The Pirate Eats
Posted: May 9, 2013 Filed under: Down syndrome, kids, parenting | Tags: baby led solids, Down syndrome, Eating, Food 18 CommentsYup. He’s eating food.
Unbeknownst to this blog (yes, I’ve sort of come to see this blog as an entity in its own right. I keep secrets from you, blog, and did you know that??), I’ve been quietly freaking out about the possibility that LP wouldn’t eat regular food. Part of it is that I’m so food-centric, part of it is that struggling with solids is such a common part of the “baby with Ds” profile. I just hated the idea that my kid might struggle with eating. I know, kind of irrational, and based on a stereotype. Plus, I know plenty of moms who had kids go through rough times with solids and they all seemed to get through it in the end. Still. I dunno, it just bugged me more than some of the other potentials, and I figured if I was most worried about it, it would definitely come to pass.
For reference, Mouse and Chipmunk just ate food, simple, easy peasy, no problem. At some point, when they started sitting up, I’d just give them little bits of food. They’d stick it in their mouths, gum it up, and swallow. Repeat.
Side note: Chipmunk had a phase during which she wouldn’t eat much except for potatoes and bacon fat. That passed, thank goodness.
Anyhoo. I’ve given LP food once before, but thought it might have been a fluke, because he seemed to be unaware that it was even happening. But… this morning, LP was sitting in my lap and he taking swipes at my fork. First, it thrilled me to no end that Mr. Spaghetti Arms was swiping at anything. Second, I was double thrilled that he wanted my food. So I gave him some. He chewed. He swallowed. Then he looked up at me with a huge grin. I gave him another bite, and he actually opened his mouth in anticipation. (Cue Handel’s Messiah)
Total breakfast: Two pieces of potato, a bite of egg yolk, and two itty bitty pieces of strawberry. Not bad, eh? I would have given him more, but then started worrying that it was too much. Yeah. Can’t win.
I am not sure why this has been such a big deal for me. Maybe I just needed the reminder that he was just like the rest of the Taters. Different in some ways, I can’t deny that. Aren’t all siblings different in some ways, though? Mouse chews her knuckles so hard when she gets nervous that she gives herself rashes. She didn’t really speak until she was two years old. Chipmunk. Well. That child is so afraid of animals that she will run screaming from a butterfly. Talk about things that make a mother worry. What is that child going to do for field trips and biology class?
I’ve been spending a lot of time outraged about the social barriers LP will face and worrying over his medical issues, but it was nice to be reminded that as far as development goes, the timeline might be spread out, but it is turning out to be pretty darn uneventful*. Chew. Swallow. Grin.
Breakfast? I’ll take it.
*I’m fully aware that by writing this, I am sealing our fates to face some huge challenge when it comes to LP’s development. It’s cool, kiddo. Don’t walk until you’re 5, don’t talk ever, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Love you.
Kimchi Latkes 
Yay! That’s so great. Isn’t it funny how we worry about this stuff ALL THE TIME! Sometimes I think i just need to take a chill pill and relax because things are going to be fine.
I know, but it’s like picking a scab. Can’t. Stop.
I am still dreading feeding solids. :( Cam doesn’t even like to drink his milk! LP needs to come visit so he can show him how it’s done!
Visit to Texas so we can all sit around and eat all day??? Done!
Our only food issues came when Owen turned into a toddler and just decided he didn’t want any of the food I made and that he would rather eat cheese puffs all day! We started solids when he was a little over 4 months (after his heart surgery) and he just liked everything. He just learned how to eat sandwiches/pizza/quesadillas by taking bites, so now I don’t have to cut everything up. Has it taken him longer to master a spoon/fork? Yes. Do I care about it? No. I wanted him to eat, so I don’t care how he does it. I’ve learned that things will come when Owen’s ready and not a second before. I think you’re doing a great job, but I get where your worries come from. Keep eating everything in sight, LP!!
“I’ve learned that things will come when Owen’s ready and not a second before.”
I think this is pretty much how all parenting is! We trick ourselves into thinking we are shaping our kids, and they are just shaping us into more patient people. ;)
So happy that your boy is eating and grinning. And so happy that you added the photos. Those are some seriously adorable little faces!
Thanks! :)
Good grief, he is so cute!! So awesome LP doesn’t seem to have any eating issues. Russell has a few…But, I am thinking some of the “issues” are more to do with me than with him. I keep meaning to write a post on it, but I am so damn lazy. Anyway…Yaay for LP!!
Curious to read that post. I mean, I think issues around food are pretty par for the course with any kid, right? Kids have their own funny ideas about food that don’t always fit in with the rest of us. What can ya do.
Finn ate nothing but purees until he was three years old :( He did have oral aversions/a strong gag reflex. It was a source of great stress for me. We worked on it in therapy quite a bit, but you know what finally “cured” him? One weekend Michael and I left, leaving the kids in the care of our awesome babysitter, and she just decided that he was going to eat regular food. And he did. And that was that.
LP is ahead of Scarlett! She’s 10+ months and still not a fan of very much in the way of solids.
Anyway, really, really glad to hear how well he’s doing :)
I remember that! But now I see pics of him, and who would have ever even known, you know? I really thought LP was going to have a difficult time because he has some very funny sensory things (like has a hard time being touched and is super sensitive to noise), I sort of assumed that would spill over into oral issues. I still don’t know what to do about the touch thing.
Scarlett is probably going to milk her last child status for everything she can. Literally. ;)
“I know, kind of irrational, and based on a stereotype.”
I hope you aren’t too hard on yourself for things like this, it pretty common to feel this way (at least that is what I tell myself). I think it is because we all want our kids to be recognized as the individuals that they are and not get placed into the mold society tries to force on them. Keep it up, you sound like a good mom.
Thanks. It is hard not to take the constantly held up profile of what Ds means and not have it seep into your head, ya know?
Love that little boy. His appetite for solid food is further proof that he’s from our food-centric family. Great photo! DS or not, lots of kids have food issues. I know a kid who from the age of 5 to the age of 8 would only eat plain noodles. All you young parents worry too much. Kids somehow develop in their unique ways and surprise us, often for better, with their personalities, abilities, likes and dislikes.
“All you young parents worry too much.”
Way to make me want to cling to my anxieties, AK!
Irrational or not. I had the same fear. And still rather than glancing briefly at him when he seems to sputter and have trouble (as I would any other child), I allow my hypersensitive mom imagine think of ever worse case scenario. I think we just want these guys not to have to struggle at anything, ever and that’s true for all my kids.
“I think we just want these guys not to have to struggle at anything, ever and that’s true for all my kids.”
Yes, so true.