Toss the utensil and add some spice? We've got 10 nontraditional tips for parents introducing solids to baby. From rice cereal to purees, there are countless tastes to give your tot. Annabel Karmel recently gave us some inventive ideas for getting babe to eat. With her latest feeding tome, Starting Solids ($11), set to hit bookshelves next week, check out what she had to say!
The bottle drip isn't going to get wee ones wet anymore. Tired of seeing a ring of milk once her nieces and nephews were done bottle-feeding, Jennifer Edison came to the realization that it isn't the baby that needs a bib, it's her bottle. After testing out a few versions, the Scrunch Bottle Bib ($8) was invented. Once fastened around a bottle, the absorbent, 100 percent cotton cloth is designed to catch drips and dribbles before they land on a lil one's neck. Would you try out the Scrunch Bottle Bib at your next feeding?
Among the decisions that a new mama faces is how she will feed her baby. We're not talking breast versus bottle (that debate is ongoing), but whether the baby will be fed on a schedule or on demand.
Nobody likes the sound of a crying baby and knowing that you can calm the screams by simply feeding a lil one may sound like an easy answer. But sleep deprived mamas (and those who live with them) may aim for some semblance of a routine after the first few weeks of living with their tot. Getting on that schedule often requires listening to a hungry baby cry while mom tries to stretch out the time between feedings and gives herself a bit of a break. Others shrug off the lack of sleep and take comfort in the closeness they feel from immediate responsiveness.
Which feeding philosophy did you choose?
When my baby starts to crow for that 4 a.m. milk meal, I practically sleepwalk down the hall occasionally stumbling over a pair of shoes or random toy. That's why my mini oasis in the baby's room helps comfort me through the wee morning feedings. To see what I keep in my artillery, read more
Most new moms are familiar with the formula freebies or unsolicited coupons that come in the mail soon after delivering a baby. Mothers who breastfeed exclusively will never have to choose a formula, but the rest of us do. Some get hooked on the brand that is handed to them at the hospital. Others pick one out of the blue. To see how I chose mine, read more
My son insisted on feeding himself almost from the get go, lil did my husband and I know our tot was on to something. Former midwife and breastfeeding consultant, Gill Rapley, tells parents to encourage their children to eat by themselves. She is quick to point out the positive affects of doing so. A recent Guardian article said:
Not only, she says, will it help develop hand-eye coordination, allow babies to join in with family meals and make feeding battles less likely, but it's also the best way to ensure they grow up enjoying good food, and may protect them against eating disorders in later life.
If you're interested in learning the steps toward independent eating, read more
