The excitement and joy of bringing a new life into the world is one of the greatest experiences we human beings can have. It is only surpassed by the milestones to come, the first words, the first steps, and the first time your baby learns to eat and enjoy solid foods!
If you are a new parent there are so many thrills ahead of you as your baby grows, and you are bound to have lots of questions on how to manage the coming changes, so be sure to check out Baby Blog for advice and help from people who have already been through the process, they are happy to share their wisdom and experience with you!
Today we are going to take a look at one of those big milestones in your baby’s development, the transition from mother’s milk to solid foods! It can be a stressful time, and it will require a lot of patience, so we have some tips to help you and your bundle of joy get through it smoothly!
- Model Behaviours – Your baby has shown that they are getting ready to begin the solid food journey when they are able to sit up in their high chair. Sit them at the table with you when you are dining and let them watch how much you enjoy eating your food! They will get interested and naturally want to join in!
- Good Timing – This may sound obvious, but choose a time when your baby is hungry! You can begin with some breast milk or formula, then once their appetite is whetted try some soft baby food! One meal a day is enough to start the process, then over the next month move to two meals as baby becomes more adept at eating solid foods.
- Mood Matters – If your baby is tired and fussy it’s not a good time to learn something new, it will just lead to a lot of stress that could be counterproductive! Wait until they are alert, cheerful, and a bit hungry. If your baby rejects that incoming spoon the first few tries, back off and try again later, and don’t worry, eventually they will realize it’s carrying yummy stuff!
- Easy Does It – Keep in mind that for baby this whole eating thing is all new, and can be a bit daunting, so go slow and ease into it gently. Try putting just a small amount of food on the tip of their tongue to get them used to the idea. If they swallow that try a little more a bit farther back. You need to be aware that at first almost as much food as you put in will come back out, but baby will eventually be waiting with their mouth open for more of that good food!
- Enough Is Enough – Knowing when it’s time to stop feeding is just as important as knowing when to start! When baby turns their head away or clenches their mouth closed they are signalling that they have had enough, so don’t force it!
Starting baby on solid foods takes a lot of patience, but eventually, it will all come naturally. Bon appetite, baby!
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