Evening star., 1943-03-29
First Attempt
To Feed Baby
Solid Food
It's Difficult Task
Because Method
Seems Strange
Bv Lenice Lee Street,

By Lettice Lee Street,
Bobby felt cozy in his mothers
arms, he was also pleasantly
hungry, and grinned a toothless
grin of delight over the prospect
OF that lovely bottle of milk he
would soon enjoy. His shiny eyes
searched for the bottle and he
curled his pink tongue in anticipa-
ton of the feast.
Little did he expect what was
about to take place, or that his
usually very dependable mother
would behave in such an unseemly
manner.
She was acting strangely, to begin
with, making encouraging clicking
sounds as she peered into his face
with a smile he considered trif1e
too bright. He pulled down his
mouth, rather disgruntled. In her
hand she held shiny silver object
with a long handle and it had
something white in it. Bobby stiff
fened now with active suspicion,
regarding his mother, and it, with
unnlQQen anIdgOIllSIl
The next thing he knew his
mother had popped this shiny thing,
which was also hard, into his
mouth.
He was too amazed to say a word,
but like most babies he opened his
mouth automatically, and then he
felt a rather thick substance on his
tongue. He had no idea what to
do with 1t, having never tasted 1t
before, so he held it briefly where
it was, rolling it around on his
tongue while he contemplated what
to do. Finding no better idea, he
blew 1t out on his chin. The results
far exceeded his fondest hopes;
mother jumped and suuealed! At
this Bobby threw back his head
and roared with laughter, holding
his fat sides.
Mother was patient and serious
now, she put more of the white
stuff on his spoon. This time he
put out his tongue, but since he
was only used to the sucking move
ment that makes baby push his
tongue out instead of drawing a
solid food in, he pushed the food
of the spoon.
1t was not many days, however,
before Bobby learned to eat his
cereal quite we'll; it was never too
thick or too hot, and soon he actu-
ally liked it.
Thus most babies respond to the
first experience in eating solid foods.
Some little rascals take forever to
learn to eat cereal. but most accept
the new food within a few days.
The secret is to offer only a tiny
bit the first day or so, never force,
fuss, hurry, laugh at the baby or
show that 1t makes a particle of
difference to you whether he eats
At or not.
The manner in which the mother
presents the new food is the guiding
factor in the baby's acceptance Of
1t, so how about reading that last
sentence over again, please?
Try to understand your baby's
point of view. too, ina gine how out
landish the entire Procedure must
seem to him. So if he objects do
not besmirch his reputation by call
ing him stubborn or contrary. The
fact is that he is not only sur
prised by this strange addition to
his menu, but he does not even
know how to eat; he only knows
how to suck. The mechanics Of the
two are opposed Watch him drink
his milk, he puts out his tongue
and then draws the milk in, the
exact opposite of eating. So nat
urally when he tries to suck the
food he just pushes 1t of the spoon.
Do not begin solid foods If the
baby Is upset or II you are not
feeling tops. This is a drastic
change. let the scene be set to
help. Select a pleasant day when
you are both rested, calm and
CHEEKY.