Baby food dilemma,...?

Question

I know baby food is meant for babies,... duh, but is it really necessary if the child will eat regular table food without any problem? He doesn't choke, doesn't get constipated (unless he eats cheese), and is growing like a weed. My father-in-law insists that baby food has more vitamins and is all around better for babies than regular table food, but isn't baby food just an over-cooked, pureed, and watered-down bunch of unflavored vegetables? I know the longer you cook veggies the less vitamins are actually left intact, so isn't that the case here? He's also worried about my son eating meats, how he can't chew them so they sit in his tummy. Well, I only give him small peices (and he's seen this too) and he grinds it up pretty well with his little gums. I've had him on regular food since about 7 or 8 months because every meal time was a battle. He HATED his baby food, but loved adult food. Why not feed the kid what he wants rather than forcing the baby food down his throat. When they tried giving him baby food one time, his diaper stunk up the entire house, literally, and he had a diaper rash soon after he pooped. That sounds to me like his tummy isn't liking what we're feeding him, but my father-in-law says that's normal. I know babies are supposed to stink, but not that bad. What do yall think?

Answer 1

The sippy cup isn't a problem, because some babies take sippy cups right off the breast without ever touching a bottle. However, the table food might be an issue. I know he hasn't choked YET, but that doesn't mean he won't. Babies don't have the teeth necessary to grind adult food yet. He should still be on baby food, or at the very least, something like Gerber Graduates that are easy for little guys to gum.  

Answer 2

Jarred food is never necessary, especially at 11 months.  He can eat whatever you eat but in smaller pieces.  Meat is just fine and yes, they can chew with their gums.  Sounds like your FIL is just going off of old information.  Best Wishes!

Sippy cups are just fine, some breast fed babies never take a bottle and will take a sippy for expressed milk as early as 5 months.

Answer 3

at 11 months he should not be eating baby food anymore, table food is fine.  They are supposed to be off the bottle by 12 months so way to go on that.  

Answer 4

Baby food is usually just plain food with added water. Sometimes they're even packed with preservatives. If he is able to eat regular solid foods, that's great! The chewing is good for jaw development and you can have better control of what he really is eating. Baby food is often LESS nutritious.

Answer 5

Smash the food with a fork before he eats it. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing.

Answer 6

Read the labels on commercially prepared baby food and you will see that their nutritional value is not superior to home prepared foods.  Every baby is different.  Some prefer jarred foods and some will turn their noses at it every time.  My own youngest daughter was exclusively breast fed until just before she turned 7 months and began eating tid-bits off our plates.  She basically skipped all commercially prepared baby foods and ate table foods from day 1.  That "baby" is now 11 years old, extremely healthy (hasn't been to a doctor for a sickness since strep throat in 3rd grade), loves all vegetables and is very adventurous in her eating habits.  She also never drank from a bottle and went to a sippy cup at 8 months with water and breast fed until she was 14 months when she transitioned to whole cow's milk.  Your father-in-law likely means well, but he hasn't been the father of an infant for quite some time.  Recommendations change and babies are different.  Ultimately you are his mother and must make the choices that are best for you, your baby, and your family.  It would be best to simply thank you father-in-law for his opinion and his advice, but then change the subject or excuse yourself from his presence.  Hopefully your husband is on the same page as you so you can present a united front.  Your son is quite old enough to be without a bottle and use a sippy cup as well as eat just about everything from the table that you do.  ADDED:  It is a bit of misconception that babies need to have teeth to eat food that is not pureed.  Babies actually have the ability to gum their food as well as use their tongue on the roof of their mouth to break down their food for swallowing.  Babies without teeth can eat soft bits of food with little problems.  Choking hazards are mostly relegated to foods that are round such as uncut grapes or hotdogs, or are too hard such as nuts.  My daughter loved to chew on a chunk of fresh peach or a cooked carrot stick.  If a large piece came off she would typically spit it back out and we never had a choking incident with her.  No need to mash, small soft pieces work just fine.

Answer 7

Use your own instincts. My son has been eating off my plate since he was 6 months old.......and we've had no problems. He eats everything! Even meats! He's almost 1 yr. old now and I don't think there is anything he doesn't like. He wasn't crazy about tomatoes at first but we kept offering them and now he eats them.

You are doing a good thing for you baby!

