Baby Weaning (FUSS FREE)

  

I shall start by saying there’s nothing simple about having a baby, at least that’s how it feels sometimes. For every age and different stages in your baby's journey you’re bombarded with opinions and advice from all different kinds of people and backgrounds. Baby weaning is no exception – in fact i’d say it’s one of the most debated topics in mum groups and forums.

I think my love of that 'easy life' is what first attracted me to baby led weaning to be honest. The idea of having a baby/toddler who I could just give some healthy finger food to was pretty appealing for me. At first I thought I would give the 'blending fresh foods' a little go, but for me this only lasted so long which I expected from the start, I literally had zero desire to faff around with little pots of puree and blenders.

Once I started reading in to baby led weaning I knew it was the right option for us. I read a lot of articles online and asked a lot of questions to friends and other mum's around me leading up to the 6 month period. I felt pretty confident I knew what I was doing. I stuck to the 'baby weaning age' which I researched being 6 months, and by the time Primrose was 6 months old I had all the gear and a fully stocked fridge ready to go. Even though I felt really prepared and excited when Primrose turned 6 months I was a little nervous just because its a whole new milestone for us both and it is a massive change to the baby's little life. I definitely thought Primrose was ready for solids by this time but to me she was still very much a baby. Weaning once seemed like a fun adventure but suddenly it was totally daunting. But, Before I knew it she was chomping on toast and gumming bits of fruit.

When Primrose turned one, by this time she was on solids fully, We put food in front of her in big chunks now that she has teeth, she picks them up and just chomps on each piece in her own time. Primrose is not picky at all she SO loves her food. I think because I give her quite a large scale of variation of foods from the start of her weaning journey, I definitely think this helped in the fact that she will try anything you put in front of her, if she doesn't like it she puts her tongue out and the food falls out - thanks Prim! 

The most important thing I’ve learnt from this whole parenting lark, is to chill out & take each step in your mummy journey as it comes and do whats best for you and your family. Look at your baby not the charts and the forums. She’s healthy, happy and intelligent. Soon enough she’ll be eating us out of house and home so for now I’m just totally going with it! :) 

Respond to your baby and their needs – don’t obsess with what they ‘should’ be doing or enjoying too much because it can totally send you do-lally, each baby is totally different. Do as much research as you can without getting too obsessive about it. Look in to your options and discuss them with your friends, family and even your health visitor. Just remember to take everything with a pinch of salt though, I do! 

It takes time for babies to get used to the taste and texture of foods. I found by keep offering different flavours and textures this can then help them in the future to form their own individual likes and dislikes. Keep offering a wide variety of foods - squishy, hard, all different types of flavours and go back to things again even if they were rejected at first. 

Make mealtimes as fun as possible - if somebody video'd or watched from a distance how much I try and make Primrose laugh during meal time you would think I was totally crazy!!! Maybe I should video it one time....or NOT!

Sometimes, when daddy's OCD isn't so bad(He literally puts a blanket underneath her highchair so any food that drops doesn't hit the carpet, I mean?????!!!) we bring Primrose's highchair to the dining table, put food on her tray for her to eat, and at the same time we sit at the table and eat our food too, like a little family - I know this can be difficult for some parents as babies have there tea a lot earlier than us but definitely try and give this a go one time, maybe on your day off or at lunch time? 

Sooner or later Primrose will be sat at the table with us not coming up for a breather from talking so much!!

If you want to read my blog all about 'Parenting Differences' Click Here.

Love

PAIGE PICKERING