Hey Sweeties,
Weaning, either with purees or going down the baby-led weaning method, is one of those stages of motherhood that you know is coming but regardless of how much preparation you have done, it arrives and you feel quite unprepared. Not to mention a sudden yearning for the simpler days of just milk.
Why Baby-led Weaning?
I knew very early on that I would be following the baby-led weaning method with my son. My primary reason for this was because I felt it was the best and most realistic way to introduce and teach him about food.
I am not against purees by any means, but by beginning with mashed and soft foods it created an early interest and introduced different textures. I also found the idea of Austin eating what I do really appealing, and encouraged me to try some new recipes so we both had something new to eat.
What about gagging?
Children need to learn to eat and eat safely, and that does mean that from time to time they will gag. It is scary sometimes to witness but they need to learn and you need to let them.
Choking is a completely different thing and that I think is what parents are most worried about, I certainly was to begin with, and one of the contributing reasons why people are put off with baby-led weaning.
Loud and red, let them go ahead. Silent and blue, they need help from you!
I found it amazing how capable Austin was with food before he cut his first tooth, gums are harder than we give credit to. As more teeth have appeared I can try more things to challenge him further at mealtimes.
Before having my son my husband and I attended a baby and child first aid course with the British Red Cross and I would heartily recommend it to other parents and carers.
What you need
Before you begin weaning, there are a few things that would be worth your while purchasing.
Plates and bowls that will survive being thrown on the floor a hundred times are a must. The Bamboo plates are an Instagram favourite and make portioning up meals really easy, but a plastic plate works just as well.
Being able to batch cook and portion up meals for the freezer are a lifesaver for parents that don’t have all the time in the world to make everything from scratch. And even if you are, once baby becomes a toddler and is clinging to your legs while you’re trying to prepare food you need things that can be easily heated up and served.
Your local supermarket, baby events, Groupon and eBay are worth checking out for things you need at an affordable price.
Will my son grow up vegetarian?
I get this question quite a lot actually, mostly from family. I am vegetarian but I have also tried going vegan in the past but for me that wasn’t as sustainable as I would have liked. I still drink plant-based milks and avoid eggs where I can (except in cake and quiche).
As for Austin growing up vegetarian or even vegan that for me is a firm no. When he is older and can make his own food decisions and he chooses to become vegetarian then so be it, but it’s not something I’ll be pushing.
Where I get Inspiration
I get most of my ideas and meal inspiration from several accounts I follow on Instagram, and I really enjoy trying new recipes for Austin and most of them are so simple to recreate.
If you want some further insight into the meals I give/have given Austin during our baby-led weaning journey, I have saved them on my highlights in Instagram.
However, despite the wealth of ideas and inspiration I get almost daily, I still have days where I struggle to think of what to feed Austin, particularly tea time as I try to give him his main hot meal at lunch.
Be Realistic
I think baby-led weaning is a really fun way to engage both baby and parents in the weaning journey, but I am realistic. Growing up I am sure I wasn’t introduced to even half of the things I have given Austin and it hasn’t impacted how I eat in my adult life at all, and this is what I hope for him.
But that’s not to say that children and adults don’t develop fussy habits despite being given a broad variety of food at a young age, and of course this works the other way around also.
I think there is little point in buying foods especially for baby, when it’s not something you would routinely eat. Absolutely good to try new things where possible, but no need to go out of your way to buy weird fruit and vegetables if it’s not something you’re likely to continue with.
A person has a lifetime to explore many different types of cuisines and food stuffs, it doesn’t all need to happen within the first year or two of birth.
Have you tried baby-led weaning? What are your thoughts?
Until next time x
