Now that your baby has started to eat other forms of baby food along with breastmilk, you must be very excited. We know how incredibly beautiful this transition is for every parent. As your baby becomes more interested in eating, you can encourage them to self-feed. Know why? Because it can help a lot in their overall development. How, when, why – Well there must be numerous questions in your mind to begin and make baby-led-weaning smooth for your little bundle of joy. That’s why we are here to help you out.
In this blog, we will be clearing all your doubts and help you on encouraging self-feeding to your baby easily. Let’s get into the blog right away!
What are the signs that your baby is ready to self-feed?
It is very important to understand the signs that your baby is ready to self-feed. That’s the right time to begin teaching your baby with easy-peasy baby self-feeding tips. Always pay attention to these common signs.
- Baby sitting up straight without any support generally at 6 or 6+ months.
- Reaching for the food.
- Able to pick up small pieces of baby food.
- Trying to hold the baby friendly products.
- Bringing baby food or water near to their mouth.
- Able to swallow baby food.
Now that you know when your baby is ready to self-feed, here are some helpful baby self-feeding tips to know how to begin with.
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Offer a Variety of Baby Food
Babies can’t tell what they like or not but there are signs. So, offer a variety of baby safe food with different flavors or textures and observe what they like or dislike. They might eat some, throw away some but will always show interest in the food that they truly enjoy. Ensure the food is not very hot because it can hurt the baby. You can make use of heat sensory soft weaning spoon by Vega Baby & Mom to encourage independent eating habits. This weaning spoon changes color from red to white when the food is 40 ° C or above, making sure your baby is not exposed to very hot food. Being BPA free and 100% non-toxic, it is safe for baby use. It has a soft tip, picks just the right amount in one scoop ideal for babies, and ergonomically designed to help babies through the weaning stage with little to no assistance. Also, never force them to eat.
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Use Baby Weaning Essentials
Buy the baby weaning essentials especially designed to cater to baby needs. It makes baby self-feeding process easier and most importantly safe for your little bundle of joy. The best baby weaning essentials by Vega Baby & Mom are as follows:
Silicone Weaning bottle – Weaning bottle with a silicone spoon to help baby’s transition from liquid to solid food enjoyable and comfortable. It is made with 100% food-grade silicone material, leak-proof feature, and vacuum base.
Heat Sensory Soft Weaning Spoon- This heat sensory spoon comes in as a safe weaning spoon that changes its color to white when the food is 40 ° C or above making sure your child is not exposed to very hot food.
Sippy Cup- The spout sippy cup and straw sippy cup by Vega Baby & Mom helps your baby suckle easily to get the water from the cup and drink it conveniently on their own.
Silicone Fresh Fruit Feeder- This food and fruit nibbler helps your baby to self-feed fresh fruits with minimal supervision.
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Let Your Baby Explore
Give your baby full leverage to self-feed and embrace the mess that they create. The more they practice, the quicker they will learn to self-feed. And, with time the mess will decrease on its own. Use baby water wipes by Vega Baby & Mom which are made with high water content and natural extracts perfect to clean the mess without irritating sensitive skin of the baby. It is recommended to dress your baby in a bib to prevent them messing up with their clothes.
- Establish a Regular Routine
Just like many parents create bedtime schedule, creating mealtime schedule is also helpful. It will make weaning easier and comfortable for your baby, and they will be less fussy. A regular mealtime schedule helps establish a routine that makes them feel comfortable and understand when to expect food. This helps to regulate their appetite and supports their overall well-being.
- Praise Your Baby
Be it a baby or an adult, everyone loves encouragement. Isn’t it? So, a good idea is to keep praising and encouraging your baby to boost their confidence. Try to create a positive environment during mealtimes. It adds more fun and makes the whole baby-led weaning process a lot easier. Avoid distractions like TV or toys during mealtimes because it can hamper their focus towards eating.
Key Takeaways
Always remember every baby is different. Hence it is not necessary that if the other baby has started eating on its own, your baby will do the same. Just be patient and help your baby to develop a positive relationship with food using the baby self-feeding tips we have shared above. Most importantly, keep baby weaning essentials handy to ensure smooth and comfortable weaning experience both for you and your baby.
Don’t forget to enjoy this experience!
FAQs:
When should I start encouraging my baby to self-feed?
Pay attention to the following signs to know the right time when your baby is ready to self-feed.
- Baby sitting up straight without any support at 6 or 6+ months.
- Reaching for the food.
- Able to pick up small pieces of baby food.
- Trying to hold the spoon or sippy cups.
- Bringing baby food or water near to their mouth.
- Able to swallow baby food.
How can I ensure my baby's safety during self-feeding?
Use baby-friendly weaning accessories that ensure safe feeding along with your supervision.
What should I do if my baby refuses to self-feed?
Try to offer a variety of food with different flavors and textures to understand their likes and dislikes.
