Day 5 : Nestle Rice Cereal

Today, I changed the format of journalling Evangeline's weaning stage. Got the idea from a mummy's blog which I frequent alot. I have learnt lots of tips and ideas from her.

Schedule for Today:

Morning 10am : 100ml of FM, 1 tbspoon of rice cereal x 50ml of remaining milk

Remaining 4 milk feeds: 150ml of FM


Allergy Reaction:

No allergy reaction observed


Texture of Food:

Slightly Thicker in consistency


Amount of Food:

1 Tablespoon (3 teaspoon) of rice cereal


Baby reaction:

Ever since the very first day I introduced rice cereal, she is able to swallow so well that nothing falls onto her bib, body or high chair or anywhere. I am very proud of her that she doesn't make a mess when eating solid food. Hopefully, it stays like this forever..hahah

Age:

5 months 28 days old

Day 4 : Nestle Rice Cereal

My mother in law came to stay for a night yesterday and this morning managed to catch Evan in action on her weaning process. She was amused at how excited Evangeline was when she saw the green Pigeon bowl and red spoon. Evangeline knew immediately that food was ready and waved her arms frantically to show her impatience of waiting.

Today, I increased the amount of cereal to the following and she finished everything. Still asking for more and showed displeasure when we show her the empty bowl.

16 May 2009 - 2 teaspoon x rice cereal x 30ml of milk
- Finished 120ml of milk

Allergic reaction: None

Current Mood: pleased

Braun Handheld Blender and JANE highchair

This morning, Auntie C and I have an appointment together at Robinson to get some good deals from the sale. After days of considering between Philip Handheld Blender 700watt model versus Braun Handheld Blender, I have decided to get the Braun model due to it's lasting, hardy and durable parts. Since I have some robinson vouchers,I treated it as an investment in purchasing this slightly more expensive brand. Auntie C bought a Fisherprice toy for Evan and we further our time of fellowship at my place till 10plus at night.

Another great deal I got for Evangeline was a secondhand JANE brand highchair which can be converted to a table and chair when Evan reaches toddler stage. The retail price at Robinson was about $275, but I only got this secondhand highchair from a mummy at a price of $100. It is in super good condition, almost brand new, no stain or faulty parts. I was very pleased to get such a good deal and I credited this to our GOD who knew that I longed to have a JANE highchair but financially not able to have one due to its price. Thank you God for making my purchases come true!!!

I am excited and can't wait to use my newly purchased blender! Monday will be the first day for her fruit puree, hope Evangeline will enjoy her fruit.

Current Mood: Accomplished

Day 3: Nestle Rice Cereal

Today, she did not really finished her cereal as she was cranky and sleepy. I was suspecting that she might not be well as she doesn't seem to be happy the whole morning which is not her usual self. The night before, she woke up in the middle of the night to play and do her stunts from one side of her cot to the other, making us super busy trying to get her back to sleep. That could explain why this morning, she was super tired and exhausted.

15 May 2009 - 1 teaspoon x rice cereal x 15ml of FM
- Finished up 130ml of milk, left behind about 5ml.

Allergic reactions: None

Current Mood: Grouchy

Evangeline's attempt in cereal

First try in flipping

In this video, Evan was trying to flip over in the morning. This was taken when she was about 3 months old. After helping her to flip, 3 hours later, she flipped over all by herself..she is really a fast learner in many things.

Videos of Evangeline When She Was Born

Day of Delivery


Munching Away???

Day 2: Nestle Rice Cereal

As said yesterday, I made some changes in my routine and her feeding. Evan took her milk feed of about 100ml, followed by her solid and then finished up her remaining milk feed of 50ml.

