Henry's 9-month Check-up

It’s Halloween, but I am not writing a holiday post today. If you want to read a well-balanced post about Halloween candy, I recommend this one by Red, Round or Green.

Henry with the pumpkin that Grandpa grew just for him.

Henry is too small for trick-or-treating, but he does have a costume to show off to the neighbors who will be stopping by our house. I attempted to find a food-themed costume for him, but this little green dragon suit beat out the chili pepper, turkey and lobster costumes.

Henry is a little green dragon for Halloween.

Yesterday was Henry’s nine month check-up at the pediatrician. He came away with a good bill of health. He is now 20 pounds, 9 ounces (about the 45th percentile for his age). The doctor also spotted two more teeth poking through, which will bring Henry's tooth count up to six.

At the check-up we talked a bit about food, but you might be surprised to learn that most doctors in the United States do not receive much training in nutrition. Our pediatrician said that he’s had to study this area on his own since it is largely overlooked in the medical school curriculum.

Our pediatrician focused on setting a good example for baby by eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and healthy fats. I was pleasantly surprised when he recommended eating fresh, local and organic foods. He emphasized the importance of a whole family approach since babies and toddlers imitate their parents.

The doctor also suggested that parents watch three movies that may alter your perceptions about food: SuperSize Me, King Corn, Food, Inc. If you haven’t already seen them, these films offer an eye-opening look at our food system.

While we did not specifically talk about baby-led weaning, the pediatrician approved of Henry eating table foods and drinking from a straw cup. He also gave us a few ideas for how to prevent picky eating and answered our questions about how to transition Henry off of baby formula later this year. I’ll be writing more about these topics in the coming weeks.

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