Our Eating Break Through

Everything I've read about food & babies/toddlers says to make it a pleasant experience for them - never force something into their mouth or cause them to create negative associations with food. Check. I can do that.

So everytime I would get Emme in the high chair and she would turn away from something I offered, I would simply offer something else or do anything I could to avoid a "meltdown." I tried to be pleasantly firm. I tried letting her sit on my lap. I tried letting her sit at the table in a booster. I tried letting her sit on the floor with me picnic style. I tried everything the doctor suggested.

Apparently, the meltdown was exactly what she needed. We've had a serious break through in eating at our house! Here's how it happened...

One night about two weeks ago I was making dinner while Chris tried to feed Emme in her high chair. She was upset and turning down everything he offered her. Chris decided she was going to eat what he'd made her (a bowl of chicken & pasta soup). Emme fought it and screamed and completely melted down in her high chair, all the while looking at me and reaching out for help. I avoided eye contact and quietly finished making dinner. Chris stayed right there in her face, sitting on a stool by the high chair. After about thirty minutes of screaming & wailing, she ran out of energy and got quiet.

Chris scooped a spoonful of soup and she opened her mouth for it. She swallowed and opened again. Chris kept scooping spoonful after spoonful into her mouth, until the bowl was empty. (This has never happened before!)

Then he moved onto a banana, and she ate the whole thing.

Then he moved on to a piece of toast, and she ate the whole thing.

She just kept eating and eating and eating. And never fought it! I was in shock. It's like all of a sudden Emme realized that we mean business. That we are the parents & she's the child. I never could have been the one to sit there and force her to eat, force her into a meltdown. I don't have it in me. I'm the mom, the snuggler, the hugger, the nurturer. I just couldn't do it. It had to be Chris. Man, am I grateful for that man. He has good instincts.

{The proof: feeding herself yogurt.}

Ever since that day, Emme has eaten every shred of food I've put on her tray. And I'm not joking. She even takes the spoon and feeds herself, especially when it's yogurt. (It's glorious! I can do dishes while she eats! I get so much more done in a day!) She also comes up to me and asks for a "snack" during the day, only she says it without the s or the ck sounds -- so it's a "na." Hilariously cute.

When we went to my parents house on Sunday, my dad tossed Emme in the air and announced that he's pretty sure she's put on ten pounds in like two weeks. I can see it in her face, even. Yipee!

Mark my words, friends -- we WILL hit that 20 pound mark by our 18 month appointment!