This little guy turns six months old in one week, and he has yet to taste anything but liquid gold breastmilk.
When we went in for the 4 month well baby visit, his doctor said “Go ahead and start the rice cereal if you want to try to put some space between (breastmilk) feedings. There’s really no nutritional benefit to it, though.”
Hmmmmm…
I’m gathering information for a post about what and when to feed baby’s first foods, but I want to hear from you first. When did you begin to give your baby solid foods? What were his/her first solid foods? If you’ve written about the topic, feel free to leave your link(s)!
We (rather, I) pretty much exclusively breast-feed for the first year. Any other foods that we’ve given our 3 who have gone through this stage have been solely for entertainment purposes (either ours, or theirs).
I laugh because I let my little guy lick around on a big slice of pear that I was eating the other night. His eyes got SO big.
We had our monkey when I was in my last semester of university. We started him on solid foods around 4 months, because I thought that’s “what you did”.
I’m now in culinary school and have done extensive research on ‘First Foods’ and nutrition within the first 2 years of life. For our next baby (due in October) I’m hoping to breast feed exclusively for at least 6 months.
From what I’ve read, the only real reason to give solid foods before 12 months is to introduce new flavours to your baby. Babies who are introduced to more foods are less picky later in life. Babies can survive (and thrive) on an exclusive breast milk diet for their whole first year of life.
So right!
Ooo, I bet culinary school gives some great info and perspectives!
I’ve lurked ’round these parts for a while, but since I feel strongly about breastfeeding and proper nutrition, I thought I’d chime in on this one. I didn’t have issues breastfeeding and found it a satisfying way to nourish my children physically and emotionally. I also wondered about when to introduce other foods and found one source (can’t even remember which one!) that stated, “When they have teeth, they can grind grain.” In other words, introduce grains such as rice and oatmeal once they start cutting teeth as that is when their digestive systems are ready to digest them. I’m not sure if there is scientific evidence to back this up, but it makes total sense and seemed to follow with my experience.
I do think that introducing foods before a year of age is advisable. Several reasons on that, but I’ll not expound!
Interesting. Thanks for chiming in! So what would you say to the commenter whose firstborn didn’t cut teeth until 17 months? Do they recommend to just go with fruits and veggies and meats and still avoid grains?
That would be a puzzler … and I think a unique situation since most kids start cutting teeth by 6 months or so. If I were that mom, I’d probably do fruit and vegetables first – as with all children -, and carefully introduce the grains watching closely for adverse reactions (tummy troubles, for example, or other allergic reactions such as skin rashes which can be indicative of food disagreeing). As far as the meat? I would definitely prolong introducing those. They probably get plenty of protein from milk. I also fed mine good quality yogurt before they turned a year, so there was protein there as well as pro-biotics.
Don’t know how that sits … Just my .02.
I don’t have (any) answers, but think this is definitely one of those “each child is unique, do your best” situations.
I was surprised with my son (who is 8 months now) that we were told that meat is a good first food, especially if you aren’t going to give iron fortified cereal. I gather that it’s the best, most easily absorbed form of iron for little ones. I just gave fairly large pieces of chicken or beef to suck (supposedly the iron is in the blood anyway). I have read that giving a bone, e.g., a chicken drumstick, to suck is the best but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Interesting! I’ve not heard that, but it makes perfect sense.
Baby #1 I was so excited I could hardly wait. We got the go ahead to start at 4 months corrected age (so 4 months from my due date). He was 6 months 3 weeks. With Baby #2 (a successful breastfeeder) we started at 6 months, but it didn’t seem to sit well, so I waited awhile longer.
It’s definitely a fun milestone! Gotta get some good photos.
Both of my children refused purees and infant cereal and I ended up discovering “Baby Led Weaning” and it saved my sanity. If you google it, you should find lots of information but basically, you skip the puree stage and go right to giving pieces of food, usually large stick shaped pieces that the baby can pick up and suck. It’s worked brilliantly for us. At 8 months, my little guy is eating lots of different steamed vegetables, fresh fruit, cheerios and dry toast and meats – chicken, turkey, beef and salmon so far. Supposedly this feeding method leads to fewer texture issues and generally a less picky eater and if my daughter is evidence, it works!
