During your baby’s early months, you will learn many things about your baby at a rate you’ve never learnt before. Traditionally, you would begin by weaning your baby offering them their first taste of food on a spoon. In general, these foods can be anything from baby rice mixed with milk to fruit or vegetable purée. This process is important for your baby so that they begin to experience new tastes and understand which tastes they like and do not like.
However, baby-led weaning is often the next stage or an alternative approach to this traditional outlook. Baby-led weaning uses an unstructured approach to eating. In which your baby is placed in a high chair and then is offered a range of solid foods to feed themselves with, without the help from an adult.
There have been a number of reported benefits of using this new technique when it comes to feeding your baby. Firstly, it is suggested that babies who are allowed to choose their own foods are less likely to become fussy eaters in the future. As your baby gets used to trying new foods. They will develop the habit of trying out new foods, which they will continue to do in the future.
Another benefit is that your baby begins to learn how to eat by watching you. Whilst sat at the table. Your baby will watch the family, taking in the ways that they can eat. This will allow time for the family to eat together. The final benefit is that there is a lot less work involved than having to mash up food into a purée. After all, this always takes time before meals.
The best foods for baby-led weaning
These foods are usually soft and can be held in the baby’s hand. Such as small chunks of cooked and peeled soft potatoes, banana, and other small or cut up pieces of food that can be easily placed on your baby’s tray and do not pose a risk of choking.
This gives your baby the option to pick and choose foods that they like to eat. Whilst better understanding their taste buds. Others options include but are not limited to soft fruits like raspberries, banana, strawberries, watermelon, mango, avocado, papaya, etc. Soft bread, scrambled egg, but here is the ultimate baby led weaning food.
Original Farley’s Rusks
- Source of iron and calcium
- 5 Added vitamins
- No artificial colours, preservatives or flavours
- Very low salt; egg free No GM ingredients
As you begin introducing your toddler to different types of food, you will want to introduce them to several different textures. As well as softer, easier to eat foods, you will also want to introduce them to harder to eat textures. These Farley’s Rusks Original Snacks are a tasty, healthy food to get them started. Ideal for both adults and children, each biscuit is made with baby grade ingredients to ensure smooth digestion. They’re suitable for vegetarians and can be eaten at breakfast with milk to reduce the hard texture (if your little one prefers this way of eating). The sugar content is extremely low and the most recent recipe further reduced the sugar content and increased the overall nutritional value.
With each Farley’s Rusks Original Snack your child can begin with a crunchy texture, which will soon soften and become edible. This works as a great introduction to real foods that they will later consume. To ensure you always have your snacks available, we recommend taking them with you on your days out. This way, your infant will always have a snack when they want one.
Ella’s Kitchen Strawberry & Banana Puffs
These Ella’s Kitchen Organic Strawberry & Banana Melty Puffs are suitable for babies above the age of 6 + months and will introduce them to the concept of real foods. Made specially for infants, these biscuits are made of healthy, natural ingredients that supplement a balanced diet. The best time to introduce these biscuits is during the weaning stage, in which your little one will begin to explore new types of flavours and food textures. Each biscuit is extremely tasty and can be enjoyed wherever.
They come in 4 packs that can be taken with you to any location. Whether you’re on a day trip to the beach, you’ve gone to the park or you’re simply at home, this on the go treat is a fantastic snack to enjoy. These delicious snacks are available to individuals located throughout the UK via Amazon. With each order, you can introduce your little one to a healthy food option that is not only tasty but contains several healthy ingredients too. Buy your Melty Puffs today and change the way your little one enjoys snack time forever! Once they’ve enjoyed the flavours, they will keep asking for more!
Kiddylicious veggie straws
These Veggie Sticks are the perfect snack for baby’s of 7 months +. They provide a nutritious alternative to crisps and have been made through a baking process rather than being fried. They contain no added salt, sugar, artificial colours or flavours, allowing you to rest assured that your baby is snacking on health foods.
