Starting Solids

[lizmolik]

I need some help...my child is now 9 1/2 months old and he just got 2 bottom teeth. I have been giving him pureed baby food but I know he is ready for some solid foods. What are some things I can start giving him considering his age and he only has 2 bottom teeth? :confused:

[Cpogie]

This is something that perhaps you should be asking your baby's doctor first, but crackers are good, mashed potatoes, anything soft they should be able to handle, but only you know your baby best.

[shopsforsix]

I need some help...my child is now 9 1/2 months old and he just got 2 bottom teeth. I have been giving him pureed baby food but I know he is ready for some solid foods. What are some things I can start giving him considering his age and he only has 2 bottom teeth? :confused:

Definitely check with your doctor first to make sure the baby has no allergies. Scrambled eggs are always good if your child has no egg allergies. Any type of soft foods (again if there aren't any allergies) or foods that don't require a lot of chewing work great also. Cheerios, or other small cereal pieces are good exercise for their jaws. Put just a few of them on the high chair or exersaucer tray. I would mash up adult foods (without seasonings) and also feed those to my children. It's a new flavor for them.

[Carly's Mommy]

My daughter is 11 months old now still only has two bottom teeth and here are some things that we've tried with her:

yogurt (my daughter likes Strawberry-Bananna)
pudding
cottage cheese (you can mash it up some with a fork or spoon if he's not sure about the texture)
small pieces of cheese
small pieces of cantaloupe
small pieces of avocado
cheerios
Gerber Fruit Puffs
very small pieces of chicken breast
boiled egg yolks - just mash them up (save the egg whites until after his first birthday to help prevent allergies to eggs)
plain mashed potatoes
small pieces of boiled pasta (make sure it is very soft)
small pieces of soft, cooked carrots and green beans (I even go so far as to peel the skin off of peas for her - that way they are easier for her to mash and they won't get stuck in her throat)

Just don't give your son anything with artificial sweeteners (no sugar-free pudding or yogurt) since they aren't good for children.

You can ask your baby's doctor for recommendations, but he or she won't know if you child has allergies any more than you do. If you or your baby's father have any food allergies, then don't give those foods to your baby since he will have a tendency to develop the same allergies, especially if he is exposed to the food this young. Just try one new thing at a time and watch for any kind of reaction to the food. Sometimes when my daughter tried something the first time she would end up spitting up quite a bit for the rest of the day. We would just wait a few weeks and try again and she was usually fine the next time.


Foods to avoid:

honey (until 12 months old - due to risk of botulism)
egg whites (until 12 months old - due to risk of allergies)
peanut butter (until 3 years old - due to risk of allergies)
shellfish (until 3 years old - due to risk of allergies)
popcorn (until 4 years old - due to choking hazard)
nuts (until 4 years old - due to choking hazard)

If you suspect your son has an allergy to something, then let his doctor know so they can possibly test him.

[michellec6306]

How about those teether cookies? or things like lornadoones or zwieback cookies? they are oldie but goodies. The infants in my preschool center seem to do well with them, especially when we dip them in some applesauce :)

[mom363546]

How about those teether cookies? or things like lornadoones or zwieback cookies? they are oldie but goodies. The infants in my preschool center seem to do well with them, especially when we dip them in some applesauce :)

I swore by those!! I raised 3 kids and could not have imagined them not knawing on these cookies. There great for teething!!

[lizmolik]

Well so far I have given him real bananas, fruit puffs, mashed potatoes, mashed beans, cheese, mashed up green beans, mac and cheese and started him on 3rd food from gerber. Thank you for some of your suggestions just keep em comming...

[michellec6306]

I will look on the infants menu at work when I go back tommorow, it is different than the menu in my toddler room so I will see what they have on there for you!

[angie72319]

My daughter will be 1 on January 29th and she only has 2 bottom teeth. I'm scared to give her chunks of baby food. So at this time, I'm sticking with Gerber 1st foods.

[cath_31]

My daughter will be 1 on January 29th and she only has 2 bottom teeth. I'm scared to give her chunks of baby food. So at this time, I'm sticking with Gerber 1st foods.

My friend's daughter will be one this month and only has her 2 bottom teeth as well. She has been feeding her Gerber 2nd and some 3rd stages (depending on their consistency) and doesn't have a problem. I think the
2nd stage is basically a larger jar of almost the same food (you get more for your money with it). I think you would be perfectly safe using it.

[rdawnh]

just remember to give only one new food at a time with 3 to 7 days inbetween in case of allergy. This way you will know what caused the reaction instead of guessing.

[mood4amelody]

How about those teether cookies? or things like lornadoones or zwieback cookies? they are oldie but goodies. The infants in my preschool center seem to do well with them, especially when we dip them in some applesauce :)

Do they still make those brown ones that look like a pooh, get really gross all over the baby's face, and then dry up and attach to the child like concrete?? My kids love those things.

[rebate queen]

Do they still make those brown ones that look like a pooh, get really gross all over the baby's face, and then dry up and attach to the child like concrete?? My kids love those things.

I remember those--my kids loved them too!! They were such a mess!!:eek:

[cath_31]

Target recently started carrying the Baby Safe Feeder. It's a contraption similar to a binky, but instead of a bottle n i p p l e, it has a tough mesh bag into which you insert a piece of fruit or some other food. That way your little one can gum or chew the solid food, but no pieces larger than the small holes in the bag go down their throat, eliminating the chance for choking. It actually was invented by a Dad whose baby nearly died choking on a teething biscuit. The thing receives rave reviews. We liked it for our little one, and I recommend it. One of the Target stores that I shop now carries it (just recently), the One Step Ahead baby catalog and website sells it (place I found it), and the manufacturer also has a website to tell you about it.

Here's the manufacturer's website:

http://www.babysafefeeder.com/

Here's the page from One Step Ahead, with better pictures:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=6356&parentCategoryId=85181&categoryId=85206

It doesn't come up on Target's website, so it may not be at all Target stores.

This looks like a great idea. I will mention this to my friend. Thanks for the info.