Life + More

Sharing our experience with baby led feeding a year into feeding our little lady! It can be a daunting experience and I’m excited to talk about how we’ve approached introducing solid foods.

Baby led weaning. Baby led feeding. If you’re on social media…you’ve probably heard of it. There’s a lot of information out there, that’s for sure. If you’re anything like me, you might be feeling a mix of emotions. From nervousness, confusion, intimidation to excitement and awe. It’s a really interesting journey!

First, if you’ve been wondering, there is a bit of a difference between the two terms. Baby led weaning is based on the concept that children can be eating whole, “real” food (in safe, specific preparations once a kiddo can sit totally unassisted) and it totally skips the puree and cereal stage (except for maybe foods like yogurt, hummus, etc). Baby Led feeding is a modified version that may introduce some purees and even cereal in small doses along with typical “real” foods that are prepared in safe, specific shapes and sizes. A modified baby led weaning, if you will.

I was REALLY excited to start feeding our daughter Madison solid foods. However, when it came time for her 4-month checkup, I started feeling really nervous. I didn’t know where to begin, I knew our pediatrician would recommend starting her on cereal and honestly, I had JUST gotten used her nursing schedule. Now we were adding more dishes and cleanup to the mix?

So, let me start by giving you a recap of how we started things and how they’re going now:

How It Started

I knew I wanted to try baby led weaning. As a very young child, I was an incredibly adventurous eater. I hated kids’ menus and loved the experience of restaurant dining. But, when I started looking into baby led weaning I was really intimidated by the all-or-nothing approach, judgemental parents and overwhelming amount of info around food preparation. It honestly reminded me of when I did a Whole30 years ago (which, I ended up really liking)…but it felt like a new society I was entering. People had a lot of STRONG opinions and advice they were throwing around.

I tend to be more of a free-spirited, type b personality so I wasn’t so sure. I also do love our pediatrician and as much as cereals/purees are maybe lacking in some nutrition and don’t promote self-feeding and exploration…doctors do know what they’re talking about in some regards. They kind of have had a liiiittttle bit of education.

I had a long discussion with our pediatrician and ultimately, we decided to go with a baby led feeding approach. We started Madison on some pureed and mashed foods (and yes *gasp* some cereal mixed with purees and breastmilk here and there) around 5.5 months and as soon as she started sitting up, we introduced real solids into her diet purely for exploration and learning.

Before we go any further I’m going to stop and send you to Solid Starts. It’s an incredible website with an entire database outlining how to prepare really any food you want to serve to your babe. Share this with anyone and everyone who will be feeding your kiddo.

Honestly, in the beginning, not much food was even eaten, which is TOTALLY normal and okay. I don’t think Madi started really ingesting food until 7+ months, and she has phases with selectivity. Around 9-10 months I noticed a greater caloric intake (around when she started crawling). However, she was still nursing between 4-5 times a day so a lot of her nutritional intake was still milk. And, as always, all kids are different.

I will say, she has always shown an interest in her food. Whether it be to eat it, play with it…OR feed it to the dog, haha. As soon as she starts throwing things or acting disinterested, we remove her tray without much emotion and move onto the next portion of the day.

How It’s Going

6 months into baby led feeding and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I’m so glad we choose this approach. It feels just right for our family. I love sitting down to a meal with Madison, sharing fun times at the table and just watching her love and explore foods is just a JOY. She has her likes and dislikes and it has just been such a gift. We’ve had great experiences dining out at restaurants (more below) and I love having the confidence that this approach has given me.

Now, Madi is eating 3 square meals a day and 2 snacks at a year old. I will give additional resources on meal ideas at a later date, but below I’ll link some of our favorite blog recipes.

If you’re toying around with a baby led weaning or feeding approach I would encourage you to give it a try within your comfortability zone.

What to do if you’re afraid

I get it. It’s scary. A lot of people really freak out when they watch me feed Madi. Nobody wants a choking baby. Here are a few thoughts:

• There isn’t much evidence that supports that children who do baby led weaning/feeding (safely and appropriately – do not like…give your kid whole grapes) choke more frequently than children who don’t

• Arm yourself with knowledge. I took a CPR and choking course when we started and practiced on stuffed animals. The more you know, the more you can confidently navigate.

