Oh yeah – look who is finally feeding himself!
He looks like such a big boy.
You’re probably thinking, “big honkin’ deal, so your baby can use a spoon.”
But if you knew this baby….
His eating habits have long been a source of anxiety. Sure, for the first six months of his life, they were a source of pride. He was the poster boy for healthy breastfeeding. He ardently drained some boobs every 2-3 hours around the clock and was a total fatty.
And then the time came to introduce solids into the mix. I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about solids because he was such a good breastfeeder that I didn’t want to rock the boat but I also didn’t want to miss some sort of window. I remembered from Little Boy K’s babyhood that it may take a month or so for him to get into the swing of things.
Ha! Nice thought. A month? Baby S was having NONE of it. If I dared to approach him with a baby spoon, he would clamp up tight. I had flashbacks of Gandolf from Lord of the Rings “You shall NOT PASS!”
I tried it all: fruits, vegetables, cereal, mix it with breastmilk, make airplane noises, the try-it-10-times theory…everything.
I took a deep breath and told myself to be patient. All children eventually eat solid foods and mine would too. Of course all the comments from everyone around me certainly didn’t help the matter.
“He’s not eating yet?!” Well, he eats plenty, it just doesn’t come from a jar.
“He must be starving!” On the contrary, he’s quite plump.
“You should make your own food. He’d like it better.” I do make my own food, it burns lots of calories.
“Maybe he’d like a french fry!” Maybe not. Keep your crap food to yourself, Woman.
We finally compromised on yogurt. It was the one thing he found agreeable. And as the months passed, he eventually agreed to eat a bunny or two and started to enjoy those little puffs that dissolve in your mouth. And cinnamon rolls…from a can. I try nearly everything that crosses my own plate and several proclaimed Toddler Favorites but he continued to hold out. All those organic fruits and veggies I spend tons of dough on at Whole Foods? If I manage to sneak one in, he spits it out “pew! pew!”, shakes his head from side to side and scrubs his tongue with his fingers as though I’ve tried to poison him.
With his first day at his new preschool looming ever closer, I’ve been a little freaked that they will reject him. On the first day of school, I can see them turning him around at the door, his little monogrammed moose backpack slung over his meaty shoulder, patting him on his chubby little 90% breastfed butt and sending him back out the door with the label of “not ready”. They asked me to fill out a Getting to Know Your Child form that asked me to describe his eating habits. I was at a loss for words.
How do you say your 18 month old still eats from Mommy? I think I scribbled something about him being primarily breastfed but willing to snack on a few “select items” when Mommy isn’t around. That is definitely sugar-coating the situation.
So you can see why I was thrilled this evening when he picked up the spoon and started feeding himself from his favorite container of yogurt. Maybe it’s not a big deal to everyone; maybe your baby has been stuffing his face with solids from 6 months on – maybe even earlier. And truly, his lack of interest in “big boy food” hasn’t really bothered me; it’s just the outside comments that get on my nerves. That and the fear that preschool will send him packing.
It’s the small victories. The small victories that might just allow him to attend preschool.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
That is a big deal! People are dumb. I just hope the preschool people aren’t too dumb to take him. Good luck!!
Greta recently posted..Aqua-Bored #iPPP
Two words for you: Peer pressure.
I predict that when he gets to preschool, his eating habits will improve by leaps and bounds. My daughter’s teacher routinely marvel at her impressive appetite (Why, hello Miss I’ll Have Four Pancakes for Lunch), and I’m all, “Whachutalkin’ ’bout, Willis?” because at home she grazes like a little bird. My theory is that when they all gather round their little table with its little chairs and see each other chowing down, the peer pressure kicks in.
Either that, or my daughter’s daycare makes better food than me.
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..If I Should Die Before I Wake
Yay! That is so exciting!! He will be FINE at preschool, and if they reject thim…well…they’re crazy. And you will find another place that is not. Celebrate this milestone, though!
Mamarific recently posted..Snuff’s Enough, Y’all
You’re feeding him the best food, and you know that. He’s just beautiful!
I think Kristin is right though – peer pressure will certainly change his eating habits. Way to go with that spoon though!
Julie recently posted..He’s a big kid now! #iPPP
I think he’s gonna be okay. Kids will never starve themselves at that age, so he will eat, and yes peer pressure will definitely come into play.
And yay for spoon feeding himself!
Alison recently posted..The Last Post?
It’s funny looking back, there are so many worries that preoccupied my thoughts when they were little and things just took care of themselves. Mine have rediscovered yogurt this summer. Now I just have to wean them from the expensive brand with the granola mix-in. (This was their grandparents addition while with them a week this summer.)
SouthMainMuse recently posted..Summer. Where are you wandering to?
My guy preferred eating with his hand and still does. Eating with a spoon was a thrill for me too.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Read.Explore.Learn.- Green Earth #readforgood
Mine, at 18 months, still barely eats. I wish I had the reassurance of knowing she was still breastfed. I exclusively pumped for 14 months and finally gave in to my husband and quit. He convinced me cows milk was just as good, and that she’d stop drinking so much. Well she seems to be doing fine, but still drinking 20 oz a day.
Good for you for letting him do things at his own pace. Good luck!
Jane recently posted..Appendix to “Underfoot”
Hilarious! I am ALL for babies not doing solids for like ever. My son looks at me like I am nutso when we get the solids out. Unless of course I let him just paint it all over his high chair and himself. Umm and what the heck daycare can kick him out because he doesn’t eat? Don’t they know how to warm a bottle (would he take a bottle away from you?). Sheesh, baby just knows what he likes!