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Is your baby ready to feed himself?
Don’t be surprised if your six-month-old wakes up one morning and refuses to be spoon-fed baby food, even though she savored a jar of carrot puree the night before. She isn’t going on a hunger strike. Your child is simply entering the phase of wanting to feed herself. Not only is she becoming interested in eating the same foods her parents are eating, she also wants to dine mom-and-dad-style, using utensils, her hands or a combination of both. This is normal.
At six months old, little Brittney made it clear to her mother Stephanie Blee that she wanted to try eating with silverware. “Brittney was always reaching for my fork or spoon,” Blee said. “If I tried to feed her, she’d refuse.” Of course, it is unrealistic to expect a six-month-old to master the art of using utensils. “When they first attempt to feed themselves, most babies rake food into their hands and bring it to their mouths,” said Dr. Kenneth Polin, pediatrician. “A baby doesn’t learn the pincer grip, in which the forefinger and thumb come together to pick up objects, until eight or nine months.” However, letting your child literally get her hands on her dinner is a step in the right direction. Rest assured, by nine months, she will be able to pick up peas with impunity.
Finger foods At first, Blee wasn’t sure what foods to offer Brittney, so she called her pediatrician. “He told me to feed her anything she wanted-with one catch,” she said. “He said I should introduce only one new food at a time and then wait three days before introducing the next.” This slow introduction helps parents determine whether their baby has food allergies. Warning signs include diarrhea, a rash or vomiting. The story was not the same with six-month-old Jillian Udell. When she started demanding table foods, her mother, Stacey, decided to experiment. “Sometimes Jillian would spit out the new foods we were trying,” she said. “I wasn’t sure whether she didn’t like a food because of its taste or its texture.” Some children can’t handle foods with new or unusual textures, said Dr. Ruth Mooreville, pediatrician. “If your baby doesn’t like it the first time around,” she said, “try it the next week. It may take a while for her to adjust to the new taste.”
Soft, safe munchies Since many six-month-olds are toothless, offer foods they can hold easily but won’t have a hard time chewing. “Babies break down food with their gums,” said Mooreville. “By eight or nine months, they’ve become quite good at it.” To guard against choking, cut food into small pieces or serve foods that melt in the mouth, like Cheerios, soft cheese, mashed potatoes, overcooked carrots and pasta cut into small strips. Because of their texture, these foods won’t slide down a baby’s throat and cause her to choke as a peanut might. Don’t be surprised if your baby suddenly becomes a picky eater, as most of the foods will be foreign in taste and texture. Over time, they will learn to regulate how much they will eat with baby-sized bellies. As a baby becomes more confident feeding herself, mom and dad can get creative with their mealtime offerings. With baby feeding herself, you may just get the chance to sit down and enjoy a meal yourself.
Baby’s first spoon This spoon has a unique design that enables babies to use a fist-grip to scoop their food and point directly toward his or her mouth. The Spoon-Z is FDA approved and is BPA, Lead and Phthalate free. For more information, visit www.kidgear.com |