• There’s also a difference between choking and gagging. Gagging, especially in the beginning is normal with both pureed textures and solid foods. If your child is making a lot of noise, they are not choking. Do NOT insert your hands in their mouth, teach them fun ways to spit food out they can’t chew and work things forward. Madi actually hasn’t done much of it and I remain super calm if it happens. She literally just gags something forward and spits it out. Don’t be afraid to take control if another adult in the room isn’t calm. Your child will likely be able to figure things out if they sense calm leadership.

• Most importantly, do what you feel comfortable with. If you’re freaking out…your kid is going to freak out. As I explained, I am more laid back. I realize in this situation, this is an advantage. I didn’t have a lot of nervousness around feeding once I took that CPR/choking course. I would recommend starting with foods that make you feel comfortable (maybe like avocado, soft pasta, flakey fish like salmon) and going from there.

Again, if you are straight-up terrified by this concept, this might not be for you and that’s okay!!! Seriously. It’s going to be ok. I’m still here cheering you on!

It just seems like a lot of work…

Le sigh. It is. The dishes are daunting, the preparation is sometimes exhausting…BUT seriously. The rewards have been monumental for us. Pros outweigh cons.

I feed a lot of leftovers and we repeat or rotate similar meals a lot. She also normally does eat what we eat. So, if I’m cooking something I haven’t fed her before, I look up the ingredients on Solid Starts and deconstruct her serving.

Low mess/low prep foods I keep on hand:

chickpeas (my personal secret weapon)

mini mozzarella cheese balls (I tear them before serving)

blueberries

eggs (I like to add spinach or greens)

banana

Serenity Kids or apple sauce pouches for on the go or when I am crazy tired

hummus + toast

peanut butter + toast (obviously if you don’t have a peanut allergy and go light on the pb)

any kind of toast

Serenity Kids puffs

cucumbers

pre-made and frozen waffles, pancakes or muffins (Simple Mills anything is my fave)

How we’ve approached others feeding our daughter

Another question I’ve gotten is how I handle other people or sitters feeding Madi. I should start by saying that we’re very new to the world of sitters and besides my mom, we haven’t had a variety of help.

Rule #1 for me is going with a sitter who is CPR certified. I did this when I was about 13 before I started babysitting, I find it isn’t hard to find teens/young adults who are.

Rule #2 is making it very clear that they should have foods that are either on a certain list (you can type something out, whatever) or pre-make any snacks or meals until you and they get comfortable. It’s your kid! It’s OK to be specific.

I pre-made Madi’s food for about a month or so for my mom until she got into the flow of how to serve things. She still isn’t super comfortable with as much as we are, so I make sure to have options that can be cut into very small bite sizes for her to give to Madi. If I’m not in the room, she’s the one who needs to be comfortable. I was also OK with her serving purees when Madi was very young until she was comfortable. It’s one meal, it’s not the end of the world in my eyes. Safe/confident is best!

Restaurant Tips & Tricks

We’ve had great success eating out with Madi. I usually bring a small table snack (puffs, blueberries, chickpeas, cucumber spears – something low mess) and books for her while she waits. She does sit on our laps until her food comes, but while her meal is being eaten she does sit in a high chair if it’s available and we expect her to. If she’s not having that, the fun of being out to eat is ended and we go (only happened twice but it happens!). I love that she’s been exposed to so many foods because there is ALWAYS something she can have.

I usually choose to feed her off my fork to keep mess down but I know some prefer to let them self feed. Up to you! I’m sure there are a lot of resources, just honestly sharing what I do. When feeding her from my fork, it’s pretty easy to tell when she isn’t interested in something and we honor that choice she makes.

I usually order her:

I find that most places are so kind. There have been so many times servers have brought us rolls, fries, fruit, veggies before the food was ready to help her wait.

Favorite recipes + foods

Venison Meatballs (make them into logs instead of balls)

Banana Bread Oatmeal

Venison Tacos (greek yogurt helps the meat stick together)

Mango Chicken Curry (cut up)

Venison Veggie Soup (pureed or deconstructed)

Stuffed Peppers (cut up)

Pan-Roasted Chicken Thighs (shredded chicken)

Venison Stew (pureed or deconstructed)

Resources/Gear

Solid Starts First Foods Database

Eating At Altitude Blog

Baby Led Weaning Book

CPR course

Ezpz mats, cup

Wooden bowl + spoon

Washable floor mat

Silicone bib

Roll up silicone bib for the diaper bag

Having a new baby at home looks different for everyone. Each person experiences pregnancy differently, birth differently, and postpartum differently. But, across the board, new parents deal with SO many decisions and uncharted territory each and every day.

