The growth and development of little ones is rapid, noticeable and extremely delightful. Whether it's starting to walk, talk, or even gaining greater motor and psychological skills.
With these characteristics, a transition begins to take place from the newborn stage to the next. And make no mistake, this transition is very visible, with several signs such as:
- The little one begins to find it easy to pick up food, even if only with three fingers;
- Tools such as forks and spoons arouse their curiosity, so they try to use them at mealtimes;
- They also explore drinking, alternating between drinking directly from a cup and drinking through a straw.
These processes are just a few of the many that babies are committed to trying until they perfect their technique. However, we must allow this growth and development to take place naturally, gradually and without pressure. We believe that if this does not happen, babies will always be afraid to try and may not feel confident in their development. There is a rhythm that is imposed by them, with no delays or advances that can be compared. Only if there is something that is not normal should you talk to your paediatrician.
After 12 months, we began to understand what signs little ones might show to indicate they are ready, and what practices we can adopt to encourage them in this developmental process.
In today's post, we will discuss some recommendations regarding nutrition. We researched some aspects that we considered important and interesting to share.
- When babies start eating on their own and using a spoon, it is recommended to use textures that children can chew and swallow, in order to develop their eating skills.
- When your little one starts chewing with a rotating motion, you can give them long pieces or slices of soft food so they can practise biting. In this case, pay attention to the size of the bite and make sure that the food you choose breaks down easily with their gums.
- When the baby starts to grab or put down the cup. In this situation, we can use an age-appropriate cup to give liquids other than breast milk.
- One final sign is progressively turning the spoon towards their mouth. A variety of foods and recipes will be key to discovering new flavours.
These are some signs of readiness for solid foods that your baby may show, indicating that they are ready to move on to the next stage of their growth and development.
In the second part of this topic, we will address some behaviours expected after the baby's first year of life, as they are no longer a newborn.
What about you? Have you noticed any of these signs during this transition phase? Would you like to share any signs that we haven't mentioned in today's post? We want to know your experience. We want to know your opinion.