The recipe is gluten free and is created using a range of fruit and vegetables that have undergone the process of organic farming. It is also vegetarian and vegan friendly and so is a great snack for parents who have only introduced vegetarian options to their baby. Each bag goes by a no junk promise, ensuring that your baby is receiving all of the natural benefits that come with organic fruit and vegetables.
Each baked snack is the perfect way to introduce your baby to the process of baby-led weaning. During this process, your baby will learn the fundamentals of feeding themselves by trying a number of different finger foods. These organic veggie sticks are a fantastic way to encourage this process. Due to the fact that each veggie stick is designed to melt, they can be eaten with safety in mind.
It is recommended that your baby tries these sticks from the age of 7 months. At first, we suggest that you allow your baby to try these sticks under supervision to guarantee complete safety, as well as ensure your baby feels comfortable whilst trying this new food. As you and your baby grow in confidence, your baby can begin to enjoy these sticks as a healthy snack with limited or no supervision at all. For the perfect, healthy snack for your little one look no further than these organic veggie sticks. Each bag is packed with vital vitamins and nutrients that will allow your baby to thrive.
Kiddylicious apple fruity bakes
Looking for a healthy snack that keeps your little one full in between meals? If so these Kiddylicious Apple Fruit Bakes are the ideal snack. They’re made to be extremely soft and delicate in the mouth, which makes them good for weaning into real food. The internal content of each bake is made entirely of real fruit with no added sugar. This introduces your little one to a range of flavours that they may not be able to otherwise experience. (This is because many real fruits may be too difficult to eat at first). The ingredients used for the outside of each bake are of the highest quality without any processed sugars. As a result, the natural texture encourages self feeding in toddlers, who simply won’t be able to get enough.
Having received hundreds of positive reviews, it is clear that each of the individual packs is the ideal snack. Due to their small size, they can be carried around with ease. Whether you’re going for a walk, out for a day trip or simply going to the shop, you can make sure that your toddler always has a snack on hand. Buy yours now and introduce them to a whole new world of flavour.
Organix Animal Biscuits
These animal biscuits by Organic are suitable for babies 12 months plus and contain no salt. The biscuits are sweetened naturally with apple juice. There is a no junk promise in every box as they contain no artificial colours or flavours, no hydrogenated fats, and they are suitable for vegetarians. A fantastic snack food for weaning, these simple healthy biscuits are loved by kids and even adults too.
Organix Apple & Orange Oaty Bars
It’s time to make snack time exciting again with these Organix Apple & Orange Oaty Bars! This special snack designed for babies is perfect for little ones over the age of 12+ months. It works as an ideal weaning food, introducing your baby to solid foods with a softer texture. The ingredients used have been blended to create a chewy texture that is rich in flavour. This allows your baby to try out new foods without risking damage to their teeth. Organix themselves offer a no junk promise, ensuring each bar is full of nutritional benefits with no added sugar.
This healthy snack will provide your little one with enough calories and sugars to keep their energy levels high between mealtimes. Made from real fruit, the chewy texture will keep your toddler occupied whilst they eat, ensuring they take their time to enjoy each flavour. The contents are suitable for both vegetarians and vegans, with no milk being used throughout the process of creating each bar. As a result, you can enjoy a snack with your toddler if they’re unable to finish the bars themselves. In general, we would advise stocking up on around 36 bars at a time to ensure you always have a snack ready when it’s needed.
Ella’s kitchen organic baby food
If you’re looking for a natural, healthy alternative to traditional baby food, look no further than Ella’s Kitchen Organic Baby Food. Each pouch contains a range of carefully blended fruit and vegetables that have been pureed using a blender. The ingredients include everything from bananas, apples and pears, to rice, sweet potatoes, broccoli and carrots to name a few. They can be eaten cold or will be ready to eat in a matter of minutes should you choose to serve them warm.
