When to wean, and how to wean, are intensely personal choices (although the NHS recommends that you feed your baby breast milk exclusively for at least the first six months, after which you can start to introduce solid foods). However, there are a few techniques you can use to help make weaning easier because we all need a helping hand. The thing to remember is that each baby is different. Cameo, my 2-year-old was a dream at weaning. He was eating chicken nuggets and carrot sticks before he was one! But Marlo has been a different story and was a real struggle to wean. So, if you’re struggling to wean or just want a few tips here are the things I’ve tried with my two little ones that have been a success.
Distraction
No two ways about it, weaning marks the end of a special time in your life. When you’re breastfeeding, you and your baby have an intense relationship, and you’ll lose a little of this closeness once this comes to an end. It’s normal for both of you to feel sadness at this point – so to minimise negative emotions, distraction is a great coping tool. The same goes if you’re not breast feeding. The ease of just making a bottle goes out of the window and it can feel like a chore when meal times come around. So, combat the stress by changing up your routine, give them toys while they’re waiting for food, sing songs while you’re trying to give them finger food and even making smiley faces out of bread can make a difference!
Location, Location, Location
One thing I’ve learnt over the last couple of years is that where you give your little one food is a big deal. They need to be comfortable and safe, especially at the beginning of the weaning process. We learnt the hard way but getting a comfortable high chair really makes a difference. We’ve been using the Joie Mimzy Snacker Highchair which has been amazing! After looking at Joie car seats from Kiddies Kingdom we realised the high chairs were pretty good too. When we were gifted one to review, I honestly couldn’t have been more over the moon. It was exactly what we needed and it’s made a huge difference to how Marlo is eating.
The Joie Mimzy Snacker high chair works for us because it can be folded up with one hand (yes, one hand), but it’s still sturdy, has space for bibs and has an excellent 5 point harness which isn’t a faff to sort out. It also has 3 reclining options for when you’re little one starts to get bigger. We think Marlo is much more comfortable in this high chair and we’ve used it routinely for the last week and it’s already made a difference to how much food he is eating and he hasn’t tried to escape from it yet. It’s a miracle!
Talk to your baby
One bonus of your baby getting older is that it starts to be able to understand language. At this point, you can involve them in the process of weaning, and help them to know what to expect. Talk to them about when they can expect to be fed and let them know that it\s breakfast, lunch or dinner time. Talk them through what they’re eating and how to eat it. Huge amounts of encouraging words can help too. Before you know it they’ll be asking for Weetabix or toast.
Reduce feeds gradually
Go cold turkey, and you’ll have one unhappy baby on your hands. It’s best to reduce feeds gradually so that your baby barely notices the change. This is also important for looking after mummy, as it reduces the risk of things like mastitis and blocked ducts if you’re breastfeeding.
Start small
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your baby won’t switch to solid foods in a day either. Start with tiny spoonfuls of food, to let your baby try new flavours and textures – and practise chewing! Before six months (and sometimes after), they won’t be able to chew and will spit everything out instead. In the beginning, it’s also a good idea to introduce different foods one at a time, so that you can monitor your baby’s reaction to them.
Don’t be scared to try finger food and new things. We’re at a point now where Marlo will only eat from a spoon if he is holding his bowl and can also feed himself with a spoon. (Or the floor more to the point!) We’re learning just as much as he is.
Eat together
Babies learn by copying, so it’s helpful to eat together at family meals where you can. Even before your baby is ready to wean, you can give it a soft weaning spoon so that it can copy the rest of the family and practise putting it in its mouth. This is especially helpful if you have other little ones as no matter what, they’ll definitely become a little copy cat!
What are your weaning tips and tricks?
