Solids- everything is ruined

What are you feeding your 4-5 months old in? Bumbos aren't working because they don't have the head control and I can't wash the bouncy and car seat covers every single day. I'm ruining their clothes, bibs, burp clothes and my clothes. I am at the end of my rope. My little one wants to eat from the spoon but she won't keep her hands away from her mouth so there are green beans everywhere.

(I am also TICKED that it's after 6pm on Friday and DH is still freaking working! It has been a long week with babies who used to sleep through the night....but who are now getting up for some reason. I am sooooo cranky and irritated at this point.)

Between the lack of sleep and the green bean disaster, I'm about to walk out of this house and let him deal with this for the rest of the night. :angry:

 

Do you have high chairs that recline a bit? That could work, and they will clean up easily...

But honestly, if they don't have good head control, they may not be ready for solids yet. Mine are about the same age as yours, and my DS still struggles with head control, too -- I will likely wait another couple months before even attempting solids.

I remember when we started my older one on cereal, it messed up her nighttime sleep for awhile -- I think it was making her gassy. That could be what's going on with your little ones?

 

I agree with the PP.. they probably are not ready for solids yet if their head control is poor. It's still early.

 

:hug99: Feeding can be the most fun and the most frusterating thing!! Especially when starting out!! At that age I always gave a "little" bottle beforehand so they weren't so hungry / fussy during the session. As far as the covers on the seats - I wouldn't worry too much about it - you can wash them once a week unless they REALLY soggy. My papsan chair looked tye - dyed after a couple of feedings, especially with the looser veggies - carrots - grean beans etc. The thick stuff may not be as messy. bananas - sweet potatoes, cereal etc. It's hard to do when it's been a hard day and the frusteration level is high. I don't really have any good advice except to try to maybe get a break when hubby gets home - you deserve it!!

 

QUOTE
I agree with the PP.. they probably are not ready for solids yet if their head control is poor. It's still early.


Ditto that. The AAP, CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and other major health organizations recommend waiting until 6 months to introduce solids anyway, and even at 6 months, breastmilk and/or formula is by far the most important part of a baby's diet.

So that's an easy solution to your problem! No more mess! :lol:

 

When we first started out I was feeding them in their bouncy seats. :hug99:

 

For us it was the bouncies and it definately was a challenge in the beginning. They seemed to be the easiest to feed them in and yes they did get it everywhere including hair, clothes, bibs u name it it was covered. As far as the bouncies go I would just wipe them down and than wash them once a week and bibs we just would go thru them a few per day. It does get better as time goes on but they do always seem to like to play with the spoon their mouths the cat anything in the middle of it.
Another trick is to give them a little toy that they can occupy themselves with that sometimes helps so they keep their hands off the spoon or their mouth.

 

I think their head control is great....UNTIL I try to spoon in the food! I just woke up frustrated and sleep deprived, so it probably wasn't the best day to try to solve this problem.

I don't have bouncies really, I have the papasan things and they are borrowed from another twin mom. So I'm paranoid about keeping them clean.

We don't have highchairs, but I'm leaning towards getting those adjustable seats that attach to our regular kitchen chairs. I thought it could wait, but I might have to get one and see how it goes.

I thought it was too soon to try solids (they were a month early), but the doctor recommended it. Baylinn caught on to the spoon right away and seems to really like the solids. Breena....not so much. I do give some formula first, then I try the food, then finish the bottle. I think that's why I'm frustrated....I think if I could figure out what to put them in, this would be much easier and neater.

Thanks for the advice and letting me vent. They are in bed and I'm going to take a bubble bath!

 

i feel your frustration - hope you had a VERY relaxing bath.

I agree that solids may be early; even if the doc suggested it (mine did as well but i ignored her because i didn't agree)

re: high chairs; not sure if it's a space issue but - we got two peg perego chairs from craigslist at a fraction of the cost, and the trays fold so they are flush against the chair. the chair also folds but - i dont' have teh patience to open and close it twice a day, but getting the trays out of the way certainly helps!

and yes, i know the Dh frustration; i particularlylike when he calls at 5:30 (KNOWING well that bathtime/bedtime routine starts at 6:00) telling me he's still working and will be home late. AAAARRRRrrrrrrrggghhH!!!! And then he complains that HE'S tired??

 

Hey there! I think our twins share a birthday!! We have the Safety First chairs, and we love them. They are about $20.00 cheaper than the FP version, and with the BRU multiple discount I think they were like $25.00/piece.

They clean up easy - the padded part is plastic, so you can just wipe it down, and the trap snaps out and fits in the sink or dishwasher. It even has a little holder that fits the Gerber solids holder perfectly!! We are using the 2nd recline setting, and the kids are doing great.

We just started introducing solids "for practice" as we call it. We are taking it slow. I included some pictures of our chairs and what the kids looked like after the sweet potatoes from today. Oh yeah, we also only do solids once a day, and it is right before bathtime. I can't imagine when we are doing this 3x/day!

Good Luck!
Suzi

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd229/s...2007_1019BB.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd229/s...2007_1019BJ.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd229/s...2007_1019BK.jpg

 

We used those infant to toddler rockers - maybe you could find some cheap on ebay or craigs list...

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=200...t&pid=31327

 

Didn't read other replies....We won't be giving any solids until 6 months, but I remember we started feeding DD1 in her swing (at six months), only because we didn't have a high chair yet. A reclining high chair would seem like the easiest solution, although perhaps your babies just aren't ready for solids yet? Especially green beans.

 

In the meantime, until you get your highchairs, I think we used to throw a receiving blanket over the back of our bouncy seats/swings (I had one in particular super spitter, that girl could puke! ) So since you're borrowing the papasans, and I do know how that goes, maybe give that a try?

Also, Shout spray gets just about everything out, the only thing I really have to work at with it is carrots.

 

Solids are messy at first - you can't help that. Soon their manners will be so good you'll be able to take them to Reb Lobster.

I tried my babies on cereal at my doctor's suggestion at 4 months but I determined they weren't ready. When I tried again at just after 5 months things went really well. I just did cereal for the first month until we got into a groove.

 

some ppl feed naked babies, I never did. I use the first years 4 way feeding seat. the covers detach to wash easily. I have removed mine perm b/c it's easier to just wipe the plastic down. ... the seat reclines and eventually converts to a booster.

I would try waiting on veggies till 6 months. at 4 months I started cereal and that's all I did until they were 6 months per pedi's instructions. I used Super baby food for a guildeline. There is a chart in there about when to intro certain foods based on how easy to digest and food allergies etc.

Reclining chair similar to mine.

 

I always fed my girls without any clothes- I felt like stain treating their clothes was just another thing to do!

I used to put a towel or blanket under them in their high chairs to help with the mess.

I remember the phase when they were constantly grabbing at the spoon because they wanted to feed themselves. It made me crazy! Eventually I ended up giving them each two spoons (one for each hand) and it was the only thing that helped!

As far as the hand in mouth after each bite- some kids do this because they are learning how to deal with the different texture/taste of food in their mouth. They put their hands in their mouth so they can try to figure out what is going on! Both of my girls did this FOREVER!

I think I would take a break from the solids and try agian in a month or so...why stress out if they really don't "need" to have it right now? Good Luck!