Terri Ramsey Beavers 
Having a baby is absolutely a joyous moment for the entire family. However, for most mothers, this can be a stressful time when it comes to baby feeding options. Feeding your baby is not as easy as many people presume. Upon reaching a certain age, your baby won’t survive on milk alone, and you’ll have to introduce the best baby food for your baby to thrive.
Below are simple baby feeding tips:
- Introduction of solid foods
Although there are numerous breastfeeding benefits, at the age of six months, your baby can’t depend on breast milk alone. Hence the need to introduce solid food. However, age is just one determinant for readiness; things like motor skills and the development stage should also determine when the baby is ready for solid food.
- Give the right food
Most babies can tolerate different meals like rice cereal, fruits, vegetables, and beef. So, give any of these foods and water or formula from a sippy cup from the age of six months.
Some of the best foods for your baby are;
Organic baby foods- Babies usually have a sensitive digestive system, and finding the right food for a baby isn’t easy. Organic baby food is an excellent way of feeding your baby while guarding them against harmful substances. Organic foods are high in quality, easy to store, and is easy to control what you feed your baby.
Iron-rich foods– Iron is essential for overall growth and development, and iron-rich foods are great baby feeding options. Examples of foods rich in iron are; meat, fish, poultry, egg yolk, spinach, bean, and iron-fortified cereals.
- Give the right food quantities
The initial weeks of weaning are usually about familiarizing the baby with spoon-feeding rather than satisfying the nutritional requirements. During this time, your baby is learning to negotiate food and won’t eat much. By the time your kid reaches the age of one year, they will be eating three meals a day, coupled with a mid-morning and an afternoon drink.
Remember, good feeding habits start in childhood. So only give sugary things like chocolates and sweets as treats. How do you know when your baby has had enough? Look for tell-tale signs like spitting out food or pursing the lips tight when you try to feed him.
- Allow the baby to get messy
Most toddlers love feeding themselves, and you don’t expect your baby to be neat at this stage. Feed your baby slowly and don’t let the baby play with the food. But, supervise and don’t leave the bay alone while eating, since this may result in choking. If possible, feed the baby when other family members are having their meals. This way, your child will enjoy and will feel part of the family.
- Be creative and don’t force
Sometimes, making your baby eat can be frustrating, but if the baby doesn’t seem to enjoy the food, leave it, and try other feeding methods for babies later on. Also, remember your bay may get bored by seeing the same color or shape of food, so try presenting it differently.
For instance, cut fruits in different shapes and sizes, and you’ll be surprised by how much your baby may want to eat. For the cutlery, use colorful bowls, cups, plates, and spoons. You can as well use a tray with compartments. This way, your baby will see each food item separately, making mealtime more fun.
Take away
Although there are various baby feeding options, toddlers are unpredictable eaters, and sometimes your baby may not feel like eating. Things like teething, growth spurts and toilet training have a role to play in a toddler’s unpredictable behavior. However, feeding your baby with a healthy diet will promote healthy eating habits.