3 Reasons why Food before One is MORE than just Fun- Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods
You may have heard the cute and catchy rhyme- Food before one is just for fun. While food before one can be fun, it’s about much more than just that. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when feeding your baby.
Provide Nutrition for Your Baby
Most of the nutrition that your baby receives during their first year of life comes from either breast milk or formula- and however you choose to feed your infant is what is best for them. I don’t abide by “Breast is Best,” another catchy but untrue phrase. But that’s for another blog! What parents should understand is that babies store all of the iron that their little bodies need for the first 6 months of their life. After this time, the iron stores begin to deplete. For those infants that are receiving an iron-fortified formula, this will help them to meet the requirements of their rapidly growing bodies. For mother’s that have chosen to, and are able to breastfeed, their babies will need to consume additional sources of iron, which can be found in foods such as red meat, seafood, eggs and chicken. Doctor’s will check baby’s iron levels to determine if they are adequate, or if a supplement is needed.
Create a Positive Sensory Feeding Experience
Mealtimes are a great opportunity to tap into all of your baby’s senses. They can touch the foods, albeit much of it may end up on the floor, and that’s okay (your dog will thank you at least). They will be exposed to new smells, sights, tastes and textures. When exposed to solid foods, babies will slowly learn how properly and safely chew foods, strengthening their facial muscles in the process. They are learning hand-eye coordination with the ability to grasp food and bring it up to their mouths, improving their developing dexterity. The act of offering your baby food is about more than just the food itself, but the overall sensory experience that the mealtime encompasses.
Encourage a Healthy Relationship with Food Right from the Start
At Dessert with Dinner, our focus is helping to ensure that children grow up to have a healthy relationship with food. This relationship starts even during infancy, and continues into the toddler years. Feeding solid foods to a baby provides them the ability to start early on listening and responding to their internal hunger cues. This happens when given the support to do so by parents and caregivers. Being present during family mealtimes, without being pressured to eat, is a great way to set the expectation of what it looks like to come together as a family and bond during meals without the pressure to eat more or less.
Whether you choose to feed your baby in the traditional method, spoon feeding purees, or if you choose to abide by the baby-led weaning method, starting with solid foods, you’re providing an opportunity to foster a healthy relationship with food. To learn more about the baby-led weaning feeding method, we highly recommend this reputable book by Gill Rapley, who coined the term baby-led weaning, to cover all the basics you need to know.
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