My wife is too scared to feed our baby solds?

Question

She has teeth and she is going to be one in a month. I suggested to my girlfriend that maybe she should introduce solid foods to the baby now instead of mussy baby food.
She freaks out and tells me about how she can choke and blah blah blah, but she needs to understand that it's not like we should feed her hard to chew foods, I'm talking about soft fruit or maybe some biter biskits that she can suck on or maybe those gerber puffs. Something so she can get the hang of eating on her own and grabbing her own food.
What is some good advice to make her feel better? I want her to see these answers. Thank you.

To Independant thoughs:
Yes, I did say both without knowing but that is because we just got married two weeks ago and it is still confussing to get the hang of the whole girlfriend to wife thing. lol

Answer 1

I had the same problem with my son, although he's only 9 months now...
For unknown reasons I was afraid to give him food to chew, as I thought he would choke... he's never come close, and I'm still a little wary.

Try giving your daughter things like, mashed potato, or bread with cheese spread, cut into soldiers!

Your wife must realise that your daughter will gag on certain foods, but that isn't choking! Gagging strengthens their throat muscles, and makes it easier for the to eat in the long run, and although it is a very frightening thing to see at first, it gets easier, and there really is nothing to worry about.

My health visitor gave me such a hard time for not giving my son solid foods at just 8 months old! - I don't want to worry you, or your wife, or give you any ultimatum, but as It's been explained to me, the muscles a baby uses to chew, are the same muscles they use to talk, If you do not feed your baby 'real' foods, and allow her to chew them, there is a good chance she will have speech problems.

Start small, and build up, it only gets easier, and once your wife sees how much your daughter enjoys eating these foods, she may be motivated to try new foods more often.

Good Luck :)

Answer 2

Gerber and other baby foods have plenty of solid foods for 1 year olds. You can also serve your own solid foods, mashed up. The soft fruit and such is good too. What is this child eating, if not solid food? Milk and mussy baby food is not enough at her age. I would imagine she cries alot and is restless, from not being filled.

The child has teeth for a reason. She's ready for solid food--not (as you correctly say) hard foods, but solid food. Your wife (or girlfriend) is not allowing the child to grow properly, or to be properly nourished. Besides, what mother is going to stand by and watch her child choke?

A scary mother can be a danger to her child. She'll panic in emergency situations and fail to provide properly for the child's needs. Freaking out is not acceptable behavior for a mother. Mothers have to be strong, not weak and ineffective.

Answer 3

They have "wagon wheels" like biter biscuits that mush up in baby's mouth real easy, Cheerios do the same thing and they are healthy too. Also, they these nets you can put a piece of fruit into that the baby chews on and can basically mash their own food through the net and suck out all juices, helps their gums with teething and get used to chewing. Because your baby is growing teeth it shows readiness to chew foods, you just want to avoid things with too much skin like hot dogs and unpeeled apples. You can find list of avoidances online or in baby books, but they are obvious to most mothers. Watch your child when they are beginners, sit at the table to eat and pace them so they don't stuff too much in. She should follow her instincts in not providing too much too soon or in picking which solids to give, but it will be good for the baby to "process" their own food by chewing vs. processed baby foods from the grocery shelf.

Answer 4

It is hard for some mother's to actually take the next step with feeding the baby solid foods.
Unless your doctor says not to, I feel she should be eating what you guys eat.
Yes, it is scarry thinking that your baby can choke but even an adult can choke just as easily.
Just tell her to try the puffs and see how it goes, they desolve in her mouth so that will show her she is in fact ready and maybe make her feel more comprable.
My husband has a saying, "You treat the child like a retard and they are going to act like a retard" bascially stating that if you baby your child and refuse to let them take the next step because you are paranoid, you child will take advantage of that.
Good luck

Answer 5

Mashed potatoes is a good one to start her off on. If she is to uncomfortable with regular food, tell her to look in the baby food aisle and get the Gerber Graduates. They have an entire line of meals, fruits, veggies, meats, drinks, and snacks. It will tell you on the containers what your baby needs to be doing in order to eat that stage. She needs to learn how to chew, I think my daughter was about 7 months when we started the Gerber Graduates. Each child is different, but if she is taking the baby to regular checkups, the doctor will tell her what is safe. It's normal for your wife/girlfriend to be cautious, but she does need to realize that she can't hold your child's development back. She needs to go with the flow. I will put links to some really good sites. She can get on there and see what's normal for your child's age. She can also get on and look at common questions and forums that other mother's have put on. Hopefully it will get easier for her. It's tough being a first time mom :) Good Luck.

Answer 6

By the age of one your child should be eating what you eat unless there is a medical problem. Puffs should have been months ago! You said she has teeth, so she can eat just about anything. Cut it up into small pieces and let her go! She can eat what ever you have for dinner! Last night my 1 year old had mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and green pepper slices! The doctor will let her know at her 1 year old appointment that it is time for solids!

Answer 7

I would do some research on the web and then show that to her. There are usually lots of good sites that even offer a Dr.s advice. I do believe at 1 yr. old the child should be eating some finger snack foods.......soft fruits or the biscuits you mentioned. Also, what does your pediatrician say?

Answer 8

I'm surprised the pediatrician hasn't told her to start on solids yet. It's perfectly safe to start her on some foods. It is recommended to not start until 4-6 months, 6 being the best, and by about a year, your daughter should be interested in food. She isn't going to listen to some strangers online...talk to the pediatrician about it.

**Also, first you said wife, then you said gf...I'm almost inclined to not believe anything you typed.

Answer 9

Anybody can choke on food but we cant all eat mushy food to prevent it. I know she is trying to protect your child but she also has to give her room to grow and learning to eat solids and feed herself is part of growing up try some crisps like wotsits or quavers they melt in your mouth so are quite safe or try small pieces of peach or pear then go from there. The longer you leave it the more reluctant your little girl will be to eat proper food. my little boy was on solids from 5 months and he hasn't choked on a thingh

Answer 10

Our son will be 1 in about a month and he eats the gerber puffs all the time..They dissolve quickly..We have also given him mashed potato's from the table..If its soft she should be just fine..She needs to learn to feed herself and hold a sippy cup to improve her coordination..Talk to her pediatrician and see what they suggest...