Trusting Your Instinct

One of the best pieces of advise that I have been given as a new mom is to "trust your instinct". This is much easier said than done in this world of information that we live in. As convenient as the world wide web is, there is almost too much information out there sometimes, which can be overwhelming for a new parent.

Recently I have been struggling with introducing solid foods to Ava. I felt strongly from the beginning that I would wait for her to give me her signal that she was ready. I was completely open to waiting until she was 8 or 9 months old before offering anything. Then I went to her new doctor for her 6 month well child visit. She was 6.5 months old and I hadn't given her any solids yet. The doctor told me that I really should start giving her solids, especially rice cereal because she doesn't get iron from breast milk. I totally folded. Even though I know that she is getting everything she needs from me. Rice cereal had always been the last thing I wanted to give her as her first food, but for some reason I succombed to the pressure and I tried it out.

Now, 1.5 months later, Ava is 8 months old and we are right back where we started. I have offered her everything! Sweet potato, squash, banana, avocado, pears, apples, mango, and of course rice cereal. She is completely not into it and three times she has outright thrown up when I have put food in her mouth! How traumatic for Mama and probably for baby too!

I have been feeling so disappointed in myself for not sticking to my guns and following my instincts like I have on so many other key "issues" with raising a child, such as vaccinations, sleep etc. So, I have taken a complete step back. I have stopped the solid food train, it was stressing me out and probably stressing out my baby. I have had tremendous support on discussion boards on mothering.com and I have figured out the next step. I am going to try giving Ava finger food. Apparently it is quite "unnatural" for babies to eat pureed foods and it doesn't teach them to use their tongues and chew and in my child it aggitates the gag reflex. I am really nervous about choking hazards, but that is why Aaron and I are taking infant CPR this weekend. Wish me luck and I will keep you posted!