TAKING CARE
OF FEEDING
Trained
in-store
advice
WEANING MADE EASY
Sister Lilian shares her golden guidelines for a healthy
approach to weaning Baby onto solids.
In the first six months, milk,
particularly breast milk, can
fulfil every single one of Baby’s
nutritional needs. From six to
12 months, most babies will
start showing an interest in food.
However, milk is still extremely
important, and this phase is more
of an experiment in taste and
texture than anything else! From
one year, milk will gradually play
a less significant role, but there is
no need for moms to limit breast
milk intake.
Baby-led weaning is safe
The Sister Lilian Centre has, for
decades, advocated that mothers
carefully observe and heed their
babies’ cues and body language
with respect to many basic
‘milestones’, like feeding patterns.
Recent research suggests that
letting babies feed themselves solid
foods from as young as six months
does not increase the risk of them
choking, compared to spoonfeeding them. The bottom line is
that baby-led weaning not only
makes common sense, but it’s safe
too. Nevertheless, when to wean
your baby is a very individual affair,
with one baby ready sooner, and
another later.
If your baby suddenly demands
more bottle or breast feeds, you
may think it’s time, but he or she
may simply need more milk. The
first thing to try is increasing the
number or length of feeds for
at least a week. If Baby is still
dissatisfied, it might be time to
introduce solids, unless there is
another explanation, like teething
or stress in the family. Tellingly,
teething often precedes an interest
in solid food.
• Fruit
If your baby shows interest in your
plate of food, this could be an early
indicator that she will soon be
ready for solids, although at first,
Baby will only do this to sample
the food.
Handy how-to guide
• Offer first foods between milk
feeds, when Baby is only slightly
hungry, and is in a good,
inquisitive mood.
• The most optimal digestive time
for first meals is between 10am
and 2pm.
• Slowly increase the amount of
food offered until Baby indicates
that he/she is comfortable.
• Introduce new foods one at
time, so that you can readily
identify any foods that cause
adverse reactions.
• Add a second meal after about
four to six weeks, and a third
meal six to eight weeks later.
Fruit is easily digested, and is
ideal for Baby’s first food. Ripe,
seasonal fruits can be finely
grated or pureed (no cooking
required) and from six months,
can be cut into finger food pieces.
• Vegetables
Also an excellent first food option,
veggies simply need to be lightly
cooked or steamed, and can be
served as a puree or finger food.
Butternut, carrots, hubbard squash,
pumpkin and gem squash work
well initially, and from about eight
to 10 months, sweet potato, potato
and finely chopped greens like
spinach and broccoli can be added.
• Processed baby cereals
After eating refined cereals, many
babies become constipated or
‘mucousy’, and may develop
skin rashes, making this the least
advisable choice of first foods.
Maize and rice cereals are generally
least problematic; wheat cereals and
those with milk solids are more so.
No-no’s and go-slows
• Do not add sugar, salt or butter to
a baby’s foods.
Choosing first foods
Baby’s age and instinctive food
preferences will play a role in the
selection of starter foods. Initially,
weaning is more about Baby
getting used to food than it is about
nutritive value – as long as the food
is healthy, there’s no reason for
mothers to stress. The three main
food groups for starter foods are:
• Never force Baby to eat, and do
not resort to bribes.
• Never offer Baby unhealthy
snacks like biscuits, crisps
or sweets.
• Do not add cereal to a
baby’s bottles.
• Restrict dairy products, as little
ones are often allergic to these.
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