I wrote a post about it:
http://pippasmum.blogspot.com/2011/01/food-for-thought.html
Reading the literature, I also have come to the conclusion that there is no reason to introduce solids before six months and that the entire first year, breastmilk is all that the baby needs – solids are just to develop tastes, chewing ability and fine motor skills (provided the baby is self-feeding).
Always makes me laugh to hear about a “new to me” book or idea like Baby Led Weaning and then find out that’s what I’ve been doing anyway.
I decided to read the book only because when I spoke to the public health people, they treated me like giving pieces as opposed to purees was like a form of child abuse and that my son would choke for sure. At least reading the book, I was able to make sure that I wasn’t endangering his life. Finding out the difference between gagging and choking made all the difference for me in terms of my confidence.
I introduced bananas and rice cereal around 6 mos., but my son was not interested. We waited a couple months and tried again. He’d eat a bit of it and by 9 mos. he’d eat solids at least once a day. He also breastfed until 18 mos. and basically weaned himself at that point. I wouldn’t push solids. . .but if it is fun for him, let him try. I have always breastfed on demand and enjoyed it very much. . .weaning was bittersweet for me. We now have an ~13 mo. old son and his eating pattern is much more laid back. I’m hoping to again nurse as long as I can and will delay solids again.
Great point. No need to stress about the solids! If it’s fun, enjoy. If not, wait. Not hurting a thing.
We started my son on purees a little after 6 months. We were on a long trip with my daughter when she was 4 1/2 months old and she absolutely demanded food. So, out we went to buy spoons and stuff. It was crazy. Of course, this was a sign of her personality!!! After a few initial purees, we went to grinding or cutting up what we were eating. Both kiddos eat whatever we put in front of them, which makes me a happy mama!
Ah yes. The personality is a big factor!
I pumped for the first six months but had to supplement sometimes (especially toward the end) with formula. I started giving my daughter cereal (watered down with breastmilk) at 4 months – not necessarily for “food” but to start learning how to eat from a spoon. She still got roughly the same amount of bottles (breastmilk and some formula), but she really took to the cereal. We started out with it really soupy, so it was like lapping up milk from a spoon, and then slowly used less and less milk. It was so funny to watch. We moved on to the stage 1 baby foods around 6 months, but continued with bottles and cereal at first. We started with bananas and peas, but I made sure to try all of the different flavors early on so she didn’t get to used to any one flavor. I never mixed any of the foods, except for putting some fruits in her cereal for more flavor, so she could taste each different flavor. I tried to stick with the vegetables mostly at first, holding off on the sweeter fruits for a little while. Luckily, she seemed to really like the veggies. She did not like the pureed meats though (can you really blame her?) until much later. I also started giving her a plastic baby spoon early on, just to get used to holding one, while I fed her with another spoon. That may be why she picked up feeding herself earlier than I expected.
Feeding a baby early on is definitely quality entertainment.
Ooo a topic near & dear to my heart! We think it’s best to wait until 6 months to introduce solids, to let little digestive tracts mature as much as possible. My plan was to do baby led weaning from the get go, but our son didn’t do well with that at first.
So for two or three weeks, we did do baby food (sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, applesauce, etc.), then made the switch to table food and he hasn’t looked back since. He enjoys almost anything we give him (so far, everything except green beans & raw apples). We don’t give him sugar, dairy (a suspected allergy) or grains (I’ve done some reading that suggests babies can’t digest grains until 1 year). It’s so nice to not have to worry about buying or even making baby food. I just make sure I have a few staples on hand (peas & eggs, mostly) in case he can’t eat what we’re having (ie, pizza night!). I also don’t hesitate to season his food (no salt, though) or give him things that are a little spicy.
Foods he regularly enjoys: peas, eggs (just the yolk), bananas, avocados, spinach, salsa, black beans (probably his favorite food), carrots, meat (in limited amounts). And he tries almost everything we’re eating.
I say just relax and have fun. Food should be enjoyable and we want our kids to learn that from a young age!
I’ve heard a lot of iffy things about grains lately, too. Bummed because frozen bagels have always been one of my favorite baby “teethers.”
We did avocado for his first food around 5.5 months. I wanted to wait until 6 but he seemed ready. I listened to his cues. He’s now 10m and still loves the avocado… and basically anything else we put in front of him. @YourGreenBaby and @wholesomebaby both have really good information on baby-led weaning and what foods to feed when. GL mama!
