Feeding the Baby and My New Favorite Mom Hack
Norah is 8 months (8 month Update, coming at you v. soon) and we've finally nailed down a pretty consistent feeding routine, so I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites, and a few things that are really working for us!
She just got her top two teeth in, so she's now got 4 teeth total - which is just enough to get by :) Bella didn't get any teeth until after she turned one, so feeding her was a bit more of a challenge.
Norah still nurses about 5-7 times a day and will eat a "meal" for lunch & dinner. She'd probably eat breakfast too, but there usually isn't enough time as she naps shortly after she wakes up, so she nurses early enough to keep her full.
For lunch, we try to do some puffs or a teething cracker with a container of baby food. I'm obsessed with Little Spoon baby food - the best mom-hack ever. Collin & I eat healthy, but we feed our kids even healthier (and sneak some junk food when they're in bed ;) I have always been super picky about baby food (please, no pureed meat - OMG - I can't) and Little Spoon is created specifically for your baby's age & development, with organic and nutrient-dense ingredients. For example, Norah's favorite is the Peas & Pear & MINT! You guys - it's so fun to see them eat flavors like curry, mint, ginger or spirulina and know that not only are they developing their pallet but they're getting food that's perfect for their little bodies! (And if you're wondering - I am definitely not the mom that makes her own baby food - time is money, people!)
We get a delivery of Little Spoon every two weeks and it is SO nice to always have food on hand for her. It comes cold, needs to be refrigerated and isn't full of preservatives for shelf life. Love. BONUS: I'll add these to smoothies for the big kids sometimes knowing they're packed with nutrients. They'd likely shrivel up and cry if they knew that, because they think baby food is "OMG EEWWWW GROSSSSS ONLY FOR BABIES!" ... but they sure drink that mango smoothie down like it's their job. joke's on them. :)
For dinner, Norah will eat another container of food and then I give her small tastes/bites of whatever we're eating. We've always fed our kids whatever we're eating at the table and the easiest way to get them into this routine is to start as early as you can. If we're eating chicken, pasta or salad, I let her taste it, maybe break off a very tiny piece. It's not necessarily to get full from it, as much as it is to develop her taste buds and encourage her to try new textures & foods. I have also been using these silicone pulp feeders (so much cleaner than the netting) and we put everything from berries to broccoli in them - it keeps her busy in her highchair and she'll sit for quite a while with this little thing.
The older kids find it hilarious to watch her eat and I love that meal-times are such a positive experience for our family (even though someone spills a drink at EVERY meal.)
FAVORITES:
BIBS / SPOONS / TEETHING CRACKERS / HIGH CHAIR / SIPPY CUP
Our sweet friends at Little Spoon so graciously offered a coupon code to my friends - use code KENDRASFAVE for a $15 credit on your order! You will LOVE, I promise!
