Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Solids

We first tried giving Braxton rice cereal around 4 months.  He was pretty good at eating from a spoon and swallowing, but he just didn't seem that interested.  He would take 2 or 3 bites and then refuse to open his mouth or turn his head away.  Then he would just get fussy.  We tried off and on for about 2 weeks and then just stopped.  
At a little over 5 months we tried again but gave him avocado instead, thinking he might just want something with more taste.  That went over a little better, but we'd only get through half the bowl before he'd lose interest again.
A few weeks ago we tried butternut squash and he loved it!  Couldn't get it in his mouth fast enough!
We've also tried sweet potatoes, pears and carrots, peas and bananas.  He's loved them all.
trying to find more  food...and licking the tray
Devastated it was gone.

He has since throw us for a loop and only eats with his thumb in his mouth.  He's been a thumb sucker for a few months now (and we LOVE it!)... he uses it to self sooth or to indicate when he is hungry or tired.  He started sucking his thumb between bites of solid food when he was frantic and 'starving'.  Well now it seems that's how he swallows his food.  We've tried pulling it out and hold his arm down when we give him a bite but he can't figure out how to keep the food in his mouth and push it back and swallow and he has a major breakdown from getting so frustrated.  Clearly we've created a hard habit to break :/
We meet with the pediatrician this week for his 6 mth appointment and with the Cleft Team at Children's Hospital in 2 weeks... I'm hoping they've either seen this before and can offer good advice to get him to quit or tell us its no big deal.  I'm hoping once he starts eating bits of table food and he uses his own hands to feed himself he'll just get over it... wishful thinking?

1 comment:

Chavez Family said...

He is so dang cute! I love love these pictures. I think it is adorable he is a thumb sucker. I'm sure it's nothing to stress about, good luck at the dr. I can't believe he is 6 months already. Insane!