Thanks for those twitter resources!
Just an additional note… for the most part we followed our daughter’s cues… we knew she was getting ready for more solids/table foods once she started really watching us eat and reaching for our plates. Every baby is different of course, so just try a new food a couple of times and if he doesn’t like it, move on to something else. But be sure to try those foods again after some time has passed – you’d be surprised how many of those foods he’ll decide he likes after all. My daughter gagged when we gave her pureed meat the first couple of times so we put it away. Several weeks later I tried them again and she didn’t gag but wasn’t crazy about them so I did sneak a little in with her veggies a few times but then a few weeks later I tried meats again and she ate the whole jar and has every time since.
Good point. Just because they don’t like it the first time doesn’t mean they won’t the next!
We consistently introduced solids after six months, and it didn’t become a part of our schedule until about seven or eight months old. Of course, my son slept through the night and didn’t seem to need solids so I didn’t force them. Now, he’s almost ten months old, has no teeth, but I tear up lean proteins like chicken for him and give him cooked veggies, whole beans, etc. He loves it! That and peaches. Now I just give him what we eat, and I don’t even puree it, I just give him tiny pieces. He wants all my food anyway lol.
They start so early with the whole “I want what YOU have” thing.
Well- with my first I waited till about 5 months did the rice cereal and purees and such cause you know, that’s what the doc said. Well, with my second, she was in a Mothers Dday out program once a week, so, I would send cereal with her then. The rest of the time, she just got me! Well, she is now 11 months and insists on eating whatever I am eating from chili to cereal, cucumbers and her fav is banana!!! =) I used some commercial baby food more for convenience and some homemade, but for the most part, she eats whatever I eat.
That’s how our first was. Chili, fajita peppers, anything. Cracked me up!
We started solids at 4 months because he was showing all the signs that he was ready. Our pedi suggested we go with veggies and fruits 1st because I was on the MSPI-diet and grains are hard on MSPI-baby’s tummy. I’m glad we did start with veggies. Our son is a great eater and loves his veggies. I don’t think I would have started that early if he didn’t show the signs. He was sitting up by himself and engaged in what we were doing when he was eating. So next time, I’ll watch what is going on. Maybe we’ll wait until 6 months. I’m not sure. Breastmilk is awesome and if you’re able to provide it completely for 6 months that is great! I’m still bfing once a day at 15 months. Not sure how much longer it is going to last. But I know I’ve given my son and great start on life.
The more I learn about grains the more I’m reluctant to give them to my babies.
We have a 18 month old son. He eats everything healthy and loves all fruits and veggies! I didn’t give him any solid food for the first 12 1/2 months of his life! I may have given him a few baby mum mums while we were running around town or traveling to keep him busy! But he was only breastfed and never had formula of any food before 12 months! He wasn’t starving or extra small because of this. He has a great doctor that explained to us that people like to start solids at 4-6 months because of money and because they want their baby to practice eating food!
But our son eats better than any toddler I have ever met, including our friends toddlers who have been eating far longer than he has! He is super healthy and his weight is right where it should be!
Do what you think is the best for your child!
Great experience and perspective. And you’re right – we have to do what is best for OUR child.
I wish we could have waited until 6 months to introduce solids, but I have struggled with a low supply and our daughter has always been on the scrawny side. For about a month, we finally had to supplement with 1 bottle of formula a day, which I didn’t like doing, but I had exhausted all options for increasing my supply. At 5 months, she started getting solids consistently, although we skipped the cereal (from everything I’ve read, it’s really not good for babies) and just gave her baby purees, which she loved. Starting solids allowed us to drop the bottle, and I now make all my own baby food. She started gaining weight more consistently, and is just much more sturdy. She gets plain, whole milk yogurt everyday, along with fruit, and I normally give her finger foods like scrambled eggs, fruit pieces, meat or cheese. I also make all sorts of vegetables for her and season them how I like them, including the salt (we use real pink sea salt though, not table salt). She also gets a bit of whatever we are eating, and is constantly grabbing at our food. Honestly, we are not worried about allergies, if she has them it will become apparent, and we are not avoiding any one food except grains. She is doing great on solids, although she still receives plenty of breastmilk every 2 hrs! We are pretty laid back when it comes to solids, I guess, and our way probably isn’t popular, but it’s what’s working for us, and I feel comfortable in our decisions.