These pouches are suitable for baby’s from 4 months + and will provide them with the daily vitamins and nutrition that they require to thrive. We understand that it can be difficult to always find the right meal and you how to prepare Ella’s kitchen baby food. This multipack is the ideal solution to ensure your little one gets the nourishment and vitamins they need.
When it comes to portion sizes for baby’s, it can be extremely difficult to know how much to serve. If you serve too little your baby may become hungry again very quickly, whist if you serve too much you risk food being wasted for no reason. Luckily for parents, Ella’s Kitchen Organic Baby Food comes with serving suggestions for babies of all ages and sizes.
This particular baby food has received outstanding reviews throughout the UK. It is praised for both its healthy ingredients as well as its wide array of delicious flavour options. If you are struggling to find the time or ingredients to create well balanced meals for your baby, then this is certainly a fantastic alternative for you. Healthy, hassle-free and very convenient.
Kiddylicious smoothie melts
As your little one begins to grow, you will begin introducing them to new foods. Though at first certain foods will be too difficult to eat, you can introduce them to new flavours with these Kiddylicious Strawberry & Banana Melts! Designed as a smoothie for toddlers of 12+ months, these healthy melts are one of your five a day and work as an ideal snack during weaning. The content of each pack is completely natural (100% fruit), with no added sugar. As a result, they’re suitable for lactose intolerant children and adults can enjoy them too!
Being relatively small and with 16 packs in total, these Kiddylicious Strawberry & Banana Melts are a tasty on the go snack for both you and your little one to enjoy. You can bring them with you on car trips, visits to the park or simply have them as a snack between meal times (or even a treat for dessert!). Once your little one has tried the melts, they simply won’t be able to get enough! Luckily for you, this healthy alternative can be enjoyed throughout the day, ensuring that your toddler can enjoy them until they’re ready for dinner time! Buy your pack now and begin introducing your little one to delicious flavours of banana and strawberry.
A great tool that can help children feed themselves is a feeding knife. It was invented for baby led weaning and allows the child to develop independence whilst eating.
Doddl Toddler Feeding Knife
This educational knife will help your child learn to eat independently. Perfect for self led weaning, your little one can sit in their chair and experiment with food and self feeding. Suitable for kids 2 years and over, and whilst it is a feeding tool, it can also improve the pincer grip development that is needed for artistic writing and drawing. It’s white, and lime green handle offers a comfortable palm grip, and it’s transparent edge makes food easy to see. Use it to cut up your own soft fruits and veggies alone. This amazing tool will help your child in many ways and it makes feeding time an absolute Doddl.
Simply place your little one with your choice of baby led weaning food and their feeding knife in a secure high chair and let the process begin.
High Chair with Feeding Tray
Every child when they start weaning will need a high chair, it makes the whole experience more comfortable for parent and baby. They are usually ready when they are either sitting up unaided or are past the age of 6 months. I had this exact one for both of my babies and it served them well. It has a strap to keep them secure, and a footrest for when they get older so that they can rest their little legs on it. During weaning the feeding tray will not be very useful mainly due to the fact that storing food on it will likely attract your baby to put their hands in it causing a lot of mess.
However, after weaning the feeding tray is very convenient. It will allow you to introduce baby-led weaning efficiently. A process in which you give your child foods that they feed themselves by hand. Just because they can feed themselves doesn’t mean that they should be left unattended. You should never leave your child unattended, as they could choke.
This product should help reduce mess overall and your little one will associate sitting in the high chair with food time. As you place them in, they may get excited and start making noises. The robust strong design of this high chair will make it last the whole duration that you will need it for your baby. Due to family support, we managed to have a few different ones at other families houses and have tried others at restaurants because of the specific features. I can give you the credibility that this high chair is the best.
High chair after use
This high chair, in particular, is so easy to clean everything up afterwards. Bits of food and sauce simply wipe off with a baby wipe. After use, it easily folds away which is beneficial if you have a lack of space in your dining room. For storage, you should make sure you put it somewhere clean and dry to avoid mould that could be harmful to your baby.
