When I did a call-out and asked you all what you wanted me to write about, the overwhelming response was SOLIDS! It’s always solids that bring the most questions. Because while it’s exciting and cute to imagine their little faces smushed with banana, it can also be a pretty scary process full of unknowns. Am I giving too much? What if they choke? Could they be allergic?
When I started solids with Bobby and Florence, it felt… easy. They ate everything and anything I offered, happily gobbling down purées, finger foods and family meals with no fuss. The only hiccup we experienced was when Bobby was diagnosed at 18 months with an anaphylactic allergy to walnuts and pecans (which I can revisit another day if you like because fkkkkk me, that was not nice). Other than that, mealtimes were pretty much smooth sailing.
With Esmé, however, it’s been a very different story.
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but for those new here, Esmé has had a sensitive stomach from day one. Severe reflux and colic defined our first months and now that we’re transitioning to a full-time solids menu alongside her regular bottles, it’s been a lot of trial and error to find what agrees with her.
Constipation quickly became one of our biggest challenges. It’s incredibly common when introducing solids. Babies’ digestive systems are still maturing and suddenly they’re processing foods much heavier than breastmilk or formula. The shift can slow things down, cause a hell of a lot of discomfort and deter us as parents from introducing anything further. From my experience, offering extra water (cool, boiled water) has always helped. I also keep multiple packs of prunes in the pantry to blend into any food when I think she needs a little extra help and I take breaks from high-constipating foods such as bananas, rice and cereals.
What has become very clear in recent weeks with Esmé is her reaction to wheat-heavy foods and grains. Toast, pasta, baby snacks… even the tiniest amounts would leave her extremely bloated, gassy, uncomfortable and often constipated. She hasn’t been formally diagnosed yet, but it got to the stage where she was shrieking overnight in constant pain and I couldn’t ignore the pattern.
Eventually, I stripped everything right back to basics: fruit and vegetable purées only. And what do you know?! Almost instantly, the change came. The big bloated round belly eased, the tummy pains overnight reduced and her little system seemed so much happier. SHE was happier!!
Recently, I’ve reintroduced pasta in a gluten-free form as a way to give her something more substantial at mealtimes without upsetting her stomach. So far, so good. Don’t jinx me!! She hasn’t shown the same discomfort she experienced with regular wheat-based products and is genuinely a happier baby. So for now, it’s about keeping things simple, watching her cues closely, letting her tummy lead the way and not letting her munch on Bobby’s leftover toast in the morning.
It’s yet another humbling reminder that every baby is different and I cannot stress this enough. What worked seamlessly for Bobby and Florence hasn’t worked for Esmé and despite the challenges and inconveniences, that’s okay. I’ve had to remind myself on numerous occasions that the solids journey is about patience, persistence and learning as we go.
So, I thought I’d jot down a list of some of Essie’s favourite foods as a way to remind you that you don’t need to complicate it! Milk is still her main source of nutrients right now and food is just a bonus, so don’t stress about preparing complete meals when Esmé’s current favourite thing to munch on is chopped-up oranges.
Essie’s Favourite Foods
Steamed pear or apple purée
Gentle on digestion and easy for their little tummies. Either blend it up after steaming, or leave it in pieces they can pick up with their hands. Just make sure it’s soft enough for their mouths.
Lamb chop/cutlet
Super high in iron, and she has so much fun gnawing on the bone. They don’t necessarily “eat” much of this, but it’s good entertainment while they suck all the goodness from the meat juices.
Mashed avocado
Creamy, full of healthy fats and great on its own or spread onto soft sticks of cucumber (perfect for gum-chewing). Sometimes I add a cooked egg yolk and mash it all together.
Pumpkin
Just like the fruit above, I either bake handfuls of chunks in the oven and store them in the fridge to give to her cold in her highchair or I blend it up with a dollop of butter. It’s creamy and delicious… and yes, I end up eating half of it.
Gluten-free pasta twirls
I cook these with a sprinkle of chicken stock for extra flavour and pour the pumpkin-and-butter purée over the top as the “sauce”. It’s currently her favourite. You can do this with any veggies too.
Scrambled eggs
Easy! I lay it on her highchair and let her practise picking it up with her hands and feeding herself. Obviously test first, as eggs are a common allergen.
Lentil and “anything” mash
Cooked red lentils blended with any steamed veggies and fruit for a gentle protein source. I call it “anything” mash because they don’t know what’s in it, so I’m prone to mixing pumpkins, broccoli, zucchini, pear, apple, prunes and berries together. All the goodness.
Yoghurt and fruit
Pop a small handful of frozen mango or berries from the freezer into the microwave for 30 seconds, and when soft, mash them into some yoghurt. Any yoghurt of your choice, I’m not here to judge. Delicious, and I find this one really fills her up too.
Watching Esmé explore new flavours has been a messy, humbling reminder that this stage is about progress, not perfection. Take it slow, follow their cues and enjoy the little wins, because these moments really do fly by!
