Christopher Eating Update

I bought some bowls that sucktion cup down to the high chair tray. I don't like them, but they were the only ones Walmart had in stock. I wasn't willing to wait or look around, because we need them now. So we got them. He did really well tonight. We had Hamberger Helper, Cheese burger and macaroni, and he loved it. He feed himself mostly with me sneeking in a few bites for him. He doesn't do so good with a spoon. I hope he had enough to eat! He was so dirty afterwards, but so happy.

I am still looking for suggestions on healthy finger foods that are safe if anyone has any ideas. I tried to bake some carrots that I cut into tiny strips, but that didn't work. He couldn't chew them and gagged a little so I took them away for another day. I ate them though and they were really good.

A Little Help Please!

I am running out of ideas and need help! What kinds of foods are safe for an 11 month old to eat by himself? He has 2 teeth on the bottom and 4 on the top. He will only eat foods he can feed himself. Here is the problem they can't be choking hazards, need to be healthy, and not so messy? I am at a loss, and can't come up with anything. I am not very good at kitchen things! I have cooked more since my son has been born than I did the entire 10 years my husband and I had been together prior to that. If it wouldn't save money I would never cook. I am learning as I go, and despirately need help. Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.

Note, the simpler the better! I am not that great of a cook!

I'll do it!

My son refuses to eat anything I feed him. He screams when I try to give him a bottle. He spits out the food I spoon into his mouth. He wants to do it himself. I put a cheerio into his mouth he spit it out, and then put on in his mouth and ate it. The same thing with all his meals. I had to give him his plate last night so I could get him to eat dinner.

I know you are probably saying he's about 1 and should be starting to feed himself. The problem is the mess. He gets it everywhere. I'm talking he'd need a bath after every meal, and I need to shampoo the carpets. Last night The bowl was tossed over 3 times. Not intentionally, he's just not coordinated enough. When he tries to spoon out food the dish goes to. I need one that sticks to the high chair. Do they make those?

Once the dish ended up on my chest. I was picking food up off the floor! He did throw it over once he was done to! That was so much fun. The worst thing is it leaves me worring did he eat enough? I didn't really have this issue with my daughter. She still makes a horrible mess, but she didn't want to feed herself until later on. At that point she was coordinated enough she didn't have trouble. The mess she makes is because she likes to wear her food!

The fever!

It started Saturday night around 2 am, Christopher woke up crying and felt super hot to touch. I took his temp 102. I immediately gave him some motrin. It took a little bit, but I finally got him back to sleep. Then at 4 am he woke up again fever 102 again. I gave him some tylenol. I was worried but since within about 30 minutes each time his fever went down and he went back to sleep. I know that all in all a fever isn't a bad thing, it's our bodies defense against something. I was worried about what that something could be.

All day Sunday is was mostly his normal self. A little bit grouchier than normal and had a low fever off and on all day. He didn't seem to want to eat much. He only wanted to eat foods he could feed himself, and he refused a bottle. This could be due to not feeling so well or just a faze of growing up and developing his independence. Either way it is not pleasant.

Sunday night was the same as before up all through the night with a fever. What worried me the most was it was higher. Monday morning his fever spiked at 103.5. It took longer to go down, but within an hour he was playing and talking in the living room. He woke up from his nap Monday in a horrible sweat. So I took him to the doctor. They said his exam looked normal. So keep watching him and giving tylenol and motrin. He does have a little cough but other than that and the fever nothing.

His behavior has changed drasticlly though. He is still playing and talking, but he is cranky and mean. He doesn't want to sleep at all. So I have to fight with him to get him to sleep. This is new he was never this much trouble. He kicks his legs and arches his back when I try to hold him to put him down to sleep. I have to walk around gently bouncing him and swaying him back and forth until he falls asleep. Then sometimes he wakes up when I lay him down and starts screaming. So I have to start all over again!

He also doesn't want his bottles. The doctor looked and he doesn't have thrush or anything. I know he is at the age to get off bottles anyways, but sometimes he cries because he is hungry and it's 2 am. What are you going to do? He doesn't drink from a sippy cup much. Actually, he has trouble with it, he chokes because it comes out so fast. I think this is because he is used to drinking thicker liquids. I have always had to thicken his formula due to his acid reflux.

Plus, he only wants to feed himself, and is not letting me feed him. I give him a plate, but he just turns it over, and then he accidently drops it. He also tosses it over when he is done to. He doesn't really try to use his spoon. I know it will take practice, but it doesn't seem he is ready. Maybe he is trying to tell me he is.

I don't think he is teething. I don't feel or see anything. But that doesn't mean anything. He is chewing on everything, but he always does that. I don't know if he is still runing a fever it is hard to take his temp. Unless he is feeling really bad he won't sit still for me. So I usually don't force it unless he feels really hot. If he is cranky and feeling a little warm I give him motrin or tylenol. I just wish he could tell me exactly what was bothering him!

The worst part of all this is I am exausted. I ache all over from carrying him and rocking him in my arms while standing. I am tired from not sleeping enough. On top of all this I have a headache from the crying. I am quickly lossing my patience and compassion. I feel so bad for saying that, but it is true. I am at a point where I just want to say, "Oh, shut up!" That breaks my heart, and makes me feel like a horrible mother. I just want my nice predictable baby back. It is like in the middle of the night he was switched, and now he's a monster.

feeding baby solids!

My son is developmentally at the stage where he should be able to eat 2nd and 3rd foods along with things like Cheerios, Gerber Puffs, and Crunchies. However, often when he eats things that are thick he chokes and then vomits. I don't know if He isn't ready or there is something wrong. He does really good some times. He clearly wants to eat these things. Also he only has two teeth, the bottom front ones. He does try to mash things with his jaws. I just hope nothing is wrong.