Uses for a highchair other than feeding
Just because it is a high chair that is associated with feeding, it doesn’t have to be just for that purpose. Another common way for using this chair is by putting a few of their favourites toys on the feeding tray. Then have them sit in it whilst you are doing household chores such as washing up. This could be beneficial because your baby will be able to see you. Babies commonly cry every time mum or dad leaves the room. This is due to mixed separation anxiety and their lack of understanding regarding temporary and permanence.
When should I start weaning my child?
The national health advises that you should not wean your baby until at least 6 months. Many parents will wait until then as your child could have some underlying allergies. They could be very dangerous if introduced early. Plenty of mums, and dads I have spoken to do end up weaning their little one at around 4 months.
This is usually because, as the baby grows older they show interest in what others are eating. They get more hungry, and their milk doesn’t fulfil them as much. When you decide to wean your baby, I would recommend speaking to your health visitor beforehand. Then you can see what can be done to help ease you into the process.
Weaning in my experience
In my personal experience both my children started to try little tasters of pureed vegetables and fruits. The nicer tasting the better, also you can try baby porridge, my babies loved this! My children were into trying a few things at 4 months but liked things much more after 6 months.
Don’t be surprised if you get some funny looking faces after they try certain things. Taste buds can take a while to develop, and everything for the first time will taste weird to them. A hit for both of mine was at 6 and a half months, we made some organic scrambled egg. They loved it, and when they can sit in a high chair next to you eating the same food. That is a special moment for both baby and parent.
Health & safety of weaning
Never add salt or sugar to your child’s food. If a young child is given salty foods like gravy with a roast dinner, the harsh truth is that the salt can kill them. Their poor kidneys and organs could pack up.
You should give them only pure fruit, vegetables, water, no unnecessary unhealthy foods. Whilst it is a nice new experience, letting them try foods for the first time. You should make sure to never take your eye off of them, while they eat.
Them being so young, and with tiny little mouths, they can choke within seconds. I know it sounds brutal, but it’s very serious. If you don’t think your baby is ready to try foods, then it is best to wait until the time is right.
Signs that my child is ready to start weaning
- If they are still hungry after feeds
- If they seem unsatisfied by milk
- Are able to sit up without support
- Your baby has two or more teeth
- They are showing interest in the food, that you are eating
- They are opening their mouths ready for a spoon
- If the baby can swallow the food properly and not keep spitting it out
What spoon should I use for weaning?
The most common type of baby feeding spoon is made from plastic, this is due to the metal being too sharp for your child’s mouth and the fact that it runs the risk of scratching their gums. However plastic is extremely bad for the environment and so I would recommend spending a little more and getting something nice.
For example, you can get eco-friendly alternatives such as bamboo. These are still fairly cheap, are naturally antibacterial and are without the harmful contaminants that the plastic would contain.
Munchkin Weaning Spoons (Pack of 4)
Feeding your baby can be a hassle at the best of times. It’s a time consuming and often messy activity that can leave you frustrated, especially if you don’t have the right cutlery for your little one. Why not improve meal time with this set of 4 Munchkin weaning spoons. These silicone spoons have a soft tip to guarantee comfort whilst your baby eats. They have a curved bowl to fit perfectly in the shape of your baby’s mouth and also come in 4 different colours to create interest from your little one whilst they eat.
Each individual spoon is heat sensing, ensuring that food is of an optimal temperature during mealtime. As a result, you will be the first to know if food is too hot or cold for your baby. These spoons are perfect for children from the ages of 6 months who are transitioning from breast milk and formula. With this 4 set of spoons, mealtime has never been easier.
