WWYD - Baby Ready For Finger Foods/Homemade Baby Foods, Mom Is Not...

[Unregistered]

I have an 8 month old in my care. Only child and Mom/Dad hold her a TON at home. However we have a routine that seems to be working ok right now.

She hates baby food that mom wants her to have. She loves finger foods but mom wants her on puree baby foods (no dietary reasons - I did ask).

Every meal is a struggle with her and she gives up with the baby food due to lack of interest and only wants her bottle. How do I *ask* mom if I can give her "homemade baby food" that has texture and is finger food grabbable? She is adamant that dcg is not ready for anything but complete puree and says that when she adds rice cereal for texture baby refuses it. Yeah, because it tastes gross I assume vs. real food.

WWYD

[Blackcat31]

I have an 8 month old in my care. Only child and Mom/Dad hold her a TON at home. However we have a routine that seems to be working ok right now.

She hates baby food that mom wants her to have. She loves finger foods but mom wants her on puree baby foods (no dietary reasons - I did ask).

Every meal is a struggle with her and she gives up with the baby food due to lack of interest and only wants her bottle. How do I *ask* mom if I can give her "homemade baby food" that has texture and is finger food grabbable? She is adamant that dcg is not ready for anything but complete puree and says that when she adds rice cereal for texture baby refuses it. Yeah, because it tastes gross I assume vs. real food.

WWYD

I would just tell her exactly what you just said here..... she gives up and resorts to wanting the bottle only.

I'd also share with her what "normal" eating patterns are for a child her age.

How many, if any teeth does she have?

[TaylorTots]

She has 4 teeth. Eats 12oz per day in 3-4 bottles between here/home.

Yeah, I have wondered whether she actually knows what she should be eating right now.... she is a very smart woman though. :/

[Blackcat31]

She has 4 teeth. Eats 12oz per day in 3-4 bottles between here/home.

Yeah, I have wondered whether she actually knows what she should be eating right now.... she is a very smart woman though. :/

Plus sometimes just because a parent wants to do something a certain way, doesn't mean it is best for the child....kwim?

I wanted my DS to stay on formula a lot longer than he would (he was a premie) but he would have nothing to do with it so even though I believed it was best, he was telling me differently.

Maybe you could try that route too...tell mom that baby is trying to "say" what she needs by refusing the cereal and infant foods.

She is trying to tell mom she is a big girl.

[TwinKristi]

Maybe you could introduce her to baby led weaning which goes past purées and cereal and straight to table foods in sizes they can grasp and eat on their own. It's really a great idea and becoming quite popular. Being smart doesn't always mean they know what's best for their child sadly. One of my DCMs was a nursing student but thought you couldn't get 2 viruses at a time and was convinced her son didn't have the flu because he just had Norovirus but sure enough he had both. She also did all sorts of other questionable things with him that made me kinda :confused: or ! I hope she's never my nurse! LOL

[Meyou]

I would have a talk with Mom. I had a 12 month old start on purees once and Mom was irrationally nervous about solids at 12 months. She let me take the lead here but after about 4 weeks confessed she had no idea what to do and could I help her. Maybe your mom is the same. Worried, nervous, not sure what to do and embarrassed?

[renodeb]

Boy does this remind me of a current client I have. She was feeding him jarred baby foods because she was afraid he would choke. After days of pushing she finally gave the go ahead to feed him real foods. She was thrilled that he is doing so well. That child should be on banana, cheerios, and other soft foods. Just tell her exactly what you told us. Most baby foods are gross anyways. Good luck!
Deb

[TheGoodLife]

I have a baby that will be 1 in Februsary and DCM refuses to give anything besides puréed food. I tried encouraging puffs that dissolve, but she refuses. I think it's insane- he's a tiny thing and I think could benefit from getting real food!

[Daycaregranny]

I have run into this situation before as well. I show the parent what the food program expects me to feed and let them know that if it varies that they need to give me a written copy of what foods and their reasons for the difference. They always figure out that they are just uncomgfortable with changed and that the baby needs to move on to regular foods. I also recommend skipping all the baby rice products. There have been so many issues with it that's it's just better to skip it.

[TaylorTots]

Thanks for the support! I talked to her a bit today. She told me:
"She eats puffs and yogurt bites and has had shredded cheese so she's getting there on the chewing factor." She said she's been trying to get her to thicker foods but hasn't had much luck... so I think I will ask her if I can offer some of the dcm's favorite purees like bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes in bite size pieces to dcg - I already have them on hand for my regular menu so it's nothing special. I think within a couple weeks dcg can be eating foods appropriate for her age and not focusing on her bottle.

My end goal is to get her onto enough solids we can work on the bottle - I usually start transitioning to beginning sippy cups at 9 months and by 11 months most of my dck have been off of the bottle at daycare (my dcp have always been super supportive of it).

[Play Care]

Thanks for the support! I talked to her a bit today. She told me:
"She eats puffs and yogurt bites and has had shredded cheese so she's getting there on the chewing factor." She said she's been trying to get her to thicker foods but hasn't had much luck... so I think I will ask her if I can offer some of the dcm's favorite purees like bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes in bite size pieces to dcg - I already have them on hand for my regular menu so it's nothing special. I think within a couple weeks dcg can be eating foods appropriate for her age and not focusing on her bottle.

My end goal is to get her onto enough solids we can work on the bottle - I usually start transitioning to beginning sippy cups at 9 months and by 11 months most of my dck have been off of the bottle at daycare (my dcp have always been super supportive of it).

Like another poster said, I tell parents what the food program expects - and what I *will* be doing. I go over this pretty thoroughly during the interview process so they understand that if they want to do a special or different feeding pattern then this is not the dc for them. I did this after my last two BF BIG babies were screaming of hunger for hours because they needed FOOD (or mom to keep them home so they could nurse on demand) I realized that mom expected me to put up with it because that's how she wanted to do things. I wouldn't allow that with a child of any other age. But in this case being on the FP they have clear rules that must be met, so my conversation to mom would be "baby is x age now and I'm required to feed __________, did you want to offer it first or shall I? I will need to start by x date so I am in compliance."

[Cat Herder]

You can meet Mom halfway, spoon feed the purees (we only have to offer, not make them eat. Nutrition is still from formula at this age.), then serve fresh diced foods in a mesh feeder until little one loves to eat independently.

Buy two ($3-$4 each) and send one home so Mom can experience how much little one likes fresh foods for herself.