Answer 8

You would be rushing him if you were forcing change on him too early but it sounds like your doing what's best for your son. Baby food is a lot better these days than it used to be but it is still pureed vegies, fruit and meats. If your little guy is doing fine on table food, I don't see the problem. I would ask the pediatrician if they feel he needs more vitamins and maybe offer a childrens drink like pediasure if that was a concern you were having. At almost a year old, he's fine to have table food. This is when they start doing the "gerber graduates" foods anyway. Tell your fil to bug off and mind his own buisness, even if it's only in your head and you smile politely and go about your own. Great job mom! Nice to do what you think is best and still be a little concerned about your childs wellbeing. Your doing fine in my book!  

Answer 9

"but isn't baby food just an over-cooked, pureed, and watered-down bunch of unflavored vegetables?"

Absolutely.

And it in no way holds an advantage over the healthy meals you cook up and eat for yourself.

At 6 months my daughter went straight from breast milk alone, to normal table foods - never pureed or on a spoon.

She's now 10 months old and we have had no problems whatsoever - she will eat anything, with her hands, chunky - served exactly as it is on my own plate.

You wouldn't be doing your baby any favours by getting him used to eating bland sludge, when he could be enjoying some real nutritious food.

And don't underestimate the power of gumming.

Answer 10

Fresh fruit could give your child a rash.  My oldest son could only have canned fruit until just recently and he is 2 1/2.  If your baby is tolerating table food, then yes, I would give him the table food.  That's what I did.  I started my sons' at 8 months.  Just keep an eye on the baby to make sure he doesn't choke, and he should be fine.  Where fruit is concerned, try giving him canned fruits.  Good Luck!  (and plus it saves tons of money)  Your son is still getting the vitamins he needs.  Just when cooking his food, don't add salt and spices, give it to him plain, because that could be hard on his little tummy.

Answer 11

The best baby food is pureed "real" food anyway - no baby ever needs commercial jars. But your baby probably reacted to something unusual rather than the baby food specifically not suiting him.

Just be aware that some things in regular table food aren't suitable for babies - the main one you may not think of is salt, but also honey and shellfish.

Answer 12

I agree with you 100%!!  Purees aren't necessary; babies mash food with their gums!!  :)

Keep it up mama!  

I don't blame babies, that jarred stuff is VILE!!  

** I agree with Elyse's mommy about the sippy cup too.  My daughter breastfeeds and has never taken a bottle.  I started offering a little water in a sippy at 6 months.  :)

Edit:  Salt for sure should be kept to a minimum, along with added sugars, but spices are VERY healthful, and make food interesting!!  Around 8 months is fine to try ginger, garlic, pepper, dill, nutmeg, basil, cinnamon, mint, vanilla, etc, so feel free!!!   YUMMY!

Answer 13

FIL sounds a little controling.  I am sure if it wasn't this it would be somethingelse he would be complaining about.  Get used to it because he will probably find something to complain about all the time.  Bottom line you are the mom and your husband the dad, this is your baby and do what you feel is right for your baby.

As for if what you are doing is appropriate, yes.  You are doing just fine and just get your husband to be supportive of you.  If necessary get a doctor's note backing you up, but the only one you really need to prove anything to is the baby's father not the grandfather.

Answer 14

He loved table food cause that is what he got used to. Baby food has no flavor, so of course once he was fed adult food there was no going back. You have a doctor a pediatrician to instruct you in what your child needs not a grandpa.. As long as he is drinking milk, and getting calcium that all should be fine! My son didn't really eat baby food. He did the oatmeal food and macaroni and cheese. My son was born into a mexican family so we eat beans and tortilla's all the time. In fact now at 2 that's what he mainly eats is tortilla's rice and beans. That's what he likes. Let your baby be the boss of his taste buds. Obvisouly not candy, but you know what I mean!.

Answer 15

My nephews are 10 months old and they eat both baby food and small portions of certain table foods. The best thing to do to get your FIL off of your back would be to get a note from your babies doctor on what he can or can't eat yet and also if he needs his bottle still or if he can use a sippy cup.

Answer 16

Nah table food is fine, but like you said your baby hated pureed baby food, so why give him something that he doesn't like opposed to something that he does?? Besides, i think that getting a baby used to lots of different tastes and texture of normal food as early as they will allow you too will cause them to be less fussy as they get older. As for the bottle/sippy cup thing, i think it is best to have your son drinking out of a cup quite early on, if he wasn't happy with it he wouldn't be doing it he would still want a bottle