If your baby struggles with mealtime then it could be argued that these spoons are a must-have for any parent. They allow your baby to feel comfortable whilst eating and will slowly introduce them to cutlery they will use as they grow up. These spoons are some of the best on the market, due to the ease of use. As your baby grows, they will be able to start using the spoons to feed themselves. They are lightweight and extremely comfortable for soft hands, ensuring complete ease during use. Once used, your baby will never be able to go back to alternatives in the market.
Bamboo feeding spoon
- long lasting bamboo handle
- 6 colour to choose from
- soft silicone tipped bowl for babies gums
- BPA free
Unlike wood, bamboo doesn’t absorb liquids easily so food won’t soak in or stain making the handle less prone to cracking, warping and smelling. Of course when it comes to feeding your baby you will need a feeding bowl. Tommee Tippee is the leading baby brand and are well known for there BPA free products. If you can't find an eco friendly alternative, here's the product that we recommend.
Tommee Tippee Feeding Bowls 7m+ ( Pack of 4)
This pack of 4 Tommee Tippee Feeding Bowls is the perfect choice if your baby is making the transition from bottle feeding to soft food. These bowls provide you with an item to feed your baby from, ensuring that you can create the perfect portion with each and every meal. Each bowl is BPA free and has a triangular base to reduce the risk of spillage, something that is very common when feeding any baby.
Unlike many bowl options available in the market, these Tommee Tippee Feeding Bowls are completely safe in your microwave, dishwasher and freezer. They have been specially designed for your convenience, ensuring that they can be used for a wide range of purposes. Before use, food can be prepared and frozen in the bowl to prevent unnecessary cooking. Then, when it is time to eat, the food can be defrosted in the microwave for convenience. Once finished, each bowl can simply be washed in the dishwasher.
In order to get the very best out of your bowls, we suggest that you pair them with a colourful spoon. The bowls themselves come in 4 different colours, making them the ideal set for babies. When paired, you combine a number of colours that will naturally attract your baby to the meal they are eating. As a result, they are likely to be more intrigued at mealtimes, rather than refusing to eat. That’s why we believe that these are the best weaning bowls available on the market. They transform mealtime for you and your baby, ensuring a pleasant experience with each use. As your baby grows up, they can begin to use the bowl themselves. Being relatively soft and making use of a triangular base, they will limit spillage whilst also limiting any potential harm should a spillage occur. Order your pack of 4 bowls today and discover how they can change your meal times.
You may want to consider protecting your floor by placing a splash mat underneath babies high chair.
High Chair Splash Mat
This grey high chair splash mat is the best solution to preventing messy mealtimes. We all know the troubles of feeding your baby, especially as they begin to grow up. Whether it’s a tantrum in the high chair or an accidental spillage, mealtimes can cause a mess on your floor and furniture. With this high chair splash mat, you can catch food and prevent spillage no matter the situation. Rather than waiting for a spill to happen, act beforehand and prepare for the worst. Trust us when we say you will not regret it.
Once purchased, we recommend that you use your splash mat at every meal. Even if you have not yet experienced any spillages, it is likely that one will occur in the future. You can never be prepared for when this may happen and having the splash mat will almost definitely prevent any further damage caused by food or drinks. If you want to have a clean splash mat for every day of the week, we suggest buying multiple mats so that you can interchange. Whilst one is being washed, you can use the other for mealtimes.
The high chair splash mat is made of plastic and as a result, it is very easy to wipe clean. This ensures that it can be used multiple times before it requires a wash from a machine. It is also available in a number of designs and colours and therefore you can choose a design that suits your home. If that isn’t great by itself, the splash mat is also completely waterproof. We understand that it is common for drinks as well as food to be spilt during meals. When using the splash mat, any liquids can simply be drained from the high chair to the sink without anyone getting wet in the process.
As baby can often get messy when they are first trying out foods, we recommend putting a bib on them so that they do not ruin all of their nice clothes. Whilst on the market there are many types of different bibs marketed towards various situations, we have made it simple for you by selecting three of the best bibs in terms of quality, value and price. They are shown in low to high pricing format.
