very well done!)

I also have scrambled egg yolks with cheese- thats easy to break up until little pieces for him to pick up and feed himself...

As far as how much... I always give Ryan his normal amount of baby food 1st- all table food is extra... and for the most part- Ryan just stops eating when he is full...

Message edited 7/11/2006 8:13:35 PM.

Re: Starting table foods (Late)

not really what you asked - but I just wanted to tell you that a baby doesn't need teeth for solid food. The front teeth are only used to bite off a peice of something - the back teeth are what we use to chew. Talia just got a tooth last week but has been eating solid table foods for 2 months already - so don't worry about the teeth.

Re: Starting table foods (Late)

DD is 7 months and the only real food she has had besides puffs is pancakes. She loves them, she squishes them up in her fist before she eats them.

So cute!

Re: Starting table foods (Late)

Julia eats EVERYTHING!!!
She loves all food, I give her whatever I make for lunch or dinner, when we are out she eats what I order. I try to give her a lot of veggies, or I will still give her the Gerber ones.

Here are some of the things I give her...
Chicken
pasta
hamburger
sweet potatoes
broccoli
rice
carrots
meatloaf
meatballs and spaghetti
She even tried crabcakes and loved them!
Frenchfries

Re: Starting table foods (Late)

Thanks for the tips!

I guess I'll just try a little at a time and see how he reacts.

We found out this week he may be allergic to milk...Monday was a bad day (major rash outbreak, 3 throw ups) so we'll just take it one day at a time.