I face similar issues- low supply despite EVERYTHING. I made the same choice to introduce solids as a way to prolong breastfeeding. My son weaned at 7.5 months. I was ready to keep going, but he just refused and me and the pump don’t get along past about 3 months. So he’s on formula now. But I made it twice as long as I did with my daughter and I’m proud about that. My boy LOVES to eat. He tolerated purees for about 2 months. Now he eats everything we eat. He outeats his 2 year old sister. He eats meats and cheese, which she still won’t really touch. We mostly go with baby-led weaning. We don’t avoid grain, but since I only buy whole grains, it isn’t a problem I am worried about. By the way, he has no teeth and eats everything. (Not expecting any until his first birthday.) As long as I can squish it with my fingers, I figure he can squish it with his gums.
“As long as I can squish it with my fingers, I figure he can squish it with his gums.” Great point, and so true! I don’t know about your babies, but yowsa, my little ones can chomp hard with those gums!
I’ve never been too concerned about allergies, either, when introducing solids. I figure if it happens, it happens, and we’ll deal with it if/when we need to.
My first was EBF until 6 months. I tried cereals (rice and oat) but he flatly refused them, so I followed my instincts and tried purees instead (I had wanted to but everyone was telling me to start with the cereal – should have listened to my gut first!). He L.O.V.E.D sweet potatoes and still does. I also did avocado at the very beginning. I didn’t adhere strictly to Baby Led Weaning, but I applied some of the principles (using the french fry shape for one; such a great idea). I used jarred baby food in a pinch or while out, but at home, I fed him mostly homemade foods. I didn’t really even have to make big batches and freeze like everybody tells you to. I’d make enough for a few servings and that worked for me.
Sweet potatoes are one of our first foods, too.
Not sure if someone had said something about it yet or not but I had watched a segment on Rice cereal. It went on to say that white rice (the most popular kind, that Gerber makes) actually digests in our systems like white bread or any white grain. It simply turns into sugar. Gerber does have a organic line that carries whole grain, my friend found Earths Best also has a whole grain. Just passing on what I have heard, hope it helps!
Thank you for sharing that! I know there are concerns about tummy troubles with cereal.
Our little guy started around 4 months, but was definitely anti-cereal. His first foods were cooked peas with the skins slipped off, home canned peaches, mashed potatoes. Studies are great, but I honestly think that you just go with the flow and see what your little one likes/needs/is willing to try.
So true! Babies are individuals. What works for one may not work for another, even in the same family.
Nothing but breastmilk here (she’s 16 weeks yesterday). We’re having the so.id foods discussion at the next Dr. visit though and I want to have my reasons ready why we are NOT doing rice cereal. But since she’s gone from sleeping 7 hours at night to up every 1.5 to 2 hours, I do wonder if she’s hungry and solids might help.
If you want to start solids and want to avoid the cereal (don’t blame you) you might check into smashed avocado. I’ll try to get the next post up before your doctor visit.
My four month old girl is still EBF. My three boys were EBF until 8 months. Started with Earth’s Best cereal, mashed bananas & cheerios, then went on to just feeding them off my plate. None of my boys had teeth til they were older (17mo, 15mo & 13mo) but they loved to eat anyway! They got most of their nutrition from breast milk, and weaned themselves within a month of getting their teeth.
Like another commenter said, “if you can squish it with your fingers, they can squish it with their gums.” No teeth required.
Both of my girls first food was bananas. Mikayla was ready at 4 months but Lily was not quite. I tried at 4 months but she still had the thurst reaction going on so I waited another few weeks and then she was ready for bananas!
Bananas and sweet potatoes here.
Personally I am not into starting just to start (especially when there’s no nutritional benefit). What’s exciting about spending money on food when the breastmilk is free? (Assuming one is nursing.)
I did start with Libbie shortly after she turned 5 months because she seemed to be interested in food. We started with Earth’s Best oatmeal cereal. But we did a lot of “real” solids like melons that she could kind of gnaw on. I wish she would eat now what she did at 7 or 8 months!
