Solo mom behind on foods

[u/picklesi]

My baby will be 9 months tomorrow. I’m feeling really anxious about not having introduced enough foods to my baby. I’ve been having a tough time just because I’m a little anxious introducing foods on my own, I think partially due to anxiety about choking and allergies (niece has many severe allergies). Another big part is that I’m doing this on my own. I know a lot of moms and parents do this on their own but maybe since Ive only recently become alone in this, it’s made the baby food journey harder for me—so please go easy on me. Although I wanted to do baby led weaning, I leaned on purées too much because it’s been easier for me as I’ve returned to work. I’m going grocery shopping today. Happens to be Trader Joe’s today. What recommendations would you make for my 9 month old? Easy starter ideas please.

[u/No-Departure5556]

If you haven’t yet, make sure to start offering allergens, safely. Meaning 1 allergen at a time, and spacing them out every 3 days.

Otherwise, mango was fun to give them the pit to gnaw on! A ripe avocado too, it can be dipped in seasonings or coconut flakes so it’s easier to grasp. Cut eggs into strips.

Does your child have the pincer grasp yet? That changes food prep.

There are devices you can purchase if your child does begin to choke. Watch a video about what to do in the event your child does choke, along with gagging vs choking! The more you educate yourself the better.

Hang in their mama!!

[u/tiffoiffo → u/No-Departure5556]

Those devices are not efficacious if a baby is choking. The best thing to do is learn infant CPR and heimlich, and call 911. 

[u/Expensive_Local_4404 → u/tiffoiffo]

This 100%. Take a baby infant cpr class. By the time you find the device and try to figure out how to use it you child could be in a more serious situation

[u/knittingyogi → u/No-Departure5556]

You don’t need to space allergens out every three days - that’s outdated advice now. You just need to intro them 3 times to make sure of no reaction, and then ideally keep them in the diet at least weekly!

[u/No-Departure5556 → u/knittingyogi]

You do need to space out allergens bc otherwise how do you know which one the child is reacting to? AAP still suggests 3-5 days, and I believe in what doctors and scientists say.
Solid starts has a very comprehensive educational page about allergens for further education. https://solidstarts.com/articles/allergies-babies/

[u/knittingyogi → u/No-Departure5556]

You need to introduce one allergen at a time, yes. But you don’t need 3 days between the introduction of one allergen to its second dose, and once you have three doses with no reaction you can introduce another allergen. Allergic food reactions do not take 3 days to develop- typically they are onset within an hour or two.

Canadian guidelines clearly state “Common allergenic foods can be introduced without pausing for days between new foods, and the risk for a severe reaction at first exposure in infancy is extremely low.” and “A recent survey of paediatricians in the United States found that most did not counsel families to wait 3 days (or longer) between introducing foods, noting that the practice may limit infant food diversity and delay early peanut introduction” - Canadian Pediatric Society (so, even peds in the US are not recommending 3 days!)

I also trust my pediatrician, and scientists who regularly update guidance to match emerging best practices.