How is feeding going?
What do you like about feeding?
What don’t you like?
Is there anything you would like to be different?
What and how are you feeding your baby?
Your baby will eat solid foods best when he feels he has a say in the matter. It gives him a say when you wait to start solids until he can sit up. Then he can open his mouth and lean forward when he wants to eat and turn away and lean back when he doesn’t. Let him touch his food and suck off his fingers, even if it makes a mess. That keeps him in control and lets him learn to feed himself.
Here is what to do—and not do—when you feed your older baby:
- Have him sit up straight in a high chair, maybe propped up with pillows.
- Don’t have him leaning back or lying down. Don’t let his neck be crooked.
- Sit right in front of him. Hold the spoon about a foot away from his mouth.
- Don’t hold the spoon so close it feels pushy or so far away he can’t see it well.
- Wait for him to open his mouth. Put new food on his lip. Put familiar food in his mouth.
- Don’t pry his lips open with the spoon. Don’t surprise him with new food.
- Feed the way he wants to eat: little or much, fast or slow.
- Don’t make him hurry up or slow down. Don’t take away the food before he is full.
- Look at him. Talk to him kindly and quietly. Answer him.
- Don’t talk a lot, play, sing, or watch TV. On the other hand, don’t just sit there.
- Stop when he shows he’s done, even after a taste on his lip or only one bite.
- Don’t try to get him to eat more when he turns away, closes up, or fusses.
