If you haven’t already read part 1 – click here.
So if you’ve been following me you’ll see that I love food and love feeding Harper. Getting her into good habits with food is so important. Food is fuel and nourishing her body with all the nutrients she needs from day 1 and continuing that through so she continues to have a great understanding of food and enjoyment of good food is something I’m passionate about.
Quick recap from part 1:
I started weaning at 4 months (terribly – have a read). At 5 months we got into our groove. At this stage we did sleep training and got into a great routine.
From 5 months to 9 months Harpers routine was like this (at 8 months we started introducing snacks as well in-between meals). Obviously worked around her naps – 3 naps until 6.5 months then dropped to 2 naps. She would sleep around 1.5-3 hours in the morning, then an hour in the afternoon. (We based this off awake times that we learnt from doing sleep training with Christine from Happy Sleepers)
7am – wake and bottle 150-200ml
8:30 – breakfast
Nap
11:00 – bottle 150ml
12:30 – lunch
3:00 – bottle 150ml
Nap
5:30 – dinner
7:00 – bottle 150ml and bed
I suppose I wanted part 2 to talk about the change in bottles, meals etc, the things I’ve learnt along the way – what’s worked – what hasn’t, and hope I can help you guys on your weaning journey. It’s something we love – and I know there can be a lot of fear, angst, trepidation, frustration, and tears so I hope some of these tips can help any or all of that.
So at 9 months I decided to drop to 3 bottles. Every baby will be different but we decided to drop the first bottle of the morning. I did this because I felt it was the one she relied on so much – and I figured would end up being the hardest if I didn’t nip it in the bud. As soon as she woke up she was hungry so we dropped it and went straight downstairs to give her breaky ASAP. I found she ate much more than she would when we were giving it after her bottle which was great. She would then have her first bottle about 30 minutes before her first nap and drink it all – so win win.
So at 9 months – 11 months her routine looked like this.
7am – wake and breaky
9:30 – bottle 150ml
10am – nap
12:30 – lunch
2:30 – bottle 150ml
3pm – nap
5:30 – dinner
7:00 – bottle 150ml and bed
Around 9 months I also wasn’t so fussy with making sure pieces of food were cut up really small and she would really eat anything we ate. We also would give her a snack in-between each meal. These would consist of:
- Banana pancakes
- Cheese
- Bananas/kiwis/Stone fruit
- Boiled eggs
- Flapjacks
- Berries
- Frittata
- Sweet potato fries
At 9 months we also went to Fiji and at 11 months to the USA. She would eat porridge or eggs for breaky, and for lunches and dinners we would order pasta, steamed fish and veges, sausages, mash. We tried to restrict as much salty food as possible and would ask the chef at each place – if we were ordering off the adult menus to not add salt – and most were very accommodating.
At 11 months we decided to cut down to 2 bottles. To prepare her for turning one. So we cut out her 3pm bottle – and made sure she had a snack at that time.
Her routine since 11 months until now (1 year and 2 weeks old) and will continue until we drop to 1 nap is:
7am – wake and breaky (she can now chill for half an hour with us without getting cranky before breaky)
9:30 – bottle 150ml (formula until 11.5 months then we moved to cows milk – A2)
10:30am – nap
11:30 – snack (if she slept until 12 – I didn’t give her a snack…I always wake her if she’s not awake by 12 – otherwise we won’t get a 2nd nap in)
12:30 – lunch
2:30 – snack
3pm – nap
4pm – snack
5:30 – dinner
7:00 – bottle 150ml and bed (formula until 12 months then cows milk – A2)
We moved from formula to cows milk for her morning bottle at 11.5 months – just so it made the transition at 12 months smoother. She took to it straight away. If I fuss – she fusses so I just left her to it and she was fine.
The only sweet thing Harper has ever had was to try her birthday cake and she spat it straight out. There is no need for her to eat anything sweet – so I won’t be giving her it just because. There is plenty of time for her to eat crap down the track – and we will teach her that those things are for treats only. Babies learn their habits now – so setting those in place is so important. Even adding it to things is unnecessary. For example – I have honey on my oats – but she doesn’t need it – she loves them without it – and it’s just sugar so I don’t add it to hers.
