9-Month-Old Update & Eats

I figured it was time for a little baby Shea update. You know, in case you opt out of my Instagram cuteness overload (I understand). My little Shea bug is 9 months (and 1 week) old and the time seems to go by faster and faster every day.

Babies truly are miracles and my little miracle makes me smile each and every day…even if she’s fussy.

Speaking of being fussy, what is it about dinner time? It makes me so thankful that she’s now able to sit and enjoy a meal with us and though it creates a disastrous mess, it’s always entertaining…for everyone. Even Lily has learned that it’s worth the effort to be on the clean-up crew 😉

So, what has Shea been eating? The short answer: everything!

I’m doing a hybrid baby-led-weaning and in essence, feeding her whatever it is we’re eating or some version of it. She is just breaking her first 2 teeth (bottom) but it hasn’t stopped us from getting started. Her daily eats may look something like this:

• 6-6:45am: breastfeed (I’m guessing 6 ounces)
• 7am: scrambled egg (NO salt or pepper), Cheerios, fruit/vegetable (fresh – pineapple, mango, banana, cucumber, etc.), organic whole milk yogurt
• 10am-ish: Bottle (5 oz pumped breastmilk)
• Lunch (at daycare): 3-4 ounces stage 2-3 pureed vegetable and fruit blends with puffs (these things are BABY CRACK)
• 1pm-ish: Bottle (5 oz pumped breastmilk)
• Snack (at daycare): 3-4 ounces stage 2-3 pureed vegetable and fruit blends
• 4pm-ish: breastfeed or 5 oz bottle pumped breastmilk
• 5:30pm-ish: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and/or green beans (cooked and cooled to near room temperature), shredded meat (if around), puffs/Cheerios/rice cakes OR whatever we’re eating: pasta, casserole, pancakes (no syrup or butter), cooked/grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes…but there is always 2-3 vegetables offered
• 7pm (bed): 6-7 ounces formula

Daily: 27-28 ounces breastmilk/formula and 3 meals, 1 snack 

While we give her pretty much anything and everything with us (healthy!), I do keep things simple with daycare. For some reason, she does well with purees with others…not so great at home or with us. She makes it very clear that she wants what we’re eating.

I few tips I would give:

1. Know that your baby is more capable of eating than you’d think – let them learn, explore, and grow. Don’t freak out with every cough or little gag (while very uncomfortable and nerve-wracking for you, it’s perfectly normal). They’re probably just fine.
2. Let go of “norms”. Try vegetables at breakfast and pancakes for dinner, who cares? Believe me, your baby certainly doesn’t.
3. Invest in good bibs. I LOVE the Bumpkins bibs. They are washer-safe and also clean up easily under running water.
4. Don’t let your food preferences affect what you offer your child – variety is so incredibly important early on. Let them develop a palate during these very early formative months.
5. Omit salt, sugar, added fat, and heavy seasoning in foods offered to baby.
6. Try offering rejected foods again, and again, and again.
7. Colors are key. Shea always grabs the broccoli and carrots first from her dinner tray. She’s drawn to the colors and so use the beauty of fruits and vegetables to your advantage in feeding your babe.
8. Be the gatekeeper of what’s offered and provided, but know that your child will eat when hungry and stop when full. Be mindful of this when being overly encouraging to eat more.
9. Be a role model – eat wholesome and balanced and a wide variety of foods. Your child is watching and learning.

Shea’s 9 month well-child appointment is tomorrow, but I have no doubt she is still topping the growth charts in both length and weight. We shall see…it’s so fun watching her grow!

Be well,