Concerning solids, we're trying an even more relaxed tactic now. I'm not going to try to stick food in John's mouth, but am going to try letting him snatch baby-safe food off my plate until he's ready for his own plate. Tonight I held back some whole wheat twisty noodles from my grown-up macaroni and cheese (with its heavy cheese, milk, and spices) and melted the teeniest bit of Parmesan cheese on it. I put the pasta on my plate and let John sit on my lap during dinner, which he's done for most of his short life. For the first time, I didn't stop him from trying to take food off my plate. Slowly and deliberately, he reached out repeatedly to pick up one noodle. He would open his mouth wide and touch the noodle to his lips, then slowly set it back on the plate and pick up another noodle. No shuddering, no dry heaving. His attempts were absolutely precious. Tonight John wasn't ready to chew and swallow a noodle or even to chew one and spit it out, but that's okay. He had great fun practicing eating! Solid foods at this age are mostly just for feeling like part of the family and to learn about the concept, not so much for nutrition.
Please pardon how weird I look in the dinner photos!
The look of concentration on his little face is just precious!
ReplyDelete