The first few years of our baby's life will be a great adventure when we address the issues of adaptation, growth and development at various levels.
Feeding and all the components that make up this subject are the topic of an in-depth discussion. In this way, we will have aspects to consider, such as: how the baby is fed, whether or not the mother has the possibility to breastfeed her baby, what the specifics of feeding her little one are or how the baby will feel most comfortable with the type of feeding they are having. There are many more aspects to this, but these seem to be the most general.
All of this comes from the constant concern that parents have that their baby is receiving the necessary nutrients in the best possible way and, above all, that they are growing and developing within the normal range, in other words, in a healthy, balanced way that is good for their well-being.
In the first few months, babies will have a period in which breast milk or formula will be essential for their growth and development, and will therefore be their only source of energy and nutrients. However, we know that when we talk about our baby's diet, their growth is inevitably the main reason why they become curious about solid foods that, until now, they had never seen or tried.
Alongside this curiosity, we often have the fact that weaning is beginning to be carried out by the baby, in the sense that it will be a phase in which there will be fewer moments for the mother to breastfeed and solid foods will begin to appear again and again in front of the baby.
With this situation, many parents are wondering when is the best time to start making this transition and introducing new foods. Well, as far as we can tell from the research we've done, babies will be ready to start discovering new flavours, smells and textures at around six months of age. However, this phase will depend on each baby. This process takes place naturally, from the moment babies pick up food and eat with their hands.
We can say that it's very funny to see this process happening. Our little one's enthusiasm with the food in his hand, trying to figure out if it will taste good and feel its texture, will be the best way for the baby to discover these new foods that will begin, according to the rhythm given by the baby, to be a constant at mealtimes. There will be a whole mixture of emotions and expressions on the part of our little one and the expectation on the part of the parents to see how their child will react to the new food that is right there in front of them.
Those little eyes wide open, hands ready to feel the textures, eager and not at all afraid to taste. Their reactions may be diverse - a sweeter strawberry will make you look delighted, a lemon will have that more acidic flavour that will make you close your eyes and there may be a certain shiver. We'll have to wait and see what the reactions will be and be part of this discovery with your professional guide - our baby. He or she will know how to create the best plan to discover all the foods and realise which directions they want to take. We, the parents, will follow along and provide assistance when necessary.
With such reactions and expectations created, it would be interesting for parents to know how they can contribute, accompany and participate in these moments of their baby's learning, growth and development. So we've looked up some tips so that we can provide a helping hand ( if our baby needs it) and be in the front row watching our little one showing us and guiding us through this new phase, making sure that throughout this process they feel safe and confident in putting their hands on food.
- We should never leave our little guide alone;
- One thing is certain - we have to be prepared for dirt on our clothes and in the place where all the experiments will take place (if we weren't, it wouldn't be so funny); many parents already apply some techniques, such as putting a towel under the table and chair, so that it's easier to clean up afterwards;
- We should let ourselves be guided by the moment of discovery, so that in the middle of the process there may be small "explosions";
- These food adventures are important to incorporate into family mealtimes, so that the baby feels integrated and it can be an opportunity for the little one to start copying certain gestures and behaviours that the rest of the family is doing;
- At first, we should avoid foods that are hard and difficult for the baby to digest - such as raw carrots;
- We can try foods that are easier to break down in the mouth, to reduce any type of incident such as choking;
- Trying foods that your baby can hold and feel the texture and smell of are the best;
- For this adventure, we can start by offering a variety of foods that are suitable for our baby's age - fruit (e.g. cooked and soft without any added sugar); vegetables (lightly cooked); foods such as potatoes, pasta or pulses such as beans or lentils); pasteurised cheese; meat and fish without bones;
- There is a possibility that the baby may choke at some point; we should be aware of this and realise the difference between choking and gagging; furthermore, the probability of choking should not be associated with the baby's transition process and the introduction of new foods, compared to spoon feeding - in any context there will be this possibility and we should be aware of it.
We believe and realise that this is a new situation. Letting our little one have the chance to discover new foods on their own can leave us feeling a little fearful, simply because it's a new experience and we have that immediate thought that our baby might not be ready yet and that there could always be an incident. However, it's a process that should be done naturally, making sure that the baby feels comfortable is important, being attentive and not forgetting that we should have fun with them, because that's the only way it will make sense.
These are some of the tips we've found and we thought it would make sense to share them with you here. It's going to be a real adventure, full of discoveries, we'll find out what our little one's favourites and least favourites are and there's sure to be a lot of dirt mixed in. But we think it's all part of it and we believe it will be another fun phase in your baby's growth and development, and you'll have a great time that you'll remember later. We're starting to see them grow and learn new things, which makes any mother and father very proud.
What about you? How was the process of introducing new foods with your baby? Was there a lot of mess and fun involved? What was your little guide's reaction to the various textures and flavours he/she found in front of him/her? We want to know your opinion.