“What’s exciting about spending money on food when the breastmilk is free?” BINGO
Our kids decided. Both boys randomly decided to steal whatever was on Mommy’s plate one day, and they have eaten real food since then. I believe it was peas for one at age 5 months, and mashed potatoes for the other at 4 months, but once they had the taste of real food, they wanted in in addition to their liquid gold each and every time. Oh, and baby mush was NOT appreciated. Not. At. All. By the way, I tasted store-bought baby mush. I can’t blame them for refusing it. Peas, mashed potatoes, and finely chopped steamed carrots are MUCH more fun and yummy.
No hurry, no worry, and they will decide when they are ready.
Frozen peas have always been a favorite snack for my little ones. When they’re a bit older (a year, maybe) I let them have ‘em straight out of the freezer. They love it!
Raw avocado is the perfect first food; it has all the right fats and it tastes great. I usually start it between 6-7 months (depending whether baby seems satisfied or not going 3-4 hours between feedings).
I only started buying fresh avocados about 2 years ago. (I know, I was totally missing out!) This baby will definitely get his share of the green stuff.
Hummm, my son madly shoveled steak (from my plate!) into his mouth at 7 months. I learned not to turn my back if I wanted any more dinner. Beef may not to the perfect first food but it works for us. None of my kids liked the smooth baby food, I just fed them whatever we were having from the start. Our eating habits improved. It makes you stop and think… “why am I eating something that I WON’T feed my baby?”
That is a riot! And you’re right, they want what’s on mama’s plate, so we have to be careful what we put on our plate.
Love this topic!
With my first child, I started with solids and followed the advice in “the books” to a T. He would clamp his mouth shut and we had to pry it open to get food in it. Feedings took huge effort and tons of time. (He’s also the one I wrote about in that breastfeeding post for you.)
With the second, I didn’t stress so much about it, but he also was a bit more accepting of baby food. I started him on soft table foods after about a month of baby food, so when he was about 8 months old.
My third barely got any baby food. She had no desire to be treated like a baby and by then I had no problem with giving her table food like mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, etc. She just gummed it and did fine.
Isn’t it amazing how much you relax as you have more kids?
LOL — I knew you and I would be on the same page with this one. I secretly call it my “lazy mom” feeding system, but it totally works!
I exclusively breastfed our youngest for 7.5 months. With my daughter i started cereal at 4 months b/c it’s what i thought you “needed to do”. However, after much research i decided to delay my second. He was content on breast milk and i don’t think it impacted his eating habits one bit! This little guy (now 18 months) LOVES food! I do, however, still nurse at night for comfort. Never thought i would nurse that long but he just hasn’t been ready to wean yet.
Amazing the things we do because we’re “supposed to”, huh?
We seem to wait longer and longer with each child before introducing “first foods.”
My first two I started on rice cereal, etc, at 4 months, the did the whole homemade baby food ordeal for months. With my first, I even planned out and wrote on the calender what new food I would start her on, twice a week, for the rest of her first year.
While I was pregnant with my third, about a year ago, I read something on not even using baby food (here, I thought, but I’ve never been able to find the post again). It sounded good, so that’s what we planned on. She’s almost 7 months now. We did start giving her tiny tastes of table foods occasionally at about 5-5.5 months, because she was so excited about it, but not enough to really have any nutritional value. Now we’re feeding her a little bit of table food once or twice a day. I’ve been amazed at how much easier it is to feed her, by just waiting a couple more months until she was ready, than it was with my first two. She also handles table food better than baby mush, and much prefers it, which is so much easier on me to feed her what we’re eating, than to make baby food. My first two aren’t really picky eaters, except with spicy foods, but I’m hoping she’ll be even less picky. Right now she loves about anything. I like this method a lot better, and will definitely use it again with any more babies that I have.
I actually may have written about it before. I don’t remember! Ha! Yes, it definitely is so much easier waiting just a couple of months.
We have 7 kids and with each I started rice cereal substantially later. The last 3 kids didn’t have anything but breastmilk until 8-9 mos (I think I started my first on rice cereal at age 5 or 6 mos).
The babies that I started later didn’t have any problem figuring it out, gained weight just the same as their older siblings – the ONLY difference was that my babies that were just strictly nursed till 9 months were healthier with fewer colds.
Undoubtedly – you can’t get any more convenient than nursing!
Can’t get more convenient, and *most* of the time can’t find healthier babies. Bonus!