Waterproof Baby Bibs (4 Piece)
Baby bibs are great for many things and are a definite must have. They come in handy when it comes to bottle feeding and to prevent milk spilling, to catch dribble, for weaning, but they can even be helpful when they are teething as at this time they will be dribbling a lot. These specific bibs are fantastic and are far superior to their counterparts.
Why? Simply because they are wonderfully colourful, completely waterproof which makes them easy to wipe clean and they are also long sleeved which means it will stop your babies arm from getting mucky. A bib can prevent your kids clothes underneath from getting stained or damp. Each one displays an interesting picture of animals, vehicles and polka dot patterns. Each pack contains 1 green, 1 blue, 1 red and 1 yellow. Clean by hand or machine wash, they are suitable from 6 months to 3 years.
How many bibs you need will vary but It is said that babies who have the occasional dribble could make five cotton bibs last a week, but for a more messy baby, as we have experienced first hand, you could use five in one day. Luckily these ones are easy to wipe clean and you will get more use out of them. 2 packs will be plenty.
Drool Bibs (3 Pack)
These bibs come as a 3 pack, and are suitable for baby when bottle feeding or for your child when weaning. They are made from 100% organic cotton on the front and have 100% polyester on the back. This specific set has a dinosaur, taxi and plane designed bib, but there are many other designs available too. They are gender neutral which means that they are suitable for boy or girl. Drool bibs are stylish, trendy, and your baby will look so cute wearing these.
They also work well for catching your infants dribble, get them in a pattern that you like. In comparison to feeding bibs, these ones are closer to the neck are are super absorptive which means there will be overall less build up of drool, they can be used at home or when out and about. Each bib has a teething ring which gives baby something to chew on if they are teething. This makes the bibs extra useful as they double as a bib and as a soothing chew toy. If that wasn’t enough, the bibs also come with a quality guarantee, if you are not satisfied with the product, the UK seller promises you a full refund.
Handmade Dribble Buster Baby Bib
These tailored finish bibs are super soft for babies delicate skin and are the perfect dribble bib for baby. Made from 100% cotton fabric and free from allergens and chemicals. Each dribblebuster bib is handmade in a UK workshop. For ease of use, fasten with plastic poppers. Bib neck size: 32-34 cms. Suitable for use when bottle feeding or weaning your baby. The Dribblebuster is the designer bib for dribbly babies, this genuine bib features a floral motif design and prevents spillages on clothes. Without a bib your child will constantly become messy after bottle feeder or weaning. Due to its large diameter, it will help to keep clothes clean and will result in less mess overall. If you know someone who is due to have a baby, this makes for a great baby shower gift.
Can baby wear a bib in a car seat?
The ones that have to be tied shouldn’t be used as babies could pull on it and this could be a choking risk. These ones however are more of a top and are considered to be more safe. That being said you should always supervise your baby. Never leave a baby unattended with a bib or not unless you can assure that they are safe. We would highly recommend against using a bib for sleep time, as the job is not to provide comfort but instead to protect clothes and reduce mess.
Best foods for weaning
At around 6 months old when your child is ready to start weaning, you may be wondering what types of food you can give them. It is important to know what foods are safe, as some may be dangerous such as honey, pate, raw egg, raw meat, salty foods, and other foods that may be hard to chew or swallow.
The best foods for weaning are generally soft pureed fruits and vegetables, there is a huge market available for baby foods.
Ella’s Kitchen Selection (From 4 Months)
- Organic Baby Food
- Suitable from 4 month
- 8 different flavours (8 x 70g)
- First Tastes
- 100% Natural and Healthy
Despite these being perfectly fine, it can get expensive and so it is always best to make your own using organic ingredients when possible to ensure baby gets the best healthy start. When making your own baby food, its advised to store the foods in BPA free containers.
