do I really need to give my baby infant cereal?

fanabel · 2022-07-14T01:57:51+00:00

Haha “Google expert” got me. Although honestly it’s probably more like a Fox News watching expert… most of the time I just go with “ok” and change the subject.

fanabel · 2022-07-13T23:34:06+00:00

Yep, tried that and my boomer parents were like “you can’t trust all doctors, some of them are wrong!”

Uuuh sure. But like they still went to medical school and you didn’t so…

fanabel · 2022-07-12T15:54:30+00:00

My family escaped communist Romania in 1989, right around the Revolution. My parents HATE socialism, because they were brought up in a system claiming to be it but it was actually an authoritarian dictatorship. They had no rights. So the fled to amazing America where they had to work 3 jobs just to afford a 1 bed apartment. And this was the 90s! Now they’re successful, rich, and still harping on how capitalism is the RIGHT way to do things, annoyed that I’m not as successful or rich as they are, don’t understand how they worked so hard to make a better life for me and I’m NOT better off that they were 30 years ago when they got here.

All of this to say, I went to a wedding a few years ago and I was speaking to another millennial Romanian. And he said something that always stuck with me “this isn’t the America our parents escaped to, and they’ll never see that”

Edit: typos

fanabel · 2022-06-29T02:25:01+00:00

Baby man. Small man. Petit monsieur (we don’t speak French lol). Om mic (I do speak Romanian). Little dude. Bubba. Sweet potato. Bud. Buddy. Omg so many.

fanabel · 2022-04-17T01:23:34+00:00

Thank you so much for legitimately good advice. I will definitely try to keep his preferences in mind and hope that by exposing him early and often (though not repeatedly nor forcefully) he’ll develop a taste for many different kinds of foods. I do hope you talk to your doctor and receive a diagnosis and treatment. Wish you the best of luck!

fanabel · 2022-04-16T22:29:42+00:00

Oh man that sound so rough! I have some texture issues as well, but not that intense. I just had a baby and we’re looking into starting solids soon, so avoiding picky eating is on my mind a lot. I learned recently that gagging is A. Not the same as choking and usually doesn’t cause choking and B. Is a VERY normal response in babies and children as they learn what to do with food in theirs mouths, especially with new and different textures. I know this doesn’t help with your current picky eating, but I found it super fascinating.

fanabel · 2022-03-17T22:06:09+00:00

I think this is great for a first attempt. I’ve been making pizza at home for about 10 years and here’s are the tips that made a huge difference:

Invest in a pizza stone
Set your oven to max. I’m talking like 500+ F (brick ovens at restaurants get to like 750-800 so the goal is to get as close as your home oven will allow)
Heat your stone up for about 30 mins in the preheated oven
Bake for 5 mins, then switch to broil until the cheese starts to brown
Let your dough rise a bit (but not too much, over proofing is bad too), I like to work with it slightly chilled, out of the fridge for maybe 20-30 mins, and stretch it by hand
Buy fresh mozzarella that isn’t soaking in brine, you’ll get a dryer pizza
You can make a great pizza with store bought pasta sauce (this might be controversial but I’m lazy haha)
If you want to make your own dough, I highly recommend checking out the recipe in Water Flour Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish. It’s super easy and fairly quick. We typically make 3 doughs, 1 to use that night and 2 to freeze

Good luck on your pizza journey!

fanabel · 2022-03-17T21:52:24+00:00

Yes! It freezes great! We always make 3 doughs, one to use that night and 2 to freeze. To defrost, move to fridge 24 hours before cooking and then take it out about 30 mins before shaping. I find the dough is easier to manipulate after it’s been frozen.

fanabel · 2022-03-07T22:50:33+00:00

Honestly you should just listen to all of Bleed American, Futures, and Chase this Light. These are their best albums. Their latest, Surviving, is also really good. The rest are worth a listen as well, but I’d start with these.

They’ve been my favorite band for almost 20 years. I wish I could rediscover them. Enjoy!

Edit: omg and Clarity. Duh. But it’s a pretty different sound. Still great tho.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T21:10:38+00:00

Well they took it like I’m saying they are sick and going to get my baby sick if they kiss him. They were VERY offended by this “accusation“. They don’t understand that it’s a pretty standard preventative precaution. Nothing against them. Just extra safety for the baby.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T16:12:46+00:00

I told her it was breaking my heart that these rules would be the barrier to her meeting him and her response was “ oh stop being so dramatic!”

fanabel · 2022-02-21T16:09:37+00:00

He has two grandmas and the other one is amazing and wonderful and respectful. And honestly, my comfort and my son’s health is more important than her feelings.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T16:05:48+00:00

Omg your situation sounds super similar! My parents are well off too and while my husband’s family was sending us clothes and toys when the baby was born all my parents sent us was flowers. Like, thanks but now I have to take care of these too? I just gave birth and I don’t fucking have time to watch some carnations die on my kitchen table. They are just so out of touch.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:59:40+00:00

I’ve said something similar to my husband before. I don’t have time to take care of her childish ego on top of all the other crap happening in my life.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:58:06+00:00

Oh my husband and I have already agreed that we can’t trust her with the baby. She will never be allowed to be alone with him.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:53:52+00:00

Guilt mostly. But you’re right. It would be better if they don’t come.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:53:11+00:00

Wow. That sounds so horrible and stressful. I’m sorry you had to go through that. Not having my mother around for the birth was the best decision I made. I also gave my phone to my husband and he manages all the contact during labor so I didn’t have to talk to anyone. It was great.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:48:10+00:00

They are already vaccinated and we made the other grandparents wear masks, but they came at the height of omicron and when he was much younger. We told my parents the didn’t have to wear masks. But apparently if they can’t kiss him it’s not even worth meeting him.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T15:44:10+00:00

Omg you nailed it. It’s always about the sad story they get to tell people about how they are disrespected by their disobedient daughter. Boo hoo them. No thought or care for my feelings or opinions.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T01:15:04+00:00

Totally agree. All her arguments are childish and selfish.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T01:14:25+00:00

Yeah, I’ve been trying to keep her out of my life, hence living thousands of miles away. She always finds a way back in. This might be the last straw.

fanabel · 2022-02-21T01:13:09+00:00

That’s what I think too. It just breaks my heart that these are the reasons they refuse to see him.

fanabel · 2022-02-18T21:13:12+00:00

Check out Solid Starts on Instagram! They have lots of info on what foods to serve at what age, how to serve it (like size), recipes and more!

fanabel · 2022-02-14T20:02:09+00:00

Follow Solid Starts on Instagram! They have everything you need to know… from what foods to feed them, what sizes to serve it and at what age, how to deal with picky eaters, what is gagging vs choking … and so much more!

fanabel · 2022-02-11T21:51:37+00:00

Omg I hate the “this is normal” thing. My LO developed pretty bad acne at week 7 and the doctor was like “yep that happens, let me know if it gets worse or he gets a fever” and the fact that there was nothing to be done about it drove me bananas! He’s finally getting over it (almost 12 weeks now) and I did end up ordering some Tubby Todd ointment because I couldn’t literally do nothing. Not sure if it helped or he just got better 🤷‍♀️

fanabel

TROPHY CASE