I haven’t bought or made baby food for the past several babies.
I posted about my “no baby food” philosophy if anyone would like to read it.
With my oldest it was as soon as we could, maybe 3 months? My second, it wasn’t until she was over 6 months. My third, 5 months, because he wasn’t gaining weight any more with nursing, and had actually dropped some. Rather than supplement with formula we opted to start solids. My fourth, I tried at 5 months and it took me 6 weeks to get her to actually open her mouth and swallow the food. That was a learning process for both of us.
My youngest is 11 months and I breastfed her till she was 6 months. I started by giving her squash at 5 1/2 months, only because she was attacking my plate at meal time. LOL She now eats most anything we eat. She is also my first child to like infant cereal. My older 2 would never eat it.
I think it’s funny when babies know they’re missing out on something good.
I know! She is still that way, if someone is eating something she goes into attack mode. LOL Right now she is sitting beside me eating boiled sliced potato, and squealing with excitement.
Hooray for liquid gold! Way to go, you! My kiddo (now almost 11 mo) didn’t much care for cereal, so I think his first food that he actually ate was pureed sweet potato. I have found a lot of great information on wholesomebabyfood.com for making my own baby food, which is super easy and way cheaper if you already have a food processor. Actually ever since we started solids around 6 1/2 mos., my baby has been constipated, and I’ve finally decided the culprit is those dang fortified baby cereals. (I was mixing them in with the fruit or veg). I have completely stopped using them and it seems to have solves the problem.
Yes! I’ve heard that over and over about the cereals. Makes me sad that they make them to “bulk up” baby’s tummy.
It’s interesting that in the past 3 months of dealing with this problem, no one has suggested dropping the cereals! I actually called the ped’s office about it, and one of the nurses suggested giving him Karo syrup. Umm, no. Not doing that.
Isn’t that bizarre? Stuff like that really bothers me…
We also exclusively breastfed until 6 months and then we started baby led weaning instead of doing purees. I have blogged about it a few times, the first time I blogged about it I explain it a bit. http://deborahgilbert42.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/baby-led-weaning/
We LOVE BLW.
Thanks for the resource link!
Well, that’s fun! My DD almost exclusively was breastfed for around thirteen or fourteen months. She would get treats here and there to try out her gums after six months, but absolutely no meal replacements. She hated baby food anyway and preferred the boob, so it all worked out.
She breastfed for 2 years and 5 months.
Keep up the good job, mama. Your little one is so adorable!
Nothing healthier than Liquid Gold, right?!
With baby #2 and #3, I skipped the rice cereal and started with oatmeal. There’s definitely nutritional benefit to it!
Also when I introduced solids to baby #2 and #3, I mashed up and pureed whatever I was eating. I wanted them to get used to the flavorful foods we ate rather than the bland flavors of baby food. With Baby #1, I followed all the rules and she ate her colors in proper order. She’s 9 now and is so picky! My second daughter is a much better eater and I think it’s because she ate what I ate and learned to like it.
And the sooner they eat what we eat, the easier it is on mama!
With my 1st I was soo excited that we started her on solids as soon as we got the go ahead from the doc around 4 months. Breastfeeding didn’t go very well with her, so I almost felt as though she needed the baby food and cereal, and boy did she eat it up. She never skipped a meal or turned down a snack (until she learned that she could say no to things, then it got interesting).
Now my son is 7 1/2 months old and is kind of eating. He was exclusively breastfed for about 5 months and when we tried to introduce food to him, he refused. He would spit it out. It kind of was a bummer since I made most of his food and now have a freezer door full of food that he won’t eat. Now, he won’t eat any purees and would much rather have the small pieces. He is eating some fruits and veggies and then some grains here and there. He isn’t eating meals consistently, but when he wants some of what we are having I can’t really say no (he has BIG blue eyes and BIG chubby cheeks). My mom is warning me that if I don’t introduce stuff to him now, I’ll have trouble later, but I feel confident in letting him tell me when he’s ready. I love that I can give him all the nutrients that he needs
One of the most satisfying things about raising babies “I love that I can give him all the nutrients that he needs.”
I wrote a post about how we start solids a little over a year ago. Here’s the link: http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/starting-solids-how-we-do-it/.
Thanks! I need to do round two for feeding baby and gather some feeding options.