Cheerios® First Foods and a Giveaway!

I remember when the time came for Little One to start eating solid food. Because Little One was a preemie, I worried that her stomach might not be developed enough to handle solid food. I waited longer than many parents do when they introduce first foods to their babies. I waited quite a bit longer.

Little One did express interest in food at an early age though. We couldn't keep her on breast milk alone for much longer. She ended up self-weaning at 16 months of age, but at 8 months, we started her off with rice cereal. Then she tried oats. Then came barley. Pretty soon, she was eating pureed fruits and veggies (homemade, of course!). There wasn't anything Little One didn't like. Until this day, she still has a voracious appetite and she still eats everything and anything! *Knock on wood!*

Being a first time mom, I checked out birth clubs online, and mom/baby online community boards. I sought advice and tips from Little One's family doctor, Neonatologist, medical team, as well as from my family, friends, and other moms I knew. 

When it came to Little One's first finger food, it is no surprise that we chose Cheerios. Little One and I were visiting my friends and family in Montreal, when my friend asked if Little One could have some Cheerios. Her daughter was the same age and was already eating Cheerios. I was a bit nervous, as Little One had never had any finger food before. 

"They get wet and dissolve in their mouths. Don't worry", said my friend.


Little One ended up loving Cheerios, and has been addicted ever since! I have to admit, that moment was kind of like a milestone for me! I always seem to feel a little bit of sadness when Little One reaches a new milestone. I know I should be celebrating, but it makes her being no longer a baby very apparent. Poof! And, now she's 2 years old!

I did go home and scour online community boards for what most moms chose as Baby's first finger food! Yes, I'm weird like that! Again, it is no surprise that there was an overwhelming number of moms and dads who chose Cheerios! It's interesting to note that results of a 2008 independent survey of Canadian pediatricians showed that "4 out of 5 pediatricians recommend Cheerios for their infant or toddler patients". It is also no surprise that Cheerios has been a trusted cereal by Moms for over 50 years!

I felt confident knowing that Little One's pediatrician approved and suggested that we give Little One Cheerios!  She spoke of those nutritious whole grain "O"s being very good for developing motor skills. She couldn't stop talking about how great they were for manual dexterity.  I remember laughing every time Little One tried to get them in her mouth. At the beginning, she would just grab a bunch of Cheerios in her fist and try to shove them in her mouth. It was so funny! After a while, she got better at picking them up...One Cheerio at a time.

Mom Central is very excited to share a totally new section on BabyCenter.ca! It's the Cheerios First Foods Section on babycenter.ca! How exciting is that!? I started following BabyCenter even before we got pregnant. When we were in the "thinking about getting pregnant" stage of our marriage, I would check out BabyCenter.ca, as I knew it was one of the most trusted sites of its kind. I followed Little One's growth online, read weekly updates, chatted with other moms who were expecting around the same time as I was, read lots of great articles, and asked questions on babycenter.ca. I loved that BabyCenter proved to be a trusted resource for both first time moms and seasoned pros experienced moms!

I absolutely love that the Cheerios First Foods section on BabyCenter.ca has launched! The section features expert information on how and when to introduce certain foods,  tips for picky eaters, and so on. There are even menu plans and other tools that can make life a little easier for busy moms!

Two companies trusted by Canadian moms have teamed up to offer moms this great new First Foods section! Cheerios and BabyCenter.ca! Make sure to check out the new Cheerios First Foods section for all your first food questions!

If you thought that was great, it gets even better!

Win a Cheerios Prize Pack!!!

- The Cheerios Prize Pack ($50 value!) will include a: Cheerios On-the-go Tot Container, Cheerios playbook, Box of Cheerios, Bowl and utensil set and a $30 Cash Card.

To enter, simply leave me a comment on my blog and tell me what you think of the Cheerios First Food section!

Contest ends February 14th, 2011!

Disclosure - I am participating in the Cheerios First Foods program by Mom Central on behalf of General Mills. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.