Over
the past few years I have been through a few parenting milestones,
one of which is weaning.
Weaning
both Jelly Bean and Bug was memorable and fun, with each experience
being unique to them. Both were weaned earlier than the recommended
age at the guidance of the health visitor. Bug took to food faster
than Jelly Bean with him being an enthusiastic, full meals eater who
loved to try new foods; whilst Jelly Bean was more of a slow eater
who took a while to take to new tastes and textures and preferred to
graze throughout the day eating little and often rather than a few
large meals in one go.
Having
weaned two children and been part of the HiPP Organic Wean Team I
often get asked weaning advice from friends who are about to start
the weaning journey with their little ones for the first time ever.
Recently my sister who is starting to think about weaning her first
born asked me for a few tips on how and what she needs to wean my
little nephew.
With
weaning in mind I thought I’d share a few weaning tips and top
products that we have found helpful whilst experiencing the wonderful
world of weaning -
Have
fun and embrace the mess
Weaning
can get messy so rather than worry and be anxious about the mess I
say embrace it. If you are on edge and worrying about the highchair
or little one getting messy then baby will pick up on your
anxiousness which could have a negative effect on their eating. Hands
on baby led weaning can be fun and the joy of your little one
exploring and trying new foods and flavours negates any mess that
happens…..plus there is something very cute about a big smiley food
covered face that is beaming with pride.
If
the idea of spaghetti being flung anywhere and everywhere or yoghurt
being painted all across the highchair fills you with dread here are
a few ways to deal with any mess that might happen -
* be
thankful for wipedown trays on highchair and consider a highchair
with wipedown or removeable seat cover for easy cleaning
* place
down a piece of vinyl plastic table cloth underneath highchairs if
using on a carpeted area to keep the carpet free from food and stains
* use
all in one bibs or bibs designed to catch food
* let
baby eat without clothes on only in a nappy to prevent any clothes
getting stained
Weaning
equipment
When
beginning the weaning journey it is important to kit yourself out
with all the equipment needed to introduce your little one to food.
Here are a few of our favourites -
* Nuby
SureGrip range - the bowls and plates are amazing as they grip
highchair trays and tables amazingly well so that you don’t have to
worry about little ones grabbing hold of a bowl or plate and flinging
it across the room.
* High
chair
Much
like pushchairs there is a vast range of high chairs on the market
and every parent with have their own views of the key features needed
and what is the best.
Any
basic highchair that keeps baby safe and secure whilst eating will
do. I’ve heard rave reviews of the basic Ikea Antilop highchair.
However there are highchairs that offer additional features such as
being able to fold away for storage, different height levels and
reclining seat.
For
parents wanting to get longevity out of their highchair purchase it
is worth looking at Nomi ergonomic highchairs which are suitable for
little ones from 0 - 12 years. The beauty of Nomi is that they are
customisable so you can design your own highchair.
We
love these Tommee Tippee spoons because not only do they feature soft tips for
tender gums, long handles for reaching into jars and storage pots,
are BPA free, suitable for babies aged 4 months + and are dishwasher,
microwave and steriliser safe but they also change colour if food is
too hot. This clever feature provides reassurance that food is the
correct temperature for little ones to enjoy.
Food
Similar
to bottle vs breast, I believe that it is not important how you
choose to wean and feed your little one - traditional pureed food vs
baby led weaning - just that they are fed and cared for. Both Bug and
Jelly Bean started with pureed food as they started weaning before 6
months of age but once they were 6 months old we combined baby led
finger foods with pureed food.
Having
been part of the HiPP Organic Wean Team for parents who chose to use
shop bought pureed baby food in jars I would highly recommend HiPP Organic baby food. The beauty of HiPP Organic is that they are
dedicated to 100% organic baby food that is tasty, wholesome and
healthy.
For
parents who want to try their hand at making homemade baby food I
would highly recommend the Annabel Karmel Weaning book. It is great
for introducing and understanding weaning, looking at first tastes,
exploring new tastes and textures and creating a varied diet along
menu planners.
Advice
Whilst
I am a true believer in following your instinct as a parent and
following the baby’s cues it can always be helpful to get some
advice on weaning from those who have been there and done that or who
are experts on weaning and healthy diets. Talk to other parents, if
you find them helpful go to your health visitor for help and advice
or read the weaning advice of experts such as HiPP Organic’s resident expert nutritionist Helen.
I
cannot wait to hear stories from my sister as she weans my little
nephew and see him grow and develop a love of food as he tries new
tastes and textures.
What
are you must have weaning products?
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