12 May 2009 - 1 teaspoon X Rice Cereal X 10ml of FM

Age: 5 Months, 3 weeks and 2 days old

Allergic Reaction: None

This time round, the consistency seems thicker but some lumps remained hard to dissolve. Evan's reaction towards the cereal today was more of anticipating and eager to gobble all up. She opened her arms wide and you should have seen her facial expressions, as though she can't wait to get her hands on the bowl! So far for the past two days, she did not make a mess, she has been such an angel, feeding well from the spoon and not dirtying her bibs at all. Today, she responded well by not having the tongue thrust reflex at all. She finished all up with a record of 7 minutes. I am so proud of her. By Day 4, I will increase to another teaspoon and next week on her 6 month birthday, homemade fruits and vegetable puree will be introduced. Oh I can't wait to try!

Current Mood: Proud

Introduction to Solid Food, Day 1: Nestle Rice Cereal

Today, I started Evan on her first stage of weaning. Rice cereal by Nestle was introduced. I am intending to purchase organic rice cereal either by Healthy Times or Happy Bellies for Evangeline. At the moment, I just try her out using the samples given by PD.

11 May - 1 teaspoon X rice cereal X 10ml of FM

The consistency of the cereal was a bit watery thus I may add lesser FM the next time round. Evan took it quite well and finished all the cereal. After which, I continued her milk feed of 150ml,drank 50ml and rejected the rest. She fussed and cried when I warmed up the milk again for her to drink 15 mins later. Guess she was cranky because she was sleepy. So I left her at her rocker and she fell in deep sleep immediately. I gave her the remaining 100ml of milk in her sleep and she finished them all.


Reflected on the whole process and realised that I may have to feed her a bit of milk (maybe 50ml), then rice cereal followed by the remaining 100ml of milk so as to enable her to know that milk is still her staple food for now.

Try again tomorrow and see how it goes. :)

Age: 5 Months, 3 weeks and 1 day old
Allergic reactions: None. She finished everything! :) God Bless Her!

Current Mood: Accomplished

Books and more books

As a first time mum, I really have lots to learn. I came to appreciate my mum more, knowing the difficulties and contraints and challenges in bringing up a child. However, as the older generation has a different way of bringing up kids compared to now, I have to do some reading up to ensure that what I am doing is right for Evan. Like my mum will nag about introducing solid food to Evan when she was 4 months old and to start off with chinese porridge, this is totally unacceptable in Evan's case as my hubby and I have history of allergies. Therefore these are some areas we have to educate our parents or help them to understand better.

So far, the following books are very informative and helpful for me in my research. Hope those new mummies will find them helpful as well.

1) Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron ( A good reference book for parents or children with allergies)

2) Weaning by Sara Lewis

3) Weaning and coping with feeding problems by Naia Edwards

4) First Foods published by Marshall Cavendish

5) The First Complete Nutrition Guide For Asian Parents, Feed Your Child Right, published by Marshall Cavendish

6) Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner (My favourite :))

7) Annabel Karmel Top 100 Baby Purees (My Favourite)

Current Mood: Excited

Cooking equipments

Here are some basic equipments you may need to get baby ready for solid or prepare homemade baby food.

1) Small Cooking pot or saucepan
2) A steamer (Electric or pot type)
3) High Chair (Proud to get a second hand JANE high chair at $100, RP:$275)
4) Blender (Either U-like Blender or Braun handheld blender, still sourcing)
5) Bibs (I got Dex Dura Bibs Stage 1)
6) Measuring Spoons and Cups
7) Weaning bowls, soft-tip spoon(I bought Pigeon Stage 1 weaning set)
8) Training Cup (Mag Mag Pigeon is the best!)
9) A few cutting boards for different purposes to prevent cross contamination
10) Sieve
11) Baby cubes by Petite Creation or ice cube trays

I think these are the ones I have for now to help me with her weaning.

Current Mood: Anticipating

Evangeline, the Pianist!

Good Morning Evangeline!

Apologies that the video is inverted. I dun know how to invert the video vertically or horizontally so that it will not be upside down. Can anybody enlighten me on how to do it?

Evan drinks water all by herself!