The saying "all babies are different" rings very true in our house, especially with food. We tried baby led weaning with my first, but he gagged if there was any thick or chunky texture and he didn't go for it until after he'd been on purees for a bit, but my youngest went the baby led route from the get go. So much so that he mostly refused when I tried to spoon feed him something.
I found that the best ways to please the VERY independent eater wass to make sure that whatever I was giving him for a meal, he could eat it on his own.
I found that the best ways to please the VERY independent eater wass to make sure that whatever I was giving him for a meal, he could eat it on his own.
Here are 4 ways to help keep that independent eater happy:
1. Homemade Pouches
These are simple and cheap. Use whatever fruits, veggies, meats, pastas, etc. to create your own quick meals. They can be kept in the freezer for when you are in a pinch, or when the family is eating something that isn’t suitable for the baby, like steak that could be difficult to chew or something that is extra spicy. I love making oatmeal & fruit pouches, or even just plain applesauce. To make it easy, I use the Infantino Squeeze Station. Just cook the foods to desired consistency, mix, pour into the squeeze station, press, and done! There are reusable pouches that work with the squeeze station as well, and although messy the first time trying a pouch on his own, he picked it up fairly quickly. We also use Sage Spoonfuls reusable pouches, these can be filled from the ziplock side so if you don't have a Squeeze Station...no worries!!
These are simple and cheap. Use whatever fruits, veggies, meats, pastas, etc. to create your own quick meals. They can be kept in the freezer for when you are in a pinch, or when the family is eating something that isn’t suitable for the baby, like steak that could be difficult to chew or something that is extra spicy. I love making oatmeal & fruit pouches, or even just plain applesauce. To make it easy, I use the Infantino Squeeze Station. Just cook the foods to desired consistency, mix, pour into the squeeze station, press, and done! There are reusable pouches that work with the squeeze station as well, and although messy the first time trying a pouch on his own, he picked it up fairly quickly. We also use Sage Spoonfuls reusable pouches, these can be filled from the ziplock side so if you don't have a Squeeze Station...no worries!!
2. Soft Foods
“Everything” is fair game. If I can cook it up soft, C will eat it with no problems. We started him at 6 months with naturally soft finger foods such as peas and avocado, but if I made a puree, it would be thick enough for his little hands to still be able to “pick up”. It was messy, but he enjoyed it and learning how to eat on his own. His food list has grown to include just about anything and everything that we eat, as long as it is something easily mushed in his gums. Carrots, chicken, blueberries, cheese, ham, just to name a few. Rule of thumb with whole foods and littles, use your pinky nail as a size reference when cutting, and of course use your best judgement--you know your babe best.
**TIP** Some foods are slippery though, so my tip for those is to mash up some Cheerios into a dust, and roll the cut up pieces of food in them. This trick works great for bananas!
3. Silicone/Mesh Feeder
These are great to use for those foods that are more difficult to chew, like apples. Cut up pieces small enough for the feeder and let baby go to town. It helps to break down the bigger chunks, giving baby the right amount to enjoy. Frozen, cold, or cooked foods are perfect for these.
“Everything” is fair game. If I can cook it up soft, C will eat it with no problems. We started him at 6 months with naturally soft finger foods such as peas and avocado, but if I made a puree, it would be thick enough for his little hands to still be able to “pick up”. It was messy, but he enjoyed it and learning how to eat on his own. His food list has grown to include just about anything and everything that we eat, as long as it is something easily mushed in his gums. Carrots, chicken, blueberries, cheese, ham, just to name a few. Rule of thumb with whole foods and littles, use your pinky nail as a size reference when cutting, and of course use your best judgement--you know your babe best.
**TIP** Some foods are slippery though, so my tip for those is to mash up some Cheerios into a dust, and roll the cut up pieces of food in them. This trick works great for bananas!
3. Silicone/Mesh Feeder
These are great to use for those foods that are more difficult to chew, like apples. Cut up pieces small enough for the feeder and let baby go to town. It helps to break down the bigger chunks, giving baby the right amount to enjoy. Frozen, cold, or cooked foods are perfect for these.
4. Frozen "Treats"
Yogurt is one of the easiest ways to get in another daily serving of dairy, but again, C hated the spoon. To help his independence with this, I would freeze dots of yogurt and at breakfast time when they are ready, he was able to eat the yogurt drops by himself. They stayed frozen long enough to not be TOO messy, but they quickly melted away in his mouth. You could also blend up some fresh fruit to mix in for a little more fun, he loves when I serve him these!
Using these different methods was/is great for C's independence. It also allows me the freedom to be able to eat WITH my family since I am not having to feed the youngest, and I know that he is getting enough to eat since he is in control.
Yogurt is one of the easiest ways to get in another daily serving of dairy, but again, C hated the spoon. To help his independence with this, I would freeze dots of yogurt and at breakfast time when they are ready, he was able to eat the yogurt drops by himself. They stayed frozen long enough to not be TOO messy, but they quickly melted away in his mouth. You could also blend up some fresh fruit to mix in for a little more fun, he loves when I serve him these!
Using these different methods was/is great for C's independence. It also allows me the freedom to be able to eat WITH my family since I am not having to feed the youngest, and I know that he is getting enough to eat since he is in control.
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