mixing a food I know she loves with a completely new food?
• As she rejected broccoli purée last week, should I try it a few more times? Remember that it can take up to ten goes before any given food is finally deemed acceptable!
• Shall I sit down to eat with her and let her see me eat what I’m offering her, to build up trust?
Older children
• Should I let her serve herself?
• Shall I give her the opportunity to do some cooking?
• Should I get her input for the week’s meal planning?
• Shall I involve her in choosing different foods at the supermarket?
Bribery
In the same way that one plonks the kids in front of the TV for entertainment in order to get some chores done, it’s all too easy to offer something sweet as a bribe for eating a healthy main course. It’s really tempting, especially if it works and gets them to eat all their veggies, and indeed needs must sometimes. But if you introduce your little one to the concept that sweet things are a reward, she might start getting the wrong attitude towards food. I regularly reward myself with junk food, for example. I think, Ooh, I’ve worked really hard today – I deserve a nice piece of cake! And I’m sure that attitude must stem from when I was a child, so I’m quite wary about doing the same with my kids. Somehow, I’ve managed to convince them that any kind of fruit or raw veg are a real treat when they’re chopped up. Mango, for example, chopped-up cucumber or a peeled, sliced apple are particular favourites. They really do like those things, and not just because we don’t have some fruit, such as mangoes, all the time. So, when a little bowl is offered, I can say truthfully that they find it an exciting prospect!
This is not to say my children are devoid of treats! (Indeed, Chapter 7 is all about a bit of indulgence for a special occasion.) A hot summer’s day or trip to the beach needs ice cream. A cinema visit isn’t the same without a tub of popcorn, and Christmas and birthdays go hand in hand with a few sweets and chocolates. But everything in moderation. If children aren’t completely deprived of this sort of thing, they won’t crave it and then binge once they’re in the driving seat. A little bit of what you fancy does you good!
DON’T FORGET TO FEED YOURSELF HEALTHILY TOO!
Throughout the messy, time-consuming and often tiring process of weaning your baby, it can be easy to forget to look after yourself. It’s crucial to remember that if you’re not eating nutritionally balanced meals yourself, then you won’t be getting all the energy you need.
The recipes in this book are all nutritionally balanced and, from Chapter 3 onwards, can be made for the whole family. If you’re able (as much as possible) to enjoy meals together, then you can be certain that every member of your family (including yourself!) is getting what they need. Snacking is a slightly different matter – in times of need, when my little ones were causing havoc and it was only mid-morning – I’d sometimes be tempted by whatever cake or leftover crisps were lying around. Just try to remember that your children learn by example, so if they see you snaffling doughnuts on the sly, they might be less inclined to wolf down those veggie sticks you’re offering them. You’ll feel much better and more energy-filled for not turning to the high-sugar or high-salt options in times of need (although understandably it will happen now and again!)
WHEN TO START AND HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR BABY IS READY
Now before we embark on this journey together, the one thing I must stress is that there is no ‘correct’ time for you to begin the weaning process. Every baby is different, after all! And there is no rush to start your baby on solids. Equally, you should be mindful of not leaving it too late, as learning to eat solids is an important factor in your baby’s motor and speech development. Plus, you might end up with a very fussy baby on your hands if you delay weaning for too long!
The most-up-to-date NHS advice recommends exclusive breast- or formula feeding up to six months, with no solids being introduced at all before that time. There are two important factors to bear in mind here. Firstly, breast milk and formula contain all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy development during the first six months of life (see here). And, secondly, before four months your baby’s intestines and kidneys simply aren’t mature enough to filter out potentially harmful substances and absorb the good bits. It’s generally best to wait until six months, otherwise weaning can be harmful, leaving him at risk from infection and developing allergies. If you have a strong family history of food allergy, it’s even more important you don’t begin the weaning process too early, as your child may be more at risk than most.
Having said that, babies do develop at different rates and so if you believe your baby is showing all the signs of being ready (see advice here) then do visit your GP and get their advice. In rare cases, weaning from as early as four months can be beneficial. My GP recommended I start introducing solids to Chester from about four months, because of his severe reflux. I started him on a little baby rice for breakfast and I think the fact that it was more solid, and therefore heavier than milk, definitely helped him to keep it down. He had been in so much pain after a feed as the milk came back up, bringing the acid burn with it, I think he almost started to dread feeding, even though he was so desperately hungry. I found that splitting (and eventually replacing) some milk feeds with a portion of baby rice definitely helped him through those painful few weeks. On the flip side, pre-term babies can be advised to wait between five and eight months after their birth date before starting weaning, as their internal development may be slower and therefore more immature at 4–6 months than for a baby born at full term.
In my experience – and excuse the pun – listen to your gut! You’ll know if your baby is ready. All babies are different and develop at varying rates, so you are the best person to assess whether your child is ready to move on to solids. And if you feel even the slightest bit uneasy about your decision, particularly if your baby is younger than six months, then ask your GP or the health visitor for their thoughts on your individual situation. Together you’ll get it right.
SIGNS THAT YOUR BABY MIGHT BE READY
Once your baby is six months old, there will be signs that he is ready to start weaning. I remember Harry and Belle just staring at me intently when we were all sitting down together at the table, watching my fork move from plate to mouth. They were completely transfixed by the action of eating – all but drooling. There are a few key signs that your baby might be ready to take to solids. They should be able to do all of these things to some capacity before you embark on weaning. Remember, though, that NHS guidelines state that milk alone is enough to sustain a baby up to six months old, so these might just indicate that he’s in need of a bit more sustenance to get him through a growth spurt!
Tongue-thrust reflex
All babies are born with the tongue-thrust reflex, which prevents them from choking when they are really young. If you put something they aren’t used to on their tongue, you’ll see them
