When my little one turned 6 months old, it was with much excitement as I knew that we were about to embark on our journey to solid food. As a foodie mama, I was very eager to introduce solids to her milk-only diet and to get started on this new baby milestone.
How do we introduce solids?
Typically, most families choose to introduce purées or porridge to their child at 6 months old. Traditional weaning involves spoon-feeding, where an adult feeds the child his meal.
These days, more parents are embracing a method known as Baby-Led Weaning. This manner allows the child to be in control of what he eats and how much he is eating. It puts him in charge of his meals while he works on his hand-eye coordination, and he learns to self-feed and eat independently. This is great news for parents, right? It is in a way… if you don’t mind that this might actually mean more mess on the child and the surroundings!
Before welcoming your child to his wonderful gastronomic adventure, do look out for signs that indicate your baby is developmentally ready for solids, which include:
- Baby can sit up well without support.
- Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
- Baby is ready and willing to chew.
- Baby is developing a “pincer grasp”—he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
- Baby is eager to participate at mealtimes and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.
Whichever method you choose, always ensure that adult supervision is in place when your child is eating.
Mealtime mess is any parent’s headache. How can we tackle that to keep meals a positive affair for everyone?
Handy must-have during mealtimes
As a mum, I love creating new dishes for my daughter as she enjoys eating as much as I do. On weekends, we practice Baby-Led Weaning and have been doing so since she turned 7 months old. Fortunately, she is a pretty neat eater and most of the food ends up in her stomach instead of the floor. But when it comes to slurping soup, food with gravy, or milk with cereal, it was akin to getting her clothes dipped in them! What a nightmare it is when the stains are difficult to remove!
One key essential to help parents manage during mealtimes? A waterproof bib, definitely!
How do I look with this pretty bib, mummy?
Kushies lightweight taffeta waterproof bib with sleeves are beautifully adorned with bright prints, making mealtimes more fun. It has a built-in pocket to catch food that fall and long sleeves for overall protection. The bib is easy to put on and is light enough so there is hardly any extra weight on the child’s body. Best of all, it rinses easily and wipes clean with a damp cloth to keep the bib fresh. Parents would be happy to know that materials are carefully chosen when Kushies bibs are manufactured in Canada—they are free of the bad guys like lead, phthalate, PVC, and BPA.
Yummy in my tummy with my clothes are well-protected and spotlessly clean!
The bibs are so slim and compact that, even if the family is heading out, they slip into any bag easily. If it gets dirty, simply use a wet wipe to clean off and the bib is as good as new.
Big smiles and a happy baby
With lesser cleaning up to do, mealtimes can be more enjoyable, allowing the family to spend quality time together. These bibs come in two sizes (Small / Medium) to fit your little one—from 6 months old (when they start eating solids) to two years of age.
Slip on these longsleeved bibs easily with a velcro catch to keep it in place.
An extra tip: If you’re planning to engage your child in sensory activities, put Kushies bibs to good use. Water colours may be much fun yet they are every parent’s nightmare when it comes to cleaning up the mess. Let Kushies bibs protect your child’s clothes and skin from paint. We all know trying to clean out paint from skin is no joke!
The thoughtful folks at Mighty Tots
Mighty Tots embraces the child’s needs and specially curates products that are dedicated to making parents’ lives easier. Besides Kushies waterproof bibs, BabyLegs BabyCool Warmers and BabyLegs ByeByeBugs Warmers are favourites with mums as these are equipped with features such as UV protection and Insect Shield Technology, respectively, to protect their delicate skins. Visit their e-store to find out more: https://www.mightytotsshop.com/
Do you use a bib for your child during mealtimes too? What are the qualities you look out for in a bib? Tell us!