Starting Solids

Like so many things baby, starting solids has not gone as I had envisioned.  After learning about baby lead weaning, I totally thought that by simply offering Fredrik pieces of food he would figure out what to do with it. Other than gnawing on a bell pepper strip this hasn't been the case. Since he isn't 6 months old yet (that's next week) I have not been too concerned with getting him to actually eat; and didn't want to push him to eat if he wasn't ready. He can't sit up on his own yet, his tongue thrust reflex was still pretty strong, and he really did not seem interested in anything Ryan and I put in our mouths.  However, it seemed like all the other babies around us were eating solids; and some of them started at 4 months! Ohh well, I would just be patient.  Then one afternoon earlier this month I had the bright idea of offering Fredrik some of the banana goop that was leftover from making banana muffins. He went nuts! He loved it and started grabbing the spoon trying to get more in his mouth. Since then we have been offering him foods that are naturally soft and/or easily mashed. I have no desire to make gobs of pureed baby food; and with so many organic, single ingredient brands on the market I plan on utilizing some of them to supplement in until Fredrik figures out how to eat actual 'solid' food on his own.  However, I did make liver pate which he absolutely loves, and blended up some ground beef with homemade chicken broth to help ensure an increase in iron consumption.
High protein and high fat foods are much more nutrient dense compared to typical "baby" foods such as rice cereal, oatmeal, and pureed fruits. For more information on when and what foods to start infants on, check out these posts by Noelle of Coconuts and Kettlebells:
When to Start solids
Best First Foods
If you are past this stage and have a toddler around, Lily Nichols who wrote 'Real Food for Pregnancy' has a wonderful post on helping these little ones learn to eat mindfully. With a focus on real foods of course.

Here is what Fredrik has tried so far
banana mush
baked and mashed sweet potato + breast milk 
goat milk yogurt + fruit puree 
homemade beef liver pate (LOVES IT)
hard boiled egg yolks + Haine mayonnaise
pineapple bits and a green bean at Big Bowl
​mashed avocado + rice wine vinegar
Beech Nut veggie puree + butter
pureed ground beef

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