5 top tips for a stress-free spoon feeding

Some babies from 4 to 6 months may show readiness to feed themselves, (Baby-Led weaning) while some need to be spoon fed such as purees, mashed foods to get on.

Many times the babies reject their foods because the feeding style is going wrong.

While milk is the major source of nutrition for children in the first 1 year, purees and mashed foods should be introduced from 6 months (complementary foods) in the best way.

Complementary foods are nutritious meals such as potato purees, grain-based foods such as AugustSecrets Foods, mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, etc.

Spoon feeding tips

1. Follow baby’s lead:

Its called baby-led weaning for a reason. Lol. Follow his lead to find out if he prefers to feed himself or would love you to feed him. The signs are basically as simple as being able to sit and keep head upright, interest in reaching out for food, and of course, age, which is preferably after a 6-month exclusive breastfeeding.

2. Slow down:

Maybe more babies would respond better to weaning foods if their parents and caregivers were a bit more patient.
For the first few months of introducing the spoon, your baby may not be able to eat purees larger than the size of his fist! So, take it slow. Allow leftovers.

3. Make mealtimes fun & comfortable:

This is probably one issue busy mothers may not be so sure of about their baby’s caregivers. If you are a busy mom, try to emcourage the caregiver to sing, dance and make mealtimes as relaxing as possible. Having soaked diapers and an uncomfortable environment can also cause babies to be irritable at mealtimes! Check. Check. Check…..

4. Avoid distractions:

That Ipad or TV could be one of the reasons your baby is rejecting the spoon. As much as we want to make mealtimes fun, parents need to ensure its more about physical contacts such as smiles, hugs and kisses other than ‘digital’ contact. Lol.

5. Don’t be afraid to move on quickly:

I understand, you don’t want the mess that comes with babies feeding themselves… but the mess will not only help them get to enjoy feeding independently, it helps with hand-to-mouth coordination, which in turn, could translate to getting to write or draw quickly! (Child psychology experts tell us so)

Raising an independent eater who loves his healthy meals will save you a lot of stress in the nearest future.

Get them to feed themselves with soft finger foods as soon as you can; scrambled eggs, avocado slices, meatballs, steamed potatoes etc.

The AugustSecrets Meal Plan Book has over 50 recipes, including purees, finger foods and packed school lunches you can try for your child!

Order here;