Letting your baby feed him/herself can be a worry for parents so here’s what you need to know:
- Make sure your baby is ready! – Your baby should be the recommended 6+ months old and be able to sit up in their high chair.
- Be careful! – Avoid serving any foods that are choking hazards, like nuts, whole grapes, chunks of apples, cherries etc. Do the ‘Does it break up if I gently squeeze it in my hand?’ test before giving it to your baby.
- Be patient! – Remember that your baby gets most of their nutrition from the milk they are drinking and food should complement the milk and not the other way around.
- Start slow – Introduce foods at the beginning like spears of banana or sweet potato. Enjoy watching them explore their new food and having that first magical taste.
- Offer a variety of yummy food – Expose your baby to a wide range of food and give him every opportunity to develop an adventurous palate.
- Be prepared for a little bit of mess – In saying that, food mess from a little baby is easy to clean up and if your baby has a good plastic bib on then the mess on him/her shouldn’t be that bad.
- Eat as a family – You should already eat as a family anyway, but when it comes to letting your baby feed themself it’s even better.
- Have fun! – Watching your baby feed this way is the best and probably the funniest thing you will ever do!