When did you start feeding them Cheerios and the like?

My girls are so bored with their baby food and they watch me like a hawk when I chew my food (while making chewing motions with their mouths). I don't like giving them biscuits because I'm not very good at scooping the broken off pieces out of their mouths. And they've already gagged a couple of times, so no more of those.

So what other things can I give them? My SIL suggested Cheerios.....what else? And how old were yours when you did? Catherine has 2 teeth that just popped through, but that's it. Maria has just swollen gums!

 

I would recommend starting with the Gerber Puffs. They are much easier to dissolve than Cheerios. We started with them at 7 months. They love them! I would first, break them in 1/2, until they get used to the fact that they need to chew.

 

I am looking forward to next week's appt to find out what I can start feeding him. I think it was 6-7 months that we started with the puffs, etc last time. I agree with Becky that the Gerber puffs dissolve better when they are first learning.

 

We started with the puffs too. Mine are 9 months old and they actually just started on them. I was nervous about it too.

 

We started with the Puffs at 7 1/2 months and moved on to Cheerios at 8 1/2 months. At first I was very nervous and would break both in half. This made me feel better until I had more confidence in them.

 

My girls are the same age as your two and we just started them with the Gerber Puffs last week. The first time or two we did like Becky suggested and only gave them half at a time now they are getting whole ones and the LOVE them!

 

I had been meaning to ask about this also. DD has been trying to give C&C puffs and they make the craziest faces when you try to give the puff to them. They act as if you trying to choke them and then spit them out. It is really quite funny to watch their expressions. DD keeps trying again every couple of days..
Lindy, mom to Steph and Nana to
Cameron and Corey

 

HI,

gagging and choking is all part of the learning process -- yo uhave to start sometime. I gave my kids cheerios and they learned how to eat them pretty quickly. Puffs worked too -- and they dissolve quicker (but have more sugar)

I think the hardest part when they do gag/choke is to wait to react so that the babies don't get scared and fear eating. it's a good lesson in checking yourself -- ahhh, what fun

Teri D

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Jul 22 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]340621[/snapback]
I would recommend starting with the Gerber Puffs. They are much easier to dissolve than Cheerios. We started with them at 7 months. They love them! I would first, break them in 1/2, until they get used to the fact that they need to chew.


Ditto.

Also, someone here once pointed out to me that there is a difference between gagging and choking. Gagging usually has to do with a texture thing where as choking is something actually blocking the airway. If your kiddos are staring at you while you eat your food then that is usually a sign that they are very ready for table foods. Just start out with very small pieces. Things like puffs that dissolve quickly in the mouth are perfect. Also, very small pieces of things that will pretty much slip right down the throat in the case that they don't properly gum the whole thing is good too. There are many fruits which are perfect for beginning table food eaters. Banana, mangos, peeled grapes, and blueberries are just a few. Just make sure you cut everything up into small pieces. Start off tiny and build up with confidence. As for cheerios, I found that they actually take a bit longer to dissolve in the mouth. I always try everything in my mouth first to see how it feels and dissolves in the mouth and without using my teeth. You also could try letting some cheerios soak in milk/formula for about 5 minutes and then spoon feeding it to them. It gets nice and mooshy and becomes a great breakfast to feed them. When you get even braver, you can add tiny pieces of banana or peaches or straberries in the cereal. My girls have always loved this.

 

Our boys stare at our food like they are starving .. yesterday at a fair DH turned his head and Con grabbed his hunk of gyro off his plate and brought it to his mouth, he had sauce everywhere, it was so cute! Anyway, I gave them both puffs broken in half but they don't quite know what to do with them, they spit them out or just hold them in thier mouths and stare at me ... and I'm worried about choking! I tried holding one in my mouth and they don't dissolve THAT quick! But like PP said, I guess it's part of the learning process ... sigh ...

 

My babies started on puffs at 6 1/2 months, Cheerios at 7 months, and now at almost 8 months they eat bread, regular banana, pieces of sweet potatoe, pancake, and I've tried watermelon (not a big hit yet) and tofu (hated it, can't blame them).