Baby yearns for a bite of mommy's food

Baby yearns for a bite of mommy's food

This baby is the cutest; how his eyes follow each of his mother's bites is painful but entertaining. 

A mother chews her food while her baby looks wide eyed at her
A mother chews her food while her baby looks wide eyed at her/Instagram Screenshot/@momeasecare

Introducing your baby to solid food is a chapter of parenthood that can be daunting but also super fun. 

Experimenting with a variety of foods and experiencing food with your baby for the first time is something you won't forget. Whether you have a super transient child or a fussy eater, you are guaranteed to have an exciting experience discovering new flavours and textures through your baby's eyes (and mouth). 

A mother who discovered the entertaining side of things shared a short video of her experience on Instagram. 

Watch the video below, courtesy of Instagram

We feel for this kid, and as you might've noticed, mom was trying not to laugh at his expression. This little man said everything with his big eyes. 

Dietician Alta Kloppers said: "Your baby should be able to sit with little support, control her head and neck, lean forward to take a spoon and use her tongue to swallow – usually at four to six months old. Before that, she would not be physically ready for solids, and after six months, the introduction of solids is critical to provide vital nutrients such as iron." (Clicks)

Taking note of these other pointers is vital when starting your baby on solid food:

  • Start slow and steady. Introduce your baby to texture and flavour with a few spoonfuls to get them accustomed to eating.  
  • Don't stop feeding your baby breastmilk or formula. 
  • Avoid feeding your baby solids from a bottle; transition to a bowl or plate with a spoon.
  • Include baby in family meals; sitting with the rest of the family turns this practice into a bonding experience. 
  • Provide your baby with a variety of foods. "Try slices of avocado, banana or softly cooked sweet potato, carrots and peas. You can also mash or purée them, mix them with a little breast milk or formula, and offer them in a spoon."
  • "We now introduce allergenic foods such as egg, peanuts, fish and wheat from six months, unless there's a proven allergy or risk of developing one, as in the case of a family history of allergy," says Kloppers. Allow three to four days before introducing a new food, and constantly introduce it early in the day so that if there is a reaction, you can pinpoint the cause. Allergic reactions include vomiting, hives and diarrhoea."
  • It can take a few tries before a baby accepts a type of food. Don't be discouraged; keep at it, and don't add flavourings like honey, sugar, or salt. You can use herbs and spices (cinnamon and pepper); these help kids become more adventurous with their eating later in life. 
  • Don't force more food onto your baby when they have signalled that they have had enough. 

Courtesy of Dr Alta Kloppers from the Clicks Website. 

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Image Courtesy of Instagram

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