There are many advantages to baby led weaning; for one, you
can enjoy some time to yourself instead of trying to spoon-feed your baby while
making swooshing aeroplane noises to try and entice them to eat. Another
advantage is that your baby will gradually become more independent as they
learn to feed themselves and will become more curious about the different types
of food.
So, where do you begin? Read on for some useful tips on how
to encourage baby led weaning.
Let Your Baby
Play with Their Food
The first time you introduce solid foods to your baby –
ideally, when they are over 6 months old – they
probably won’t immediately know how to react. In order to let them get used to
this change, put a few pieces of food on the highchair tray and let your baby
feel them. While parents typically encourage their children not to play with
your food, this is how your baby will learn to eventually self-feed. If you’re
worried about all the mess that is inevitable with baby led weaning, then
simply use a neckerchief bib to try and contain the chaos. By playing with their food, your
baby is learning how to pick it up and develop their motor skills and hand-eye
coordination.
Start Off with
Soft Foods
Although the term ‘solid foods’ might indicate hard-to-chew
foods, it really means a solid substance as opposed to liquids (i.e., mushy
baby food or puree). You don’t want to give your baby any food that could be a
choking hazard, as they are still learning how to chew. Start them off with
soft finger foods, like ripe banana chunks, soft-cooked carrots and peas, or
cheese cubes.
Avoid Certain
Foods
Make sure to avoid the following foods when baby-led
weaning:
·
Whole grapes – choking hazard
·
Whole or chopped nuts – choking hazard
·
Honey – contains a bacterium called Clostridium
botulinum, which can cause infant botulism, a fatal
bacterial infection
·
Cow’s milk – has a higher lactose
content and can lead to kidney disorders
·
Sugar – sugary foods can cause tooth
decay
·
Chocolate – contains caffeine and high
sugar content
·
Caffeine – can increase blood pressure,
heart rate and potentially cause seizures in young children
·
Soft, mould-ripened cheeses – these
cheeses have a higher risk of carrying a bacterium called listeria, in contrast to pasteurised full-fat cheese
Try Not to
Panic
It’s easy – and completely natural – to get overwhelmed and
worry about your baby’s health when they begin to self-feed, especially in the
early stages. However, try not to undermine your baby’s abilities; they can be
fast learners and quickly adapt to finger foods. If you are constantly
monitoring them and appear worried, they will pick up on your emotions.
Obviously, you still need to keep an eye on your little one but have some
faith. It’s also important to note is that gagging is
very common for babies weaning, so if you see your baby gagging, try not to
panic. Gagging is a natural reflex and is a normal response to trying new
foods. If your baby is gagging frequently during mealtimes, however, it is
worth consulting your paediatrician, as your baby could have issues
coordinating their mouth movements.
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