Some advise for introducing solid food?

[Mommy, M.A.]

I have a 7 1/2 month old daughter who has been eating baby food (like bananas, peas, chicken, beef, squash) since 4 months. I want to give her those gerber puffs, the ones that are supposed to dissolve in the mouth. It says on the container that babies should be familiar with solid food textures before giving it to them.

She is already crawling and pulling herself up-she can sit up on her own for short periods of time.

Where do I start? I am really afraid of choking; it's my greatest fear. Any advice? What did you do to introduce solid foods? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks in advance

 

[Renee M]

give them to her. she is good.. and the cookies mum mumms are reat they are rice cakes and they melt pretty quick too.

 

[Pippin]

She wont' choke. When babies are developmentally able to pick up food and put it in their mouth, they are also developmentally able to gum it up and swallow it. At worst she might gag if she isn't used to the texture, but that's a reflex that keeps her from choking.

7 months is a great time to introduce finger foods. I wouldn't bother with the puffs -- they are just overpriced air. Try *real* food -- cut up fruits and veggies, rice, crackers, etc. If she can pick it up and eat it, great. If she doesn't know what to do with it, or tries and gags, wait a few days and try again.

IVY: That's why you don't put food in front of baby and leave him alone. If you notice that baby is having trouble, you fish the food out BEFORE he has a chance to choke. But if you never give baby a chance to practice, how is he going to learn to eat?

 

[nancy jo]

now's a great time to start serving babe solid foods -the same healthy ones that the rest of the family eats. use a potato masher or blender to reduce texture. instead of obsessing, educate yourself. take a CPR class.