Over the course of weaning Harper there are a lot of things I’ve learnt along the way – I’ve popped most of them below:
- Teething or being unwell will affect their appetite. Don’t worry – this is normal. They won’t starve, and will eat when they’re hungry. The worst thing you can do is force them to eat.
- If you fuss and get frustrated and anxious about trying to get food into your baby – they will do the opposite and get upset. Imagine if someone was trying to shove food down your throat – you too would get upset. Relax – take your time, and let them do it at their own pace. It should be a calm time, and this will encourage them to enjoy it.
- If you eat it – they’ll want to eat it. Show them how to do it – they will copy you. (Sometimes you might have to pretend or yes – eat the food). This also goes for bad food – if they see you eat it – they’ll want it – set a good example.
- Praise, praise praise – if they eat something praise them. Get excited for them if they eat – it’ll make them happy and encourage them to do it again.
- Getting messy means they’re getting creative and exploring and enjoying themselves. Don’t let your own OCD get in the way of their development – it’s only mess – it can be cleaned.
- It sometimes can take Harper up to an hour to finish a meal – in this time it gets cold and I think she’s done – but if I heat it up again – she gobbles it all up. I mean – no one wants cold dinner.
- Your fear will restrict their development. Trying new flavours and textures is great for their cognitive development, and their relationship with food. Supervise, and use common sense. If you’re not sure – ask. Baby gums are strong – they can chew without teeth. Introducing allergens as early as possible – allergy.org.au states delayed introduction of allergen foods has been shown to increase the chance of developing a food allergy.
- Just because your baby doesn’t eat it the first time – or even the 2nd or 3rd – doesn’t mean they don’t like it – it just means they’re not used to it. Keep persisting – don’t give up. Research shows it could take up to 15 times before a baby will accept a new food. If you give in because they’re not eating what you’ve given them and give them something you know they’ll like (eg: berries, cheese) you’ll create a fussy eater. If Harper doesn’t eat her dinner because it’s new – or she’s being fussy she doesn’t eat – that’s just it. She’ll soon realise she needs to eat when food is put in front of her.
- and my last two which I included in part 1 – PATIENCE and PERSISTENCE. You are setting your baby up for life – so take your time.
I get a lot of people ask me or see a lot of people say on forums “my baby will only eat fruit….” Or “my baby only likes bread”. I don’t know about their babies – but Harper doesn’t go to the fridge or cupboard and get her own food – Chris and I give it to her. So if your baby will “only eat” a certain food – chances are you’re giving it to them – and probably when they won’t eat want you want them to eat. It goes like this
Mum gives baby healthy meal of protein and veggies
Baby won’t eat it
Mum gets worried and frustrated
Mum gives something she knows baby likes
Baby eats it (of course)
Baby has mum wrapped around little finger
Repeat repeat repeat
It should go like this:
Mum gives baby healthy meal of protein and veggies
Baby won’t eat
Mum encourages eating – shows baby how to hold it, eats some herself, waits patiently – up to an hour.
EITHER
Baby finally eats OR
Baby doesn’t get dinner (it’s ok – they won’t die from hunger)
Baby might be hungry but next time realises mum isn’t giving me the food I want.
It might take a few days – even a week to get a baby out of this routine but it’s worth it – and trust me – when they’re hungry – they’ll eat.
Setting up your baby to love a variety of good nutritious food and have a good relationship with food from the get go is one of the best things you can do for them.
It can also be a great reminder to look at what you and you partner are eating as well. As your baby grows in to a child, teenager and young adult – they will follow your lead – so make sure it’s a good one.
Love and Life
The Figure x Danni
NOTE:
I am a certified nutrition coach however I do not have any qualifications in baby weaning and food so this is general advice only from my personal experience and I advise you to contact your health professional for more detailed advice on baby food and weaning.