Helping Your Baby Transition to Feeding Themselves
Our Baby just turned 10 months old and it seems like overnight he decided he didn’t want me feeding him anymore. We’ve had a battle going this week to get food in his belly! He now wants to hold his own bottle. This has been great as I’ve already introduced the sippy cup and am in the process of weaning him off the bottle. I just have to deal with the emotional issues of giving up our snuggle time while he used to drink his bottle! Here’s a few tips on how to handle this transition to feeding independence.
- Make every bite count. They have such small tummies so try and avoid any empty calories. It’s tempting to give them whatever just to get them to eat. Avoid that temptation. Every meal, snack or drink you offer should be full of good nutrients and all the food groups to promote healthy growth and development.
- Offer a variety of nutritious food daily. By offering them a variety, you are giving them the choice of what they want. Then, no matter what they choose, you still know they will get the nutrition they need.
- Make sure your baby is able to chew and swallow. Cut foods small and choose things that are easy to pick up. Stay far away from foods that can cause choking, like whole grapes and popcorn. ALWAYS supervise them when they are eating. It takes a split second to choke. Don’t let them roam around and snack. Have them seated for all meals and snacks.
- Embrace your baby’s independence. If your baby starts grabbing for the spoon, let them try. Get ready to clean up a mess, but it’s the best way to have them learn! They have a lot of great baby spoons out there that help them hold on tight and eventually get the food in their mouths.
The most important thing to remember is to take it slow and let them learn at their own pace. Our little boy is trying to eat by himself months before our other two did, so don’t compare your child to anyone else’s. Have some fun and invest in a good stain remover!
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