solids questions

Just wondering if you can please give me some advice please as all the books I read tell me different things ...

1. How long should I use baby rice as a part of Andy's meals? Do I only use it when the meal has no meat in it? Gave Andy some chicken today. Does that mean he doesn't need the rice as he's getting iron from the meat?

2. I bought some dried split peas so make up for Andy. Does anyone know how to cook them? Do they need to be soaked first?

3. How long should Andy be given smooth food for before we start just mashing with a spoon? How about soft finger foods? It's amazing how varied the books are.

4. Has anyone made their own teething rusks? I was told to use marg and marmite on toast and bake for ages. Been looking at the marmite jar. Doesn't look very natural to me.

5. How about using milk and stuff in recipes? Some books say NO DAIRY before 1 others are using it from 4 months!!

Life was so much easier when it was just boobies.

Thanks so much for that Lissy. Yeterday Tired Andy on a wee bag thingie. Totally loves it. Screamed at me today when I took it off him to refil it. Yay something which will keep him entertained for at least a few minutes.

We give Isla veges liked cooked kumera and brocolli as finger food,..I just take a piece out of the pot before I puree the rest! Messy as,...but good learning for her,..but dont do it at a cafe! Lol!

Thanks Kels. I'll keep an eye out for chewing. Hadn't thought of that ...dur. Think my brain has turned to puree hehehe

Kelz ... you mean it's going to get messier?? Didn't think that was possible. Is so much fun though. Thank goodness we don't have new, cream carpet! Can't wait for summer when Andy can eat naked and then be hosed down. hehe

I think we need to wait a bit longer than 'normal' as I only started Andy on solids on his 6 month birthday. I'm looking forward to being able to share food with him.

I'm waiting until Spotlight has a 20% off day and I'm going to get some of their cool clear plastic stuff with patterns on it to go under the high chair. Better yet to cover the whole lounge. lol Scrubbing pumpkin spew off the carpet is so delightful!

mousetraps...from alison holsts baby food and beyond.

spread slices of sandwich or toast bread as lightly and evenly as poss with marmite. cut into easily managed fingers and arrange ona cooking rack (for faster, more even cooking)> bake at 100-150 deg C for 1/2 - 1 hr, until the bread is crisp right through and lightly browned. cool on a rack and store in an airtight container.

there is also a recipe for muesli teething biscuits and some banana biscotti so let me know if you want me to type them out for you - or else get the book from teh library...i highly recommend it.