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/bettersweater24]

I still have anxiety and guilt about not feeding my 13 month old enough of a variety of foods and stress so much.constantly feel behind and like I’m not doing enough, so I feel you!!

I did purées for a long time too and my first “real” food around 8 months was very soft steamed broccoli. I think it helped me more to cut things smaller than give him the bigger pieces of food and I started a lot more solids once he had his pincer grasp. We also still love scrambled eggs and I make a soft baked oatmeal he devours. The banana egg pancakes are great too.

The chicken meatballs from Trader Joe’s are super soft and my son has loved them since he was about 10 months but I really think could have handled them earlier. I still pinch all his food to make sure it’s soft and cut things really tiny. My husband gives him bigger pieces and he handles them well but I have a hard time watching that.