In the life of a new parent, there is nothing more exciting than the moment when you can begin feeding your baby solids. For months, you wondered if that high chair tucked in the corner of your kitchen would ever be used, imagining the peach-stained lips and pursed expressions of your infant as they got their first taste of real food (if you can call it that). For most, this moment comes around the 4-month mark when the pediatrician finally gives the green light to offer the spoon. Although exciting, it’s also a bittersweet moment that says, “My baby is growing up.” But don’t worry, they still have a long way to go!
Today’s parents usually put a lot of preparation into the event, setting up a tripod in the kitchen to capture the first reactions, brightening the lights, and inviting every relative within driving distance to witness the occasion. The baby is dressed in their finest bib and cleanest diaper, propped in the high chair with towels to keep from slumping out of sight while mom holds her breath, hoping that baby will put on a good show without falling asleep. The weeks and months of anticipation can make this a production comparable to a movie shoot. And then… the baby spits the food right out, acting as if they have no idea how to chew or swallow, with no inclination or desire to finish a spoonful—let alone a 4-ounce bowl. This is usually when dad chimes in, saying, “I wouldn’t eat that stuff either. How about some salty mashed potatoes instead?” and mom screams, “The doctor said NO TABLE FOOD!” This drama will continue to play out for months. Either your husband or mother-in-law will relentlessly try to feed, overfeed, or offer foods that you really wish they wouldn’t, like candy, cakes, ice cream, and yes, even hot wings!
The Transition to Solids
Eventually, the pasty white cereal goes down the hatch, and soon the meal concoctions are full of color, pizzazz, and excitement as baby is introduced to bland pureed fruits and veggies that somehow all taste the same. They smile and wiggle with anticipation at the thought of the spoon, squish their hands in the plate, and, of course, wipe it all over themselves, the high chair, and anyone within reaching distance. This leads to the first real bath experiences, where the routine of bubbles and suds is meant to be both cleansing and relaxing.
Once you begin feeding your baby solids, you realize just how easy you had it beforehand. Now you can’t eat in front of the baby without them wanting your food. You can’t go to the park or a poolside party without figuring out how to pop out the jars and find suitable places for messy mealtimes to satisfy your fussy baby!
If you’ve ever tasted baby food (and you probably have), you might wonder how in the world your baby manages to gain any weight (which they do). You’ve probably even contemplated going on the baby food diet and have at least once polished off the bananas or peaches (which, honestly, aren’t that bad). Feeding your baby solids opens up a whole new world of baby care that forever changes their routine—and unfortunately, their diapers. This is when you begin to realize which family members have a horrific gag reflex or who can momentarily become busy or disappear the minute your baby turns red. Usually, they won’t come back for quite a while. You also start to understand why the diaper genie was invented and what all those plastic refuse bags are about that sit next to the germ-infested local changing stations!
Most first-time parents begin to show their vegetarian alter ego and become health nuts, spending a fortune on “organic” or otherwise healthier foods that they would have never considered buying before, just to feel adequate and try to impress the pediatrician. You can spot them at restaurants, ordering ridiculously healthy and bland dishes for the baby while they chow down on the Pig Plate Special and fries! Don’t worry though— as annoying as these people can be, they will eventually succumb to the Happy Meals in just a few short months. They’ll realize that compromising the quality of the food for the eagerness to eat and the tiny toy waiting inside are truly worth the fat, calories, and carbs! (Especially while in the car).
Feeding a baby solids is one of those things that’s great when it works and worrisome when it doesn’t. Babies go through hourly phases in life and will sometimes eat nothing but squash for two weeks, then give it up altogether for the disgusting pureed meat varieties. Then they will transition to phases where you can barely get a spoonful in, and parents start worrying about whether their child is eating enough. The rule of thumb here is not to develop food-pushing tendencies. Kids eat when they’re hungry and don’t eat when they’re not. This is a useful facet of human nature that is productive and healthy later in life, and children (even babies) should be encouraged to know “when to say when!” Ignore the grandmothers who would rather see the poor little baby eat something rather than nothing and will eagerly (and often secretly) offer a bowl of chocolate ice cream just to ensure they ate enough! Once you swerve away from the baby food market, it’s a difficult thing to return to. Salt, sugar, spices, and the flavors of regular food completely change your baby’s undeveloped palate!
Once solids are offered, there’s one thing that every parent must try at least once—if only for a shot at winning $10,000 on the funniest home video shows: offer your baby a lemon or lime! The expression on their face is priceless, and their willingness to try it again and again reveals either the truth about how baby food tastes or their complete ignorance of taste itself. On the other hand, this was probably evident to you the first time you caught them with dog food or carpet fuzz in their mouth as they screamed hysterically when you took it away. Feeding baby solids is just a phase; soon they’ll be feeding themselves—so enjoy it while you can!
