Weaning – The best way how

I am at that age when most of my peers are having their first baby. When the weekend comes and goes, the one thing that I can aptly account for is a visit to see these bundles of joy. I keep a catalog that I religiously cancel out who I have visited and plan for who I will be visiting next.

One such visit that I struck out a year ago, was of Owen, who recently celebrated his birthday on 29 February, this year. It was an occasion we would term in this day and age as a ‘blast.’ In the middle of the celebrations, the drinking, eating, cutting of cake and building our social capital, I could not help but notice Owen’s mother every so often reaching out to breastfeed him. This surprised me. When an opportunity arose, I shifted to seat next to Owen’s mum and inquired why she was not giving him food. ‘Linda, it is not my fault. Owen has completely refused to eat food, just Weetabix here and there, period, it stresses me you know!’ She yelled out.

Thinking about it now and with the little understanding I have about introducing other foods to your baby, weaning can be confusing. While some believe you must do it in some systematic manner and at a specific age, studies have shown that the experience is different for every mother and child.

Sometimes, your baby my take the lead by starting to eat solid foods by themselves but in most cases, you really need to initiate it. Most pediatricians recommend feeding babies exclusively with breast milk for the first six months. Thereafter, you may combine solid foods and breast milk and give to your baby until they are one year old when they are able to process different textures and tastes of solid foods.

The don’ts

  • Don’t force your baby to eat food that they reject. You could keep it and try giving it to them some other time later. You will be surprised that they will eat the same food they had rejected a while back.
  • Don’t also force your baby to eat when they don’t feel like it. It may be difficult for them to adjust in the first few instances. So it would be wise that you allow your baby to discover what works for them at that age they are at.
  • Don’t scold your baby when they pick up comforting habits like thumb sucking. Your child may just be trying to adjust to the emotional changes of weaning. Sometimes your child maybe messy when eating, do not reproach him, just prepare yourself psychologically to clean up the mess every time you are giving him something to eat.
  • Don’t be impatient or have high expectations, for example that your child should hurry and eat quickly. Just allow him to eat at a pace they are comfortable with. Don’t even try to push food into their mouth. This may irritate them and thus crush any progress made in weaning him.
  • Don’t keep your baby away from people or in seclusion when he is eating or even bottle-feeding. This could be risky as the baby may choke.

Weaning Dos

  • Do ensure that the process is as gradual as it can be. This will allow you and your baby ample time to adjust to the new foods. You may opt to begin by dropping one breast feeding session a day so that they take solid food or feed from a bottle or cup at that particular time. Take for instance if you are working, you might want to start by eliminating the midday feeding. That way the baby will gradually accept and adapt to the new routine.
  • Do allow the baby to have a say or decide on when and how they want to eat their new foods otherwise known as baby-led weaning. Before you realize it, your baby will slowly get into the routine of eating three complete meals a day and probably snack in between hence breastfeeding less and less.
  • Do give your child an opportunity to seat at the dining table with the rest of the family and help him/ her to eat the food that the rest of the family is eating. This will make him/her feel that they are part and parcel of what is going on. Just make sure you prepare food that is also suitable for the baby.
  • While at the dining table, do make sure that your baby is seated in an upright position and appropriately supported while they try to eat. If you do not have a chair that is comfortable for him/her, hold him/ her on your lap placing him/her to face the table. This way, your baby will slowly develop skills to pick up food and put it in their mouth by themselves.
  • Do offer your baby a variety of foods. This makes your baby’s eating experience exciting just like they love to play with a variety of toys.
  • Do give your baby pieces or a scoop of food that fits well in their fists. Incase it is a sippy-cup; try to ensure that your baby can hold it comfortably with his/her hands.
  • Do give your baby a breastfeed whenever they want. This will certainly change as they begin to eat more of the other foods.

END: BL 31 /10-11

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