Starting solids is an exciting milestone for both you and your baby. However, it can be a bit disheartening when your little one refuses purées. Don't worry—you’re not alone, and there are plenty of strategies to help make this transition smoother and more enjoyable for both of you. Let’s explore some practical tips and approaches to turn mealtime into a joyful bonding experience.
Embrace Baby-Led Weaning
If your baby is turning up their nose at purées, consider trying baby-led weaning. This approach allows your baby to self-feed with soft, graspable foods. Not only does this encourage independence, but it also lets your baby explore different textures and flavours at their own pace. Great starter foods include steamed vegetables, soft fruits, and well-cooked pasta. Pairing these foods with a silicone feeding tool can be interesting for bub (yes it can still be baby-led)!
Introduce Spoons Without Purée First
Sometimes, babies need to get familiar with the spoon itself before they can enjoy what’s on it. Let your baby play with silicone spoons during mealtime. You can even let them dip the spoon into a bit of purée or breast milk to get a taste without dealing with the texture right away.
Explore with Hard Munchables
Hard munchables like a big raw carrot stick or frozen watermelon strips can be excellent for building familiarity with solids. These items are not for consumption but for exploration. Allowing your baby to gnaw on these can help reduce gag sensitivity and build comfort with having solids in their mouth. Remember, gagging is a normal part of learning to eat solids.
A little more on hard munchables from the pioneer herself, Kay Toomey (PhD):
"A Hard Munchable is a long, hard, stick-shaped food. This food should be long enough for the children to fully hold one end in their hand and get the other end down the side of the mouth, all the way to the back molar ideally. This food needs to be hard enough that the child cannot easily get a bite off it, even if they have some teeth. This food also need to be small enough that the child can get it into their mouth, and ideally place it down the side of the mouth."
You can read more about the Kay and the team from the SOS approach to feeding here.
Fun Food Exploration Ideas
Introduce fun, non-consumable food items for exploration. Think of it as mouthing and exploration as the goal. Try offering corn cobs, pizza crusts, mango seeds, and arrowroot biscuits. These foods are great for babies to explore and get used to the sensation of having something solid in their mouth without the pressure of eating it. Incorporating a playmat for babies can make these explorative mealtimes colourful and maybeeee a little less messy (no promises).
Tiny Dips for Flavour Exposure
For babies who are hesitant about texture, try dipping a spoon in a tiny amount of purée or milk. This way, your baby can experience new flavours without the overwhelming texture. Gradually, they may become more open to trying purées or other solid foods.
Try a Mesh or Silicone Feeder
Mesh or silicone feeders are a fantastic tool for introducing new flavours and textures safely. Fill the mesh feeder with soft fruits or vegetables, allowing your baby to chew and suck on the food without the risk of choking. It's a fun and safe way to explore solids, especially when paired with a silicone bib for baby to catch any spills.
Start with Favourite Flavours
Begin with flavours your baby already loves. If they have a favourite fruit or vegetable, use that to introduce solids. Familiar tastes can make the transition to solids less daunting and more enjoyable. Using a baby suction plate can help keep the food in place as your baby experiments with new tastes.
Introduce Finger Foods by Nine Months
By nine months, most babies are ready to try finger foods. Offer small, manageable pieces of soft foods like banana slices, avocado chunks, or cooked carrots. This can be a more appealing option for babies who aren’t fans of purées.
Some Babies Just Don’t Like Purées
It’s important to remember that every baby is different. Some babies simply don’t enjoy purées, and that’s perfectly okay. Embrace your baby’s preferences and find alternative ways to introduce solids that work for them. Reading our free ebook "Starting Your Baby on Solids" can provide additional insights and tips.
Frozen Ice Blocks for Fun and Nutrition
Frozen ice blocks made from smoothies or fruit and vegetable purées can be a hit. These can soothe teething gums and provide a fun way to experience new flavours. Plus, they’re great for hot days!
Navigating mealtime challenges can be tough, but with these tips, you’re well-equipped to make starting solids a positive and joyful experience for your baby. Remember to be patient and flexible, celebrating each small step your baby takes toward exploring new foods. Here’s to joyful mealtimes and happy, confident eaters!
Understanding the Science Behind It
Babies' feeding skills develop through practice and exposure. This process is supported by neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. When babies explore different textures and flavours, their brains adapt and learn, enhancing their motor skills needed for eating. Research shows that varied food experiences can boost a baby's acceptance of new foods and support overall development. So, encouraging your baby to engage in diverse food exploration is not only fun but also beneficial for their growth.
Neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in motor learning, including the development of feeding skills. When babies try different textures and types of food, they engage their sensory and motor pathways, helping to refine their eating abilities. This is why it’s beneficial to introduce a variety of foods and feeding methods. It stimulates their brains to adapt and learn, making them more open to accepting new foods over time.
By allowing your baby to explore food through touch, taste, and even play, you’re supporting their brain development and motor skills. Each new food experience creates new neural pathways, helping your baby become a confident and capable eater. So, when you offer a range of textures and flavours, you’re not just feeding your baby; you’re nurturing their growing brain.
Remember, every baby is unique and will progress at their own pace. Celebrate the small victories and be patient with the process. Your encouragement and understanding will help your baby develop a positive relationship with food that can last a lifetime. Here’s to turning mealtime challenges into opportunities for growth and joy!