Stuck in a purée rut - how to get my premature babies onto proper food?

[thereistheball]

My twins were born 3 months early and so started on solids at a corrected age of 13 weeks. Since they lacked the coordination to chew we had little choice but to start with purées and take things slowly. Now they are one year old, with three teeth between them, and although they can tackle well-cooked veg and love breadsticks, they eat much more if it's puréed and I often resort to jars or pouches, especially if I'm short of time or out. I want to start transitioning them onto proper food. Can anyone advise on how to do this? One in particular still wakes 2/3 times a night for milk, and likes his food runny. Thanks in advance! (PS - I'm in France, where BLW has not yet caught on. My paediatrician was horrified when I suggested it.)

Haven't got any experience of premature babies sorry but hopefully this will bump for you

I used a little food chopper for the inbetween stage and over about a year chopped food up less and less finely. I always put some gravy or another sauce in to keep the food moist and appetizing. You could introduce some gravy as a way to get a little meat into their diet. Shepherd's pie is an easy dinner and can be chopped as finely as you need until they eat it as it comes.

Anabel Karmel's books are very helpful with lots of suggestions. If you have time, try to make up some batches to freeze which should avoid resorting to pouches.

Thanks. I had an AK book for DD and found it a bit weird - doesn't she do a chicken nuggets type thing with crushed cornflakes? Though on reflection they can't be more disgusting than jars of baby food (which in France contain salt). Anyway I gave it away. I will have a look around for some of her finger food recipes. Are there any you can recommend?

Yes, these were real faves (mixture of my own and AK:

green and red vegetable sauces with pasta
chicken with apricot
aubergine dish (can't remember more sorry)
liver and carrot/potato with apricot/pear to sweeten
lentils, carrot and potato
chicken, parsnip and apple
salmon and orange dish
baked beans with a boiled egg mixed in
shepherd's/cottage pie

Used couscous instead of rice initially. Rice too big.

Didn't try the cornflake nugget dish, prefer to give the real thing.

Avocado was a very easy finger food along with various cheeses to nibble on. Also a lentil bake was easy to pick up although on the drier side. I tended to feed with a spoon alongside finger food and it has had no lasting effect. DC eat everything!

AK gives inspiration and you can adapt as your LO starts to have favourite tastes.

Hi

DS2 was very slow to wean away from purees. They will, in time. Let them take the lead. If they love bread sticks, give them other things to chew on - crackers or Organix corn snacks, bits of toast with butter or cream cheese etc.

I used to give DS2 small chunks of peeped cucumber, unsalted rice cakes, slivers of cheese, chunks of banana or peeled apple and pear. But not at 13 weeks. Think he was far older. At 13 weeks it was still definitely just purees.

Fish fingers are quite good as they are crunchy and soft, whereas chicken goujons are a bit tougher to get through if you have no teeth!

Eventually they get used to having different textures in their mouths.

Ds was 8 weeks early and made his weight up very quickly so never had to 'correct' his age BUT he was still on lots of pureed foods well after 12 months. I slowly introduced more lumpy purees and did it all very gradually.

Well I lost patience and dumped some slivers of crepe on their high chair trays, rolled up with apple purée or finely grated cheese. I'd guess about a third went down, a third went on the floor, and a third got eaten by me. Then they had half a banana each. Success! Tonight they are having the rest of the pancakes with cream cheese, and some avocado and soft carrot sticks. They probably eat less than if I were shoveling it in, but then they have their bedtime milk soon after.

That sounds like the ticket! My now 3 year old was at least 6 weeks prem (we aren't too sure of dates) and only ate home made puree for a good 9 months corrected age.

Toast etc got her in the end as I remember so your babies will be the corrected age about the same as Sophie was when she experimented with solid food. Has never been any where near her age for weight and has just started to catch up. I wouldn't push too hard personally. She's fine now.

Our second baby perfectly healthy to term eats like a little piglet all sorts. The difference is amazing.

Could you parcel your lovely food up and send over here for the adults please?

I have never used a recipe book just good old fashioned stews and slow cooking. In face Dd1 has mashed up roast for breakfast lunch and dinner to put weight on!