Kids and food(wheres and whens)

From experience with my son(my first child), i read alot trying to figure out things on how to get along with him both in eating at table and feeding too. While pregnant, I was always amazed when i saw babies in the malls and restuarants eating by themselves and i would wonder how old the kids were. With it all , i was on the look out trying to learn from other parents on how to make my baby independent at the table too. Also, when to start feeding my baby solids was another issue and was easier than i thought. We'll just look at some questions and see how to make the most of our baby's early stages.




When should I start feeding my baby solids?
After the birth of my son, I fed him breastmilk and that was so much fun all the way cos he would put his tiny fingers in my mouth, smile, squirk and make different faces. It's the best feeling ever and mothers will always cherish the precious moments. I was expecting to start feeding him solids later on like some 5months of age or later when the nurse that used to give him his vaccine surprised me by saying it was time for solids. He was just 4months old and i was shocked! I was wondering what i should feed him and she gave some hints on how to start and what to start with.

What should you feed baby?
I got one or two recipes from the nurse, but after explored myself. The solids must not be just cereals, they can also be soups(vegetables) while you incoporate fruits to it also. The first soup i made him consisted of fresh vegetables and the recipe is below.

Carrot Soup
1medium sized potato
2 or 3 slices of onions
3 leaves of lettuce
2 medium sized carrots
a dash of olive oil
2 cups of water

Wash carrots and potato, peel, cut into sqaures and place in your sauce pan. Cut your lettuce(after washing), onions, and place together with the potatoes and carrots. Add your water and place on fire to cook. When everything comes to a boil, fork on a piece of carrot, if soft, all the others are too. Carefully place in a blender or use an immersion blender, add a dash of olive oil and blend. Once turned into a puree, put back into the sauce pan, heat up a little bit for somee 2mins. Turn off, serve baby when cool enough to be eaten.

Fruit
Always prepare baby's meal with fruit as a dessert. You can start with apples, pear, banana(very ripe with spots on the skin). You can peel and core an apple, cut in chunks add a little water and boil. Once soft, scoop out the apples and blend. You should reserve the liquid to be able to use it if the puree is too thick. Pls don't add anything else like sugar, remember they're babies and they will enjoy it just like that. When you shop, buy very sweet apples and you'll see your baby loving it.
You can space it and give your baby varieties. Feed baby soup and fruit first day, and cereal and fruits the next. Alternating things will make baby not get tired of a partucular kind of food thereby hating it. When starting, feed baby solids just once a day preferably lunch and baby can go on with milk. Always feed baby fruits, it's essential. Make your baby's food at home and avoid canned baby foods. You'll save money and feed your baby more healthy foods without preservatives and additives.


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Where should you feed your baby?
I always recommend buying the baby his own dinner chair(not a high chair). There are some baby chairs that are suspended by hooking it them to the table. Once baby starts seating, seat baby in his chair and feed. That way, she starts getting used to seating at the table to eat. Restaurants also offer chairs like that for young babies, so it's necessary to have one for baby at home. As time goes on, you might need to buy a high chair for your child when he is outgrowing the former since it has a particular weight limit and growing baby won't be able to fit in there again!

When should you start allowing baby eat by herslf?
It's simple. You know your baby and you know his capabilities. Always follow your baby at his own pace. Never force your baby to do something because your neighbour's baby is doing same, encourage your child and give him time. My son started grasping things quite early, that when he started grabbing bread from the table, i was amazed. When i noticed it the first time, i started giving him other things like a piece of fruit, and also the bread which could distract him and keep him busy till the food came. If a baby can grab, then the baby can as well eat by herself. Always include baby in all you do if you're at home or eating out. Plates, cups, napkins, and all others the baby should have hers too. Just cut baby's food to bits or marsh it depending on the type of food served and allow baby feed herself even if you assist also in the feeding.
Babies make a mess but don't worry about it, just let your baby feed well and later you can clean up. If in a restaurant, always endeavour to clean up a little, picking things from the floor(courtesy sake!) before leaving except if the waiters tell you not to bother yourself with it.
Hope this helps. See u soon.
Enjoy!