Tommee Tippee Food Storage Containers
As you begin the baby-led weaning stage, these baby food containers will be a godsend. Your little one will be hungry a lot of the time wanting to try lots more foods, these containers make it possible to feed baby on the go, you can open the pot whilst they are in the buggy (under supervision) and watch them enjoy holding their own pot of favorite snacks. They are BPA free so no nasties, dishwasher, microwave, and sterilizer safe ensuring they can be cleaned the right way for your baby. It comes in a pack of 3 so you can use one as the others are being cleaned.
Decide on your flavour combinations
- Strawberry and banana puree
- Peach and banana puree
- Carrot and potato puree
- Rusk biscuit blended with babies’ milk
- Baby rice or porridge
- Baked sweet potato puree
- Avocado
- Carrot & Swede puree
- Mango & Banana
You may have noticed that we use banana a lot and that is because it is a good staple that is both tasty and filling. However, you can use the combinations of your choice.
How to make your own baby food
For fruits and vegetables, you will need to peel them, removing any seeds, chop them up finely or mash them and begin cooking. Once they have softened you will need to allow them to cool. Then you can place them in a blender and blend until completely smooth.
Tommee Tippee Baby Food Blender
This Tommee Tippee Baby Food Blender is the ideal way to create a wide range of fresh, homemade purees for your baby. By creating your own purees you can save money on bulk buying in the shop, whilst also ensuring that the food in the puree consists of only the best fruit and vegetables. Each time your blender is used, you can be confident that you will get the best possible results without having to buy any additional ingredients or additives that are commonly used in many shop based alternatives. When it comes to creating your own purees, you can find a wide range of ideas both online and using recipe books. As a result, you are able to efficiently manage what your baby eats in order to provide them with the best start to life. You can use only the best fruit vegetables for each meal, whether you’re making purees for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In addition to this, you can also begin to learn which foods your baby likes.
Over time, you can then tailor their purees based on their favourite foods, whilst also encouraging new foods throughout their diet. By doing this at an early age, you can introduce a wide range of foods and ensure that your little one is comfortable when it comes to trying new dishes in the future. Each time you use the food blender, you can expect smooth results. You should not experience the pain of any mash and chunks, instead your puree should have a smooth texture that your baby enjoys. The Tommee Tippee Baby Food Blender has been praised for its high quality in a wide number of reviews. It allows users to save money, whilst creating fresh organic purees consisting of carefully chosen fruit and vegetables. As of currently, your blender is available for free UK delivery, which can be delivered directly to your home.
Ensuring to remove any lumps is very important as it can be a choking hazard. Once your child has got used to trying different foods, you can then introduce baby-led weaning with finger foods such as buttered toast and scrambled egg. When they are around 9 months old you can then introduce blended meats with rice and vegetables if you would like. You must still avoid things like gravy, or anything that is salty as it can cause severe harm to your babies’ kidneys due to the high sodium content.
Alternatively you can use a mini food processor to make purees and foods that are suitable for your child. The benefits to using a food processor is that it will be more powerful and can be used by the whole family. The kenwood mini chopper is a fantastic multipurpose tool for this. If you would like to experiment making different baby foods we would highly recommend reading this book.
Weaning Your Baby Book (Hardback)
When raising your first baby it can be extremely difficult to know what you can and can’t cook. This new edition of Weaning by Annabel Karmel guides you through every aspect of weaning your baby. This includes everything from baby led weaning, when you should start weaning, the best foods to get started with and how to safely prepare each food. This hardback book introduces a wide range of vegetarian and vegan recipes and also provides information on allergies and intolerances. It also contains tips and tricks on how you can introduce and encourage baby-led weaning and how you can combine different flavours and textures. With up-to-date information on allergies and intolerances, advice on how to encourage baby-led weaning, and tips on combining foods to build up flavours and textures, you can be sure your baby is getting exactly what his or her growing body needs.
