Once parents are having a child, they face various challenges on their way. They are connected to baby health care, clothing, developing and, of course, diet. The last one is probably the most important and confusing as every child is unique and requires different types of food and approach. Breastfeeding really simplifies mom’s life as it is specifically produced for a baby’s needs and you don’t need to spend time on choosing the best alternative for your little one.
But, when your loved one is ready to switch from breast milk or toddler formula to solid foods, a new question arises: how to do it correctly? This stage usually comes at the age of 4-6 months and is an important period for the baby. Your little one gets new experience and you need to pay special attention to it.
We have prepared some basic ideas on baby weaning to make this process pleasant for both you and your baby.
1. Do it gradually
In the beginning a baby shows his or her interest in “adult” food and that’s the right time to start introducing solids. But you need to bear in mind that this food is just unknown for a little one and it takes time to get used to new tastes and structures. Serve small amounts of different types of food before their usual milk feed. They still are getting energy and essential nutrients from the milk but at the same time they discover new food for themselves and learn how to chew and swallow them. When a baby is getting older, gradually substitute milk with different veggies, fruits, cereals and other meals. You can look for different toddler lunch ideas on the Internet and make something healthy and tasty for your loved one.
2. Let them explore
It’s crucial for babies to touch and hold the food with their fingers. It definitely encourages them to taste this food later and helps them get used to different foods and textures. In addition, it’s great for their hand and eye coordination. Otherwise, if you don’t allow your baby to touch it or, moreover, scream when they make some mess, it will have negative consequences on your baby’s eating habits.
3. Be a good model for your baby
If you want your little one to have a healthy diet, teach them by your example. Children always copy the behavior of their parents. So if you eat fast food regularly, don’t expect your little one to have a healthy diet. It’s in your charge to show that healthy food is delicious and beneficial.
4. Which food to serve?
There are plenty of toddler lunch ideas on the Internet. You can search for them and find very easy and fast recipes. But the main idea is to start from textures that will be very easy to chew and swallow as it’s still challenging for a baby. Prefer blended, mashed or pureed food to bigger pieces. Later you can serve pieces of fruits and veggies that are soft and gradually move to solid food. But remember about making it safe for the baby.