Are you breastfeeding? Bottle feeding? Addressing a lip tie? Using alcohol or not on the umbilical cord? Do you have enough onesies? Too many? What pediatrician do you use?! Wait…if you can’t lift anything how do you get the car seat into the pediatrician’s office?! DID SHE JUST SPIT UP BLOOD???!!!!!

Seriously…the list of things to think about and decide on are endless. If you’re expecting, thinking about it or are in the process of trying or adopting (love to ALL of you!!) I am seriously not trying to overwhelm you. You certainly get enough “oh just waits” and unhelpful comments. You’ll deal. But I ain’t gonna sugar coat it. There’s a large mental load to carry when you’re a brand new parent. However, there are a few things that helped me that I think could be largely helpful for many growing families like us!

The following tips are a few things we/I implemented and I think they made major impacts on functionality, recovery, general well-being, and my mental state. I tried to go really micro and detailed because I’m sure you’re also sick of “make sure you have enough help” “sleep when the baby sleeps” and “communicate communicate communicate”. Sure, those things are largely important, but sometimes I like something more tangible. However, if you are struggling or even worry about struggling, please know that these tips will not replace professional help and I encourage you to do so!

OK, here we go:

Bath and/or shower EVERY DAY

My aunt was a nurse on a maternity floor for years and this was her one piece of advice to me. She kindly checked in a few days after Madi made her appearance and said to me “I know it’s hard but at least find time some time to shower every day. A bath, too if you can.”. I know this can sound a little daunting when you have 5,000 things to do but making time to feel clean postpartum was so crucial.

You start to feel really gross with all of the night sweating, spit-up, diaper changing – you get the point. It helped me to shower quickly once Madi went down for her first nap of the day and then bathe in the afternoon or evening before bed. It refreshed me in the morning and the bath really helped to soothe me, relax muscles and I used sitz salts to help speed up recovery time.

Jared was only able to take a total of 4 days off for “paternity leave” (lol) so I understand it’s hard to do it when you’re solo! If you have a monitor, turn it up really loud while they’re sleeping or see if someone can come over for just 20 minutes, an hour, ANYTHING if that makes you uncomfortable!

Keeping warm & cozy during immediate recovery

The first few weeks, even though you are sort of sweaty due to hormones, I found it really helpful to keep myself very warm. I’m talking cozy, clean sweats and fuzzy socks in July (inside, of course). I heard this tip when I listened to the audiobook version of The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson (please please get this book and read or listen) a few weeks prior to delivery. I found it interesting that my body did crave warmth.

I would bring my fresh clothes and a homemade padsicle into the bathroom before my shower or bath and close the bathroom door. Immediately after I would towel off, rub myself all over with jojoba oil + a few drops of lavender essential oil, dress fully, and THEN exit the bathroom.

Self tanning drops & eyebrow tint kit

I’m someone who enjoys wearing light makeup daily and I like to feel put together. There were days where I felt that I had the time to do my hair and makeup, and others I barely snuck in that morning shower. I like using self-tanning drops (these are pregnancy and breastfeeding safe) to give my skin some color. I also like to dye my eyebrows using an eyebrow or facial hair tint kit (this is the one I have) to fill in my brows.

This gives you a natural look that lasts for 4-6 days. You can add some mascara, blush, lip – whatever you want if you’re feeling like it (or just wake up and roll), but it totally makes me feel a little more glammed up which helps boost my mood. As always, check with your doctor if you’d like about any products you’re using!

Non-maternity clothes

I lost/am losing my pregnancy weight a bit more slowly than I expected. Which is TOTALLY okay (it’s also normal and potentially scary or frustrating if you start losing weight rapidly, too. It’s all okay!). Anyway, I remember thinking I could get into some of my old jeans at about 2-3 months postpartum and that didn’t happen for like…6+ more months.

