Travelling for 3 months with 6 month old twins - how do I do solids?

[Sullwah]

Need some advice please.

We will be going off to the States for two months at the end of August when my twin boys are are 6.5 months old and the off to France for a month on a very long holiday (only time DH will be able to take this amount of time off).

Mostly staying in hotels in the States and then in self-catering in France.

What do I do about introducing solids? Hate the idea of starting of with jars but cant see an alternative.

Any ideas? Anyone know of portable steamers and food processors? Or a good make of jar in the US.

How bad is it to use jars?

You could do BLW, then you just give them real food, the same as you are eating. It'll be a lot easier, and makes eating out very relaxed. See Aitchs blog at Babyledweaning.com for loads of info

I was about to suggest the same as cmotdibbler.

yes blw definitely. never did jars with dd. from 6 months she just had a bit of ours - fresh fruit, veg, loved it.

tbh she had v little for months, milk was the main food and SHOULD be so don't stress. its all very laid back

do check out the link above

i'm sure the hotels in the states will be good about not salting your food if you ask them, so that would make BLW an option for you. tbh the amounts they'll be eating at that stage... it's more a case of letting them have a shot at some finger food really. self-catering shouldn't be a problem either, i'd have thought.

Just a thought, if you don't want to do BLW at first for the twins: I bought this food mill in Canada, so I imagine you could pick one up in the US from a baby store. It's great, very portable, doesn't use electricity and simple to keep clean. If your motels have kitchenettes, it will be spot on for steamed veg, you can get a little microwave veg steamer too. In fact, the mill is so dinky that you could easily take it to a restaurant table and grind down some food on the spot.

I may give BLW a go later, but thus far DD is really enjoying her food and has been a bit of flan-flinger when it comes to finger food at the moment!

tbh even if you're not doing BLW, the govt here is recommending mashed and finger food from the beginning, so a fork is pretty much all you need. don't forget avocadoes, bananas and the like. you deffo don't have to go the jar option if you're reluctant.

You can get that food mill mentioned above at Babies R Us in the states (and it's loads cheaper than it is in the UK). If you eat in "real" restaurants, you should be able to get fresh food to grind up, with no added butter or salt. But stay away from the ubiquitous chain restaurants, like Chilis or Warburtons or TGIFridays or Outback Steakhouse or Rainforest Cafe... you get the picture.. as their stuff is all pre-packaged and loaded with salt. Not sure about babyfood brands, but - depending on where you're traveling in the US, do a search for a nearby Whole Foods Market (national chain of supermarkets) as they will have organic baby food.

As for France, why don't you buy one of those little baby food steamers that then purees the food right there in same container. I forget the brand name. They are French, originally, but they sell them here in the UK now and the voltage will be the same, of course. I think they're pretty small.

Thanks for all your advice.

Think I will go down the mashed food with fork option at first.

And will look into buying that mill.

Stroppyshopper - would be great if you could remember the brand of baby steamer as sounds just like what I am looking for!

I think this is what stroppyshopper means??

Not used it myself just seen it on their website

ohh - looks just what I need.

Though I like the sound of BLW - but think it may be too messy to do this with two babies in a restaurant. Dont think it will make us very popular!

that's not true, ime. when they're very young they just drop stuff downwards, they're not lobbing it across the room. so restaurant staff just sweep it up, no problem. tbh i'd be more squicked at havinig to wipe up blobs of dripped puree.

also, staff are generally so interested and pleased at the sight of wee teenies tucking in to their food (being used to all too often dealing with fussy toddlers) that they grab others and you become quite the most popular customers in the place. i'd cube that effect for twins.

Sullwah, I've got the Beaba Babycook that Stroppyshopper is talking about. It is fantastic! So small but does everything you need it to. You could easily pack that with you and make your own veg/fruit purees if you get the chance/are into that idea!

In the States go to Trader Joe's to buy food to cook yourself. They have loads of organic stuff, brilliant juices etc and are cheaper and more ethical than Whole Foods. I really miss them!

Here you go- can check out locations!

Sainsbury stock a clever puree grater thing made by amadeus (size of a small grater) that you can do fruit and veg on....very handy when travelling...I was also going to suggest mmashing up what your having too. Have a graet trip

Don't puree anything, give them chip shaped chunks of well cooked veg to suck. I did this with ds2 and it worked a dream, despite me love affair with my hand blender. broccoli and bananas work very well, are nutritious and tasty and easy to deal with.

I have heard American hotels are much more family friendly that Brit ones and in France you can sort it yourself.

I'd've thought that baby led weaning would be the easiest thing to do. I know that with my pair it was easier giving them food that they could pick up and gum chew for themselves.