At our nine month appointment, our doctor asked us "Is Wells eating finger food and is he holding his own bottle?" The answer was "No and No." I did not think anything about it. He is only nine months old and has only two teeth. Surely he could not be ready to eat finger foods yet. Could he? He loves his baby food, but surely he is not ready for "solid" solid food. And then the "bad mom" syndrome started to kick in.
I questioned why I had not been preparing him to take the next step to solid foods. I questioned why I had not been making him hold his own bottle. I questioned, questioned, questioned. And then I realized that my child is uniquely and wonderfully made and he would get there - IN HIS OWN TIME.
I find myself trying to push him to eat solids. And to no avail, he gags or shows a face of disgust for even putting solids up to his lips. So, I just revert back to good ole' baby food and his bottle.
I have been told that getting your child to eat solids is in some way similar to potty training. They have to be ready.
If you are reading this and have struggled with getting your child to eat finger foods and drink their bottle or sippy cup on their own, please let me know what "tricks of the trade" you used to get your child over the hump and to this next milestone.
Whitney Jodry is a Senior Public Relations Specialist for Texas Health Resources and new Mom to son Wells.
Related Post:
Widget by [ Iptek-4u ]
