Food Before One... Just for Fun

Here's something that's sure to spark a debate if you're into that sort of thing:

 "When to introduce food to your baby". 

If you were to ask, 10 different moms, I can almost guarantee the answers will be all over the map. There will be a handful that will say "I gave my baby food at three months and he/she is just fine." Then there will be the ones that swear by the "no food before 6 months 'rule'". And of course others that will say "Food before one is just for fun". This is one of the beautiful things about being a mom. The kids are YOURS!! You get to pick when it's right for your own child, and not have to worry about what the "rules" are. (Seriously though, why are there even still rules? Can't we get past those?)

I'm here today to share my experiences with both kids, because quite honestly... both kids were fed very differently.

Zander was a "jar- food" baby. He had the baby cereal / baby oatmeal mixed with the jars of baby food. Baby mush. He was also my formula-fed baby. I tried to breastfeed him, but I was a first time mom, I wasn't properly informed, and it just didn't work out. YES, I was super guilty about it then, but now (looking back), at least he was FED! Baby's gotta eat, right? Right.
When he was three months old, Josh and I realized he was drinking a LOT of formula. We also thought this meant he was still hungry. So ignoring everything the doctors said, we fed him some baby cereal and veggies. HE LOVED IT! Sure, it took a few weeks for him to get over the tongue reflex where all babies just push the food right back out, but he eventually figured it out.

Here come all of the nasty comments about how "he wasn't ready!" Trust me, I've heard them all... give me your best shot! lol.

1 year old Zander enjoying some peas. 

Ainsley was a completely different story. She was my breastfed baby. We exclusively breastfed for 7 months. At 7 months, pumping at work got a little more difficult for me and we had to introduce formula; at that point she was combo fed with formula and breast milk.

We waiting to introduce food to Ainsley until she was 6 months old. We also didn't introduce baby cereal or jars of baby food. We went the "baby led weaning" route. It's a common way to introduce babies to food in the UK and overseas. In my mind, I wanted to go this way because I didn't want to buy extra food, and if she could eat what we ate, then all the better!

I read a TON about baby led weaning before we reached the 6 month mark. I started with softer foods, but from what I read I didn't have to. Again... all about your gut and your choices, moms.
Ainsley was fed avocados, sweet potatoes, etc. Just not in the jar form.

8 month old Ainsley munching on a waffle

In Ainsley's case, the "food before one just for fun" was definitely the case. She was NOT interested in food. She mostly played with it when we offered her anything. Occasionally, like the pictures above and below she would eat something, but it wasn't always the case. We also learned that she had a slight egg allergy at 6 months old when we tried scrambled eggs. This was also something she grew out of. Now she just doesn't like eggs at all. Stuff like that you can't learn from books or doctors. You learn by doing.
It's just like I continuously say in here. You have to go with your gut. For Zander, he was (and still is) my food baby. He rarely turns anything down. Ainsley just isn't that interested in food. Then, or now.

10 month old Ainsley eating a burrito. 

I'm just blessed that we were able to do what we wanted with both kids. Both kids are happy and healthy. I'm not trying to say you have to do what we did. I'm only sharing my experiences and hoping that y'all realize it's OK to do different things with different kids... even when those kids are your own! HA!

20 Month Ainsley enjoying Banana ice cream

If you're a mom - when did you introduce foods to your kid(s). I'd love to hear!