1. Consider taking an infant CPR/choking class or if you already have, brush up on what to do in the event of a choking situation. While it's very unlikely your baby will truely choke (vs gagging) if you're using safe feeding techniques, it can happen & you'll feel much more confident if you know exactly what to do. 2. Bring baby to the table to let him/her watch you eat. Hold your baby on your lap. Talk to your baby about foods you are eating. Say the names and tell him/her

"Why have an 'approach' at all?" you might ask. This may seems silly to those who just "do it" and never even consider what their personal "approach" might be. "We just fed you" my mother said when I asked her about what she did for me. "We didn't stop to think about approaches." 4 generations of daughters enjoying lunch together. We all were fed in different ways and I'd say we all turned out fairly well! I get this. Many people are too busy to consider the intricacies

Babies are born learners and explorers. They find joy in exploring and mastering a skill. Babies are driven to do this and will learn and explore with food if we give them the opportunity to do so at their own pace. If we let this joy flourish and let them feel confident and successful, they will have a positive relationship with food that will last a lifetime. This is especially true for the more reticent feeder, who may never eat vigorously for the sheer love of it, but who

Pretty much across the board pediatricians encourage parents to start solid foods at a certain age (some say 4-6 months, others suggest around 6 months, others 6 months and older.) Between 4 to 6 months is the most common time frame, but this is a HUGE spread in baby time. Major skills and maturation occurs between 4 to 6 months, such as the ability to sit independently. While we can't see it as obviously, your baby's body is also maturing and growing on the inside (the stoma

I know that what you want is a simple list of foods and maybe some recipes. Instead I am giving you an essay. I am sorry. I am, truly. But I think part of the problem with health care for infants these days is that we're giving one-size-fits-all recommendations. And when it comes to first foods that is definitely the case. Whether or not the recommendation is rice cereal, vegetables, fruits, or even meats, our healthcare providers are emphatic about it being one of these opt

I get asked about this frequently, so I thought I’d do a post about making the transition from bottles to cups. This developmental progression can happen whenever you and your baby decide but ideally is well suited to occurring between 6-12 months (12-24 months is fine too, but can be a bit more difficult.) During the 7-10 month window especially, your love bug has the ability to sit up unsupported, hold a cup, tilt their head back, separate the movements of their jaw, lips,

I love this phrase. It’s catchy, it’s simple, and it’s true. This is a phrase that has flowy alliteration and a nice little rhyme to it to help you remember, yet sometimes is still so hard to remember. Like when our babies are learning to eat and barely getting anything in and wasting the food we spent time preparing and throwing that food on the floor, and (argh!) suddenly I’ve totally forgotten this phrase or I just don’t trust it anymore and I’m stressed and I sweetly a

Actually, that’s a pretty loaded title, more for effect and attention grabbing…the problem is not with purees so much as with the practice of introducing only purees as first foods and for those first few months of feeding. Of course, every baby is different and all approaches and suggestions should be thoughtfully considered based on your baby's skill level, development, and interest, as well as your own skill set. As it happens, ​​I actually quite like purees- humus, yogur

People keep asking me what I’m going to give Birdie for her first foods. This seems like a loaded question to me- I get the feeling people want me to answer either “rice cereal” or “apple sauce” or maybe even “avocado.” I just keep thinking, “I have no idea what I’ll be having for lunch or dinner the day that Birdie chooses to reach out and grab some foods off the table” and “I don’t really know which of those first foods I give her that she’ll actually swallow.” I’m a big