Never before has planning out weaning been so easy. In total, this book has over 60 exciting weaning recipes which vary in the texture and taste of foods. It is ideal for babies between the ages of 6 and 12 months, but can also be used for young children too. Each recipe can be specially tailored to the preferences of your baby as well as to cater for allergies. Ingredients can simply be swapped without hassle to enhance your baby’s palate. With truly outstanding reviews for its range of comprehensive solutions, this book will provide you with everything you need to introduce your baby to a myriad of solid foods and lay a strong foundation for them to grow and develop. This book is also available in paperback or for Kindle and can be provided with free UK Delivery on book orders over £10. Make your purchase today and discover how easy weaning can become in your home.
You should enjoy this time whilst they are small as they honestly grow up so fast, and now my children eat whole foods with a knife and fork and make a ton of mess for me to tidy each evening. When they can officially feed themselves with their hands and they are aged between two and four years old, they can then begin practicing with a baby safe knife and fork.
it’s amazing to think about how fast kids develop, at first as a baby drinking only milk. Then comes weaning where you spoon-feed them after that comes; baby-led weaning where they can explore foods with nothing but their hands and their mouths.
It’s not uncommon for them to taste non-food items either. However, they spend quite a long time eating their main meal at the table being spoon-fed, whilst also trying to feed themselves with their hands.
Some parents insist that they will feed them to avoid a mess, whilst others let the child get on with it which whilst it will be a lot messier, it has been proven to speed up their development. Between 12, and 18 months your child will likely want to start using a spoon by themselves. Although, they may not very good at feeding themselves (getting most of the food on the floor.)
It will with no doubt be great practice for them, and they will get better over time. At around two years they will start to learn how to feed themselves well with a spoon, and sometimes a fork. The cutting motion from a knife can take a little while longer to develop as it requires precision, balance, and strength. Even as an adult some foods can be very hard to cut, taking quite a lot of power.
Between two and four years old, they will start to learn how to use a knife and fork. They will be learning through two main methods.
- Observing the parent using the utensils
- Through practice trial and error, until they improve.
There is no doubt that they will not be very good at it, but it is still very important that you do not take over. Doing so will only affect their confidence, stunt their development and make the whole process take a lot longer.
By the age of four years old. Most children can use a knife and fork efficiently and most likely would have developed good table manners. If your child is not developing at this rate stated, do not worry as children develop in their own time, and each child is unique.
You should continue to encourage them, praising when they do it right and letting them fail when they do it wrong. Before we can be successful at anything, we must fail first. It is the learning curve that supports the new skill.
How to support knife skills?
The only thing you really need to do to help them is get them their first cutlery set. It should be smaller than usual, easy to hold, should have chunky handle to support grip, be lightweight and colourful to attract the child to it. For a first cutlery set, no product is better than the Tommee Tippee Explora cutlery set.
Tommee Tippee Explora First Cutlery Set
My child is two years old and he loves to cut up an apple and eat it, I give him a blunt butter knife. Even though apples don’t exactly need cutting up, he prefers to cut it himself. It could be that he knows with practice he will get better at it.
Maybe he just likes eating smaller chunks of apple instead of eating the fruit whilst it is whole. Whatever the reason is, he will get better at it the more he does it. He has tried to cut up a carrot but struggles. This is because carrots are extremely hard, and are also quite an awkward shape.
The wonderful thing is that now as an activity during the day. I give him an apple and a knife and he enjoys doing it. Which gives me a five-minute break from parenting.
- Give them a knife and fork with their lunch and dinner. If they are struggling, offer to help or offer to show them how to do it. Be patient with them when they are not doing so well.
- Praise them well when they succeed, a compliment can work wonders and can support their confidence!
I hope that you now have a good understanding of when your child should be able to start using a knife and a fork. Did you know that introducing things such as crockery, cutlery, and more in the dining space has been demonstrated by various nurseries who claim that it can improve behaviour. It can also help teach kids respect for their environments. As well as reinforce responsibilities helping them become more independent and happy overall.
Up next: How to get your child into a routine
