* Valid at these Baby City stores
Show more
Trained
in-store
advice
TAKING CARE
OF FEEDING
Weaning made easy
Sister Lilian shares her golden guidelines for a healthy approach to weaning baby onto solids.
In the first 6 months, milk, particularly
breast milk, can fulfil every single one of
baby’s nutritional needs. From 6 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 1 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 6 months does not increase
the risk of them choking, compared
to spoon-feeding 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 1 baby ready
sooner, and another later.
If your baby suddenly demands more
feeding, 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.
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 1 at time, so that
you can readily identify any foods that
cause adverse reactions.
• Add a second meal after about
4 to 6 weeks, and a third meal 6 to 8
weeks later.
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 3 main food groups for starter
foods are:
• Fruit
Fruit is easily digested, and is ideal for
baby’s first food. Ripe, seasonal fruits
can be finely grated or puréed (no
cooking required) and from 6 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 8 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.
• Never force baby to eat, and do not
resort to bribes.
• Never offer baby unhealthy snacks like
biscuits, crisps or sweets.
• Restrict dairy products, as little ones are
often allergic to these.
Brought to you by
we know you care
Bringing more choices to moms
www.babycity.co.za
87