I’m the type to buy less clothing and get what I REALLY want, but by like 1 month pp, I just wanted something on my body that wasn’t elastic. Maternity clothes didn’t look right at all either. I found some really cute jeans and a few new regular tops that made me feel really great and I’m so glad I did. I know it can feel hard to spend on yourself after having a baby but feeling like I had properly fitting, updated clothing really helped put a pep in my step. A pair of jeans and like 3 new tops went a LONG way for me.

Cleaning kits in each bathroom

When you’re juggling a lot of balls as a new parent, you have to learn to drop 1-2 to make sure you don’t actually go insane. Sometimes, for me, that’s an immaculate home. If you can afford it, cleaning help is well worth the investment, but you totally have to do a LOT of cleaning between visits. I can deal with a certain level of mess, but I also have my limits to where it starts to impact my mental state.

Before Madi, I had all of my cleaning products stored in one location. I would pull out what I needed and clean as I went. It has been SO helpful to have cleaning kits in all of my bathrooms (and other heavily trafficked areas, if possible) to cut down on time. I just pull out my little caddy and wipe down much more frequently to keep deep cleans at bay until I have more time or help.

Robot vacuum

I know this is another investment that’s hard to justify when you have a bunch of baby things and bills to account for, but if you feel comfortable it would be a great addition to your registry (or for me, a birthday gift). We do have a dog and even beyond that, it’s AMAZING how much dust and dirt accumulate in just a few days.

We run our roomba about every other day and only vacuum maybe every 2 weeks -1 month. Now that Madi is crawling/toddling, I really prefer to have very clean floors and I can’t imagine having to vacuum this much every day when a lot of my nights are spent working or working out after she’s in bed and the kitchen is finally picked up.

Dog walking service

Our dog Sadie is our other child. She is 100% 1/3 of my whole world (the other two-thirds being Jared + Madi). I was so worried about her adjusting to life with a newborn. She’s accustomed to having a daily walk and I wasn’t sure how long it would be before I was up for actual walks.

I booked bi-weekly walks with a really great dog walking service so she had some 1:1 time with someone fun and new (she LOVES meeting new people, typical lab). This would also be a good thing to ask a neighborhood kid to help with!

Dinner at the table with my husband/connection time

I tend to be a night owl and my husband is a morning person. This has actually served us really well with newborn/puppy – I usually do most of the work from sleep to 2am, but waking up before 6am is usually not my jam. Therefore, when I like to chat would be around bedtime and he would prefer an early morning coffee chat. So…neither of those ever happen, lol.

We like to try to sit down to dinner together at least a few nights a week with no distractions. When Madi was really little, she just laid in the baby lounger or bouncer while we ate. It felt SO good to have 1:1 time together to actually talk about life.

Products I used:

Liquid IV – literally lifesaving for the insane thirst

Pink Stork Tea – I got the Postpartum Recovery Bundle and LOVED it and I liked the Postpartum Uplift so much I ordered it again.

Favorite Sitz bath soak

Perineal spray

Prenatal vitamins

I hope this post is helpful to you wherever you are in your journey!

xox – Allie

Bunny Bus | Antelope Dress | ezpz mat | Brackish Bowtie | Rosewater mist | Pikler triangle | Perfect denim shirt | Mascara

February felt like a HUGE blur to me. And honestly, longer than January! My list of favorites is short this month because I just really don’t have that many things that are sticking out for me right now. But, here’s a monthly recap and I’d LOVE to hear what’s going on with you. Shoot me a DM on Instagram or comment below!

This month started out with all attention focused on a really big project I’ve been working on. Hopefully, I’ll be able to update you guys soon, but in the meantime keep your eyes and ears peeled. I feel like when I have a lot going on I have to make an extra effort to take care of myself. Easier said than done with a 7-month-old at home with me 24/7 but I really love this Rosewater Mist. I use it before I apply serums in my skincare routine and as a setting spray. It feels so luxurious! I’ve also been making it a priority to move my body with this snowy, dreary weather and I just started doing Kayla Itsines BBG for my workouts again and it has been majorly fun (and humbling, haha).

We also celebrated Jared’s 30th birthday this month and I just LOVE any excuse to celebrate that guy. ICYMI, we posted a new Smoked Manhattan Cocktail recipe in his honor which is so fun & a bit fancy. He was really into this Pheasant Feather Bowtie (similar linked) I got him by Brackish Bowties. They have some really unique gift ideas, especially for the outdoor lover who has everything! We also made the Slow Cooker Brisket Sandwiches from my cookbook!

