Jan
26
2011
inside the cocoon
We have been trying to stay VERY close to home over the past few weeks. This might be easy (even refreshing) for some. But I am a “go-er” and a “do-er” so being at home around the clock makes my skin start to crawl. I actually love being in my house…I just need smaller doses 
But it is important for Daniel to get a firm sense of his new surroundings and to have the opportunity to attach and bond with not only us…but his everyday environment. We’ve made the daily school run (fortunately he doesn’t mind his car seat…yeah!!) and a couple of doctor visits. But we’ve been avoiding the mall, Walmart, and anywhere else where there are likely to be crowds. Instead we’ve been hanging out playing Thomas the Train, practicing some of our new tricks (like sitting up!) and just snuggling on the couch. There will be plenty of days for running around in our future and I’m trying hard to just enjoy this quiet time at home.
So here are a few of the things we are doing to keep ourselves busy here inside the Cooper abode:
The infamous breathing treatments. He hated them at first but has come to have peace with his fate and now usually just falls fast asleep. The extra bonus? I get 3o minutes of daytime tv – ha!
Trying out some new cuisine.
DO NOT let that smile fool you. I had just said something ingeniously funny…that’s all. Daniel DOES NOT like solid foods. And he is doing his very best to keep those tight lips closed and the enemy cereal out. I’ve tried everything I can think of. But after 8 months of guzzling those bottles…he’s not a big fan of the spoon. I’m all ears on any tricks of the trade on this one!!
Between the bottle feedings (he’s taking about 5 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours during the day), cereal eating torture, breathing treatments, and rocking to sleep (he doesn’t actually nap…I rock…he falls asleep…I lay him down…he wakes up…lather…rinse…repeat)…our day goes by pretty quickly. Sam provides good entertainment for both of us. He is especially wound up these days as he isn’t getting much outside stimulation either (can you say CLIMBING THE WALLS??) So we’ve been doing lots of puzzles, trains, cars, and when all else fails…MOVIES!!! He has been a great big brother though and seems to be adjusting pretty darn well.
(don’t mind the red eyes…pink eye seems to think we have a revolving door at this house!)
I am on a cleaning, purging, organizing kick since we are spending so much time inside. Just wait til you see our craft area…and my junk drawer…I’m on a roll!
My nephew is 8 mo. and also anti-food. So if you hear any tricks, send them my way and I will let my dear sweet, frustrated sister-in-law know!
Do we blame him for not liking that stuff! It tastes horrible! My middle daughter was the same way and after struggling for weeks about it I gave in and just started giving her real food mashed up. Total lifesaver! She didn’t have any teeth but apparently babies don’t really use teeth to chew … Talk with your pediatrician or OT feeding therapist … Vitamins and minerals are important from those cereals but you can Get more calories and good vitamins with the right food. Good luck! I feel your pain!
my trick is to ALWAYS sweeten the cereal..every time..ADD lots of apple sauce, pears, etc… all 5 of my kids hated the plain stuff…but licked up the sweet stuff..and they ALL still ate their veggies too..I have good eaters and I gave them all sweet fruit in their cereal from day one…If you’ve already tried this…then…hmmmmm…try plain fruit wth no cereal in it…he’s old enough
kj
My youngest never liked cereal either. I would suggest moving on to some other baby food. Actually a couple of mine (I have 4 too!). Didn’t like any kind of baby food and quickly moved to “real” food, but I would probably try some other kind of baby food. Good luck!!
I agree with the ‘real’ food. My kids L.O.V.E.D their vegies from day one. My youngest was the fussiest but if I gave her the spoon & said, “Abbey do.” She would eat every time! Hang in there, we’re all still praying!
Hi Jen. We always enjoy looking at your beautiful pictures and catching up on your blog. We are home now with Hermela and also trying to lay low and adjust to all the NEW surroundings. She must be so confused as to all the white snow and freezing cold temps outside! Pink eye likes to “hang out” at our house too. Lots of changing of pillowcases.
I made all of my baby cereal. And it’s pretty simple, just grind the rice in a coffee grinder, and then 1/4cup of cereal to 1 cup water. Make it just like you would homemade oatmeal. And then add some spices! I used vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. My son ate that stuff up! It’s not wrong for baby food to be tasty! You could also add some fruit or baby yogurt. Stoneyfield makes some awesome baby yogurt. And it makes the cereal creamy like the formula.
You could also try letting him self feed too. Just let him play with the cereal a bit. Get use to something different. And if he’s like every baby he’ll put it in his mouth.
i agree with the real food idea! or adding fruit to the cereal none of mine would eat it plain either. i have a 6.5 month old and he hates it plain!
… gorgeous photos:)
Ahhh, cocooning…. my husband keeps insisting that I won’t be able to do it ( and telling everyone so! ) I’ve been giving him the evil eye now every time he starts to downplay it’s importance! (: Part of me thinks that it sounds lovely, but I’m sure that it gets old fast! Sweet boy!
Do they still make those little mesh baby food feeder things, the kind you can put in a piece of banana or frozen fruit and they can feed themself? Maybe it’s a texture thing, he might like something less grainy and more smooth, like a sweet potato?
My daughter was the exact same way…hated solids at that age; only wanted to nurse! That all changed when I discovered the “fruit/veggie squeezes”! They’re all natural, pureed fruit and veggies in a little pouch with a little opening at the top. You pop off the top and the baby sucks on the top like it’s a straw/bottle. You can get them at Target!! There are a couple different organic brands (”Happy Baby” and “Ellas Kitchen” are the ones we use) They really saved my life
Definitly worth a try!!
none of my kids were crazy about cereal…we ended up skipping that entirely and moving on to softish food. i’m sure you’ll discover the elusive secret, though, whatever it is!
love peeking in on you.
Sometimes I would eat (or pretend to eat) the food first and carry on like it was the best thing every invented. If that doesn’t work, a good trick is to put something sweet on the tip of the spoon with the cereal behind it–about a 1/4 to 3/4 ratio.
I am with the other comments of skipping the cereal (at least for a bit) and trying out other foods. My daughter wanted nothing to do with the cereal, but when I introduced sweet potatoes and squash she was gobbling it all up. Then, I was able to add back cereal. Oh, those fun days of coaxing them to eat!
I remember those early days of just getting to know each other….such sweet memories before the insanity of life overtook us. Enjoy these days.
When I had a fussy baby in the day care we always sang to them and kept their mind off of eating and then they would open swallow and do it all over aging while memorized by the song
But we also put fruit in it to give it flavor.
My boys only ate the rice cereal with peaches/applesauce stirred in it. They were tough!!
My daughter came home from China at 9 months and had never had solid food. She fought putting anything in her mouth (except a bottle or her fingers). It took over a month of daily attempts at feeding her baby food before she willing opened her mouth to eat. Actually, ice cream was the first thing she was excited about eating. But, eventually she learned that food was good and 6 1/2 years later she is still a great eater. My advice is just be patient!
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