No one said parenting was easy, but it need not be all that dramatic either, you know! Parenting is nothing more than a series of learning curves to get past, and we learn as we go along, incident by incident, day by day. When it’s time for a baby to start on solid foods, it’s natural for parents to feel a tad nervous, for let’s face it – we never know what’s going to happen. Will your baby love their first solid food, or will they refuse it? Whatever happens, remember that tomorrow is a new day and you can always try again! In the meantime, here are some golden nuggets of wisdom for you in the matter of baby weaning.
Baby feeding chair – going simple is always the best idea
While we can’t really blame parents for going all goo-goo eyes at all those fancy baby feeding chairs available in the market these days, we’re here to tell you that simplicity is always the best way to go. Aside from the fact that your baby will not be using that chair for too long, which means that it’s a waste to fork out hundreds of Ringgit on high-end models, keep in mind too that the fancier it is, the more complicated the design tends to get. This may make cleaning it a hassle, what with all those unnecessary hinges and grooves you may have to pry into. Choose a simple design that is easy to keep clean – it will probably be kinder to your wallet too!
Resist getting carried away with other purchases too
It’s understandable to get excited about this new chapter in your baby’s life, but it’s never alright to be left with a feeling of regret due to over-purchasing and splurging on expensive weaning items. This doesn’t mean that you should forgo all those cute storage cubes, a cool steamer-cum-blender and even a versatile feeding bowl with suckers on the bottom! Just keep in mind that nowadays, there are ample versions of these items in the market and not all of them are priced in a way that will blow your budget – so pick wisely!
Your baby has a right to refuse certain food, just like you!
We’re not all born to love the same kinds of food, so it’s only natural that each baby will have their own unique tastes in foods too! Weaning is actually one of the earliest taste-acquiring experiences in a baby’s life, so do let your little one choose what he or she likes to eat. In other words, don’t get upset if your baby seems to reject certain foods that you offer. Be patient and you’ll soon find that there is quite a lot that your baby will love to eat!
You may experience a surprise change in your own diet
For one, you may not wish to waste good leftover baby food (especially if it’s tasty!). Apart from that fact, the multi-tasker in you may realise that it’s really time-saving if you use the same high-quality ingredients for your own cooking, as you do for your baby’s!
Your little one’s poo will smell different
As soon as your baby starts on solid foods, you’ll realise that his poop suddenly smells dramatically different too! Well, that’s because, milk poo and food poo is not the same at all, and now, your little one’s poo will be akin to an adult’s. It’s all part of your baby’s growing up, and you’ll soon get used to it.
Always check your hair and clothes before you leave your home
That’s because your baby’s hands can be surprisingly fast in transferring food from his mouth or bowl to your person! So your baby may be looking all clean and adorable after his lunch due to you giving him a bath, but don’t be too sure about yourself! Having said that, you’ll not be the first mommy to be seen in public with applesauce on her hair or colorful food stains on her clothing. Keep in mind too that some baby food stains are really stubborn – we’re just saying!
You have the right to revel in epic moments
Just imagine – after days of trying to come up with something your baby won’t reject, and suddenly, one day, your baby loves a new food which you have just introduced to him! Yahoo! Go ahead and spam your group chats, upload the fabulous incident to your Instagram and Facebook story, and bring out the bubbly! It’s an achievement worth celebrating, we tell you!
The Magic of a Banana
Believe it or not, when your baby seems a little less keen on your offering, just mash in a banana, and chances are he’ll find it more palatable!
You’ll panic for no reason, and you’ll be amused too!
It’s a common reaction of moms to feel a flutter of panic each time their baby coughs while eating his solid food for the first few times. Yes, babies do have a tendency to look like they’re choking, even when they’re absolutely fine. Having said that, it’s best to be alert and keep a keen eye on your little one, especially if he is self-weaning. At other times, you’ll find yourself amused with the array of facial expressions, ranging from joy and wonderment to disgust, horror and ick, which will all be exhibited during your baby’s meal times!
