Solids-Part II

We're entering the solid food stage of life.

This is such a painful stage for me. I believe I am one of the minority in the parenting world with children who don't really love to eat. (Or, perhaps more are like me?!?) When I see my friends kids eating everything, and scavenging food from other plates (probably that belonged to my kids), I am amazed. Daddy is always better at feeding solids-I figure it's because they know that mom's got "the goods" and what is this solid junk anyway? Unfortunately, daddy's not always around to feed the baby bird. King H was doing quite well until we went on vacation. Now, he's not interested. He even spits out cheerios.

Yesterday I tried to feed him some rice cereal with pears. Not interested. I had to pry his little lips apart with the spoon, and dump the cereal above his tongue. Then he would swallow. Somehow we managed to get most of the food in his belly-albeit with MUCH complaining. I felt triumphant.

Fast-forward to dinner. He complained so much about sitting in his exersaucer I picked him up. I held him on one side and tried to eat from my plate half-way across the table. Nothing is safe from King H when he gets that look in his eye. Sure enough, he grabbed a fistful of broccoli. He was so pleased with himself. I figured, "Why not?", and fed him a smidge of broccoli. He loved it. He couldn't get it in his mouth fast enough. (Of course, he's not quite coordinated to get it in himself, so I helped.) Now he opened his mouth wide and eagerly ate.

Apparently I've been trying with the wrong thing.

Broccoli trumps pears.

(I'm just not looking forward to the "aftermath" of this new stage....)