Madison is officially growing like a weed and developing more and more of a personality every day! She loves mealtime and these ezpz mats are great to serve from when I have a few things going for her. She has also been loving this bus and anything with wheels. We also put together her Pikler Triangle this month and she’s blowing us away learning to stand with the assistance from the bars!

I have to admit to y’all…I could use some HELP! It is becoming very clear to me that I am approaching my 30th birthday and my closet is full of…you guessed it – skinny jeans. Apparently now they’re like the definition of being old? UGH! Where are you guys buying jeans? WHAT is the 411? However, while we’re talking denim, this denim shirt is actually really really good. I sized up and it is perfect!

Anyway…more next month! Thank YOU as alway for reading & being amazing. xox – Allie

p.s. don’t forget to sign up for a cooking class with me!

1) Revlon Volumizer Brush | 2)Eberjay Pajamas (run JUST slightly large, I size up in PJs and the larger fits well, could also wear the smaller for a fitted look)| 3)MZ Wallace Backpack (my diaper bag) | 4) Silicone Baby Spoons |5)Women’s Carhartt Jacket (TTS)| 6)Berry Container | 7)First Lite Base Layers (fits TTS & men over 6’2″)| 8)Carhartt Unlined Overall Bibs (TTS)| 9)Mini Food Processor (great for sauces, marinades & baby food) | 10)Thick & Rich Night Cream | 11)Humidifier | 12)Farm Stacker | 13)Baby Bunting |

WELCOME 2021! And holy cow we made it through 2020. I wanted to kick off the new year with a post highlighting some things I’m loving and to give you the scoop on all things MAK.

I’m sitting here watching a HEAVY blanket of snow cover PA and it’s gotten me thinking about one of the #1 things I’m grateful for this month, and that is a decent amount of time spent outside! I take our 6-month-old, Madi, and our 2-year-old lab, Sadie, for as many neighborhood walks as I can. It gets COLD so I’m always layering Madi in this baby bunting and I have loved this Carhartt jacket for years. Super warm & durable. My hubby, Jared, has had quite a few house projects and has been loving the unlined Carhartt overall bibs he got this fall. He has the lined version which her wears in the snow and on frigid days, but if it’s above like 20F, he prefers the unlined. I also got him these base layers for Christmas which he says are the real deal. You’ve GOT to layer up if you’re going to make time for the outdoors in the winter! Speaking of base layers, I have my eye on these.

Our skin takes a beating between the cold air and the dryness indoors from the heat blasting (I’m SO grateful for a warm house!!!!!). I’ve been lathering on this heavy night cream (I do have oily skin but GOSH the more I moisturize, the nicer it is) and I run this humidifier in Madison’s room to help with dry cheeks!

Also – Christmas gifts! I got the mega-popular Revlon Volumizer Brush and honestly, it lives up to the hype. Especially for a busy person! And, Jared got me these super luxurious pajamas. This year, I have really tried to step up my pajama game. When you’re pregnant and/or a new mom, it’s nice to go to bed and wake up feeling a bit more put together. It REALLY contributes to my mood! I would have never bought these for myself so gentleman takes notes – these will make your lady feel like a million bucks!

I really feel like I exist in the kitchen these days between creating new recipes and feeding Madi now that she’s eating solids. I don’t have any fancy food prep gear, but I pull my mini food processor out all of the time. It’s good for making purees! I also have been trying to be better about washing my produce before it gets put away so I can grab and go while I have her in one arm. These berry bins are AWESOME! And, Madi has been loving these little spoons because she gets a good grip and can teethe on the other side!

What’s ahead for February!

In February, we’re REALLY looking forward to celebrating Jared’s 30th birthday!!!! And, my book should be back in stock any day now. I’m working on a secret project that I’ll tell you about soon and I can’t wait to share a yummy new cocktail recipe with you. Stay tuned & thank YOU for being here!

Check out what everyone has been loving at Miss Allie’s Kitchen this year! Thank YOU for being one of our beloved readers!

