Tips For Making Mealtime With Your Baby Easier
There’s no doubt about it - babies are notoriously fussy during mealtimes. Whether you’re an advocate of baby-led weaning or prefer to spoon-feed your little one, they always seem to need a change of clothes and head-to-toe wash afterwards. Not only that, but some babies need a great deal of encouragement to explore different tastes and textures.
Although you’re never 100 per cent guaranteed a successful, mess-free mealtime, tips and products are available to make the whole ordeal considerably easier.
Make Mealtimes Sociable
Babies learn by watching others, and sharing mealtimes with family encourages the development of a positive relationship with food. Eating as a group is a vital part of well-being for people of any age, so reinforcing this from infancy will aid your baby’s social development. Bonding with your baby during mealtimes will help to encourage secure family relationships built on trust and emotional support.
Don’t Expect Too Much
It is highly improbable that your baby will immediately enjoy every single new food you offer them. It is also unlikely they will clean their plate at every meal. Maintaining realistic expectations eases the pressure for both you and your baby, so a natural journey with weaning and exploring a wider range of food can unfold.
Don’t be tempted to compare your own experiences to those of your friends or family members. After all, each baby is unique. It can be easy to fall into the trap of “mom-shame” if your baby isn’t meeting certain milestones at the same rate as others. If you’re worried or feel as though something is wrong, seek the advice of your paediatrician and avoid dwelling on the judgement of others.
Keep It Varied
During your baby’s first 24 months, keep food options as varied as possible. They’re likely to enjoy a wide range of foods if they are exposed to them during this period of time. Children tend to become fussy and begin to refuse certain foods around the age of two. Getting them used to a variety of healthy foods beforehand could decrease the likelihood of them becoming picky eaters.
Consider offering new foods alongside safe options you know they already enjoy. This gives them an opportunity to try a new flavour or texture with the safety net of an old favourite. Keep in mind that it may take ten or more attempts at trying your baby with a new food until they accept it, so be gently persistent.
Provide a Calm, Comfortable Environment
A calm, comfortable environment with minimal distractions will enable your baby to focus on their meal and become accustomed to family mealtime. If your baby feels comfortable, they’re more likely to enjoy their meal. This also applies to the ambience you create regarding food - lead by example by having a positive attitude towards eating and mealtimes.
High chairs are designed to seat your baby at eye level so they can join the rest of the family around the table. Babies should be seated upright to eat from around four to six months of age; a good quality high chair will help them to sit comfortably and safely. High chairs often feature trays to make it easier for your baby to feed themselves and catch any stray morsels.
Bibs and Tableware
As much as you try to avoid it, mess will happen. Babies enjoy exploring the texture of their food with their hands and use self-feeding as a way of developing fine motor and coordination skills. However, they’re not born experts, and it takes time for them to acquire this dexterity; hence - mess.
Many infant plates and bowls feature suction cups to avoid your baby’s food ending up on the floor. These tableware pieces are often made from sustainable bamboo and are available in sets along with food-grade silicone-tip spoons so your baby can practice feeding themselves with a utensil.
Scoop bibs catch any falling bits of food that may stain clothing. Also often made from food-grade silicone, these bibs are incredibly easy to wash and disinfect. Another excellent bib design is the coverall weaning bib, which attaches to your baby’s high chair tray, providing complete coverage for particularly messy mealtimes.