Solids

Alan turned five months this week. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids sometime between 4 and 6 months. We (we meaning I, really, since Rob could care less) decided it wouldn't hurt to start right away. Our pediatrician okay'd solids at our four month appointment on December 21st. He suggested we do green vegetables first, then orange/yellow, then fruit.

On December 23rd, Alan had his first food other than breast milk (and the occasional formula). We started with green beans. He didn't really know what do to with it at first. He pushed it out with his tongue and was trying to suck on the spoon instead of eating the food off of it. But after a few bites, he started to get the hang of it. He seemed to like them.

The second day wasn't as successful. We caught him at a bad time. He was fussy and hungry, and just wanted to nurse. He would have nothing to do with the green beans.

The third day, he did great! He was still trying to figure out the spoon, but he opened his mouth for more. He had his little excited look - the one he gets when he is kicking his toys around - plastered on his face as he anticipated each bite.

Since then, we have tried zucchini, peas, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. He loved the zucchini and Brussels sprouts. He liked the peas, but his digestive system didn't like them as much. He was a little gassy and constipated after them. He spit up the broccoli, so we are going to wait awhile to try them again.

Yesterday was his first orange vegetable - carrots. I wasn't home, but Rob's mom said that he loved them. Usually when he takes his first bite of a new vegetable, he gives us a look of disgust. I think it is more because he is surprised that it isn't the same taste/texture as the vegetable he had the day before. After the first bite, he seems to like them. Well, with the carrots, he didn't even have that first look of disgust. It may be because they looked different anyway, so it wasn't a surprise to him that it was different.

I have made the zucchini, peas, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli at home, and it is a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to feeding him more foods soon.