Smoked Venison Tenderloin

Instant Pot Venison Roast

Best Ever Venison Stew

Juicy Elk Burgers

Instant Pot Venison Stew

Venison Meatballs

Smoked Chicken Thighs

Traeger Pizza

How to Cook a Venison Steak

Mint Julep

Get the scoop on newborn essentials! Find out what you’ll actually use the first month with your new baby!

Shopping for a newborn or building out your registry can be REALLY overwhelming. I actually had a lot of fun researching “gear” for our little girl, Madison, and I’m here now to share what we actually used the first month.

post contains affiliate links. thanks for supporting the growth of Miss Allie’s Kitchen!

It can easily feel like you need to have EVERYTHING before baby comes, but that isn’t the case. However, there are quite a few great products out there that really make life so much easier.

I’m sharing our favorite gear for baby/quantities of clothing we used as well as resources and courses I found helpful for new parents/postpartum recovery. Oh, and a few things for mom, too!

Feeding

Spectra 1 Breast Pump

Kiinde Milk Storage System

Comotomo Bottles

Burp Cloths (we have like 3 packs and basically use them all)

My Breast Friend nursing pillow – actually obsessed. So supportive. I also use it as kind of a boppy now that she’s bigger in bed while i get ready in the morning after she eats. I would recommend this over a boppy if you plan to continue breastfeeding for a while.

Boon Lawn Drying Rack

Bottle brush – we just have one from the drugstore

Sleeping/Diapering

Halo Bassinet

Bassinet sheets – I would order at least 3, I started with 2 and now have 4

Monitor – I like this monitor because it’s simple to use and doesn’t sync with your phone. Some people love monitors that link to phones, but I didn’t want to have to mess that as it can drain your battery and I wanted ease for when we have a babysitter.

SnuggleMe Organic

Hatch sound machine – holy CRAP I love this thing. We turn the red light on very low and leave it on all night. We can see enough in the dark to do diaper changes for nighttime feedings and we never have to change the light level.

SwaddleMe swaddles (you’ll want at least 2)

Muslin blankets – these are swaddles but they’re great for warm weather and in the house!

Keekaroo changing pad

SkipHop Changing “Clutch” – great for on the go! I also keep some first aid supplies in here and you could easily put this in a tote bag and use it as a minimalist diaper bag situation, or just grab it for a walk or quick trip. We also took a trip to the beach and I just used this in a rental home as her changing station.

On the Go

Chico Key Fit 30 Carseat

Thule Urban Glide 2 Stroller – great for really active families! This is a true jogging stroller that does well on tough terrain, too. It’s light enough for me to use running errands, however, when she gets a bit older, we will probably get something super small and light for true travel and just to store in the car.

Car mirror

Sollybaby wrap

Milk snob cover – I also use this as a breastfeeding cover, it’s AWESOME

Entertainment

Play mat – the one we have is out of stock!

Baby Bjorn Bouncer

Black and White flashcards

Bathing + Clothing

Baby Bath

Earth Mama Baby Wash

4 pairs of newborn PJs – Madison was 7lbs 13oz and fit in newborn clothes for about 3-4 weeks. I only had 3 pairs of PJs but I did laundry like every day, which was kind of a lot. I think 4 would be the perfect number – enough to get you through a few days (2 minimum if they need a change of clothes at night) but not so much that you’re breaking the bank with things they grow out of so fast!

Tank undershirts for warm weather babies – I loved putting these under outfits for when I wanted her in something warm-weather appropriate but knew we’d be inside and outside. Adds an extra layer without bulk!

White onesies

Footed leggings – throw a onesie under them and a bow for a little lady and you’ve got a great little outfit that’s breathable. I got this pack with a few colors which gave us some variety. Best part is no socks to keep track of.

Bows! – these bows actually fit smaller newborn heads

Resources

Taking Cara Babies Newborn Course

For Mom

Perennial balm

Nipple balm

Breast pads

Ice packs

Underwear – I love these because they’re full coverage and comfortable but you don’t feel like a total granny! I’m usually a small or medium and I got a medium.

Under Eye Gels

Pink Stork Postpartum Support Pack – the teas are DELISH and I can’t tell for sure if the mood support works, however I have felt great

Expecting and Empowered Postpartum Guide – this starts basically immediately after birth and is a super slow gentle start to rebuilding your core and pelvic floor by experts