Weaning: Take 2
Last updated: 24/08/2015 15:02
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MummyBloggers
The first time around, weaning was terrifying. I thought it was hard enough getting to grips with bottles, formula and night feeds, but just as you were gaining confidence with that job, lo and behold, the goalposts are moved. All of a sudden you’re trying to think of child-friendly recipes, suitable snacks, timing solids and bottles and God forbid, the terror of the baby choking on a piece of grape or a rice cake.
I’m wondering if, like me, other parents have a little fear niggling in the back of their minds when they see their little one nibbling on a handful of sweet potato or a chopped up strawberry or two – you really do think every 30 seconds or so that they’re going to choke. I lived in a constant state of fear for the first four months or so of weaning my little girl.
This time around I’m definitely more relaxed, maybe because I’ve done it before or maybe I’m more confident. I also think that I’m lucky to have a baby that LOVES food. He literally eats anything and everything you put in front of him; in fact, I caught him chewing on a hairclip yesterday. Thankfully we avoided a trip to casualty…
I know an ease with food at this age isn’t typical, but the wee man – well, he eats like an athlete in training. I can’t fill him up! His love of food has definitely helped me get over my fear of him choking and it has helped me be more adventurous with introducing new foods in a more relaxed manner than I did the first time.
I thought I’d share a few of his favourite foods here so others can try them out. They’re nothing fancy but he loves them and they’re good for mums who need to make something easy and quick. Most of these can be done in a baby-led weaning style:
- Ham, cheese and peeled grapes cut up.
- Sweet potato, stewed beef (from our own dinner) and carrots with gravy
- Fusili pasta with homemade cheese sauce and garden peas.
- Omelet with ham, tomato, cheese and broccoli
- Quiche with same filling as above.
- Wheaten bread with either hummus, cream cheese or peanut butter (cut the crusts off if you’re worried about choking but this bread is great at melting down to nothing in the mouth)
- Sausages (cut up with the skin off) with broccoli and green beans
- Cod fish cakes with parsley sauce, boiled new potatoes and carrots
- Ikea Meatballs (you can buy them frozen in a bag, they’re great in an emergency) with rice or couscous
- Any sort of fruit, cut up into little pieces; strawberry, mango, pear, banana, blueberries, raspberries etc…
Happy Munching!
Emma Kelly is a Belfast-based mum of two little ones and an English teacher by trade. Life is currently a happy juggle of nappies, toddler fun, constant dieting and the (more than) occasional glass of wine!
Image via Pinterest
