How To Make Feeding Less Scary

When your baby is ready to start trying solid foods, figuring out what foods to introduce first and what method you want to use can be stressful! For many parents, every new milestone, especially feeding, can bring on a little anxiety. 

Despite venturing into the unknown, like with many of your little one’s firsts, this new food milestone should be an exciting and fun one for both you and your baby. 

But how exactly can you make starting solids a little less scary? 

First of all, take a deep breath and a little pressure off yourself – have fun with this new adventure. You got this! 

Secondly, there are ways to prepare for this step into the unknown. Keep these tips in mind when transitioning your baby to eating solid foods: 

 1. Research feeding methods, and choose one that works best for you and your family. Some parents choose to serve purees to their baby from the start while others go with a method called baby -led weaning where you skip purees completely and let baby lead the way with larger portions of food. Either method can work great – one way is not better than the other. Always make decisions for yourself and your children that you feel the most comfortable with.

2. Many parents worry about choking when first starting solids, which is a completely normal and valid fear. It is not unusual for some parents to feel stressed and overwhelmed when offering their child foods for the first time. As a pediatrician, I can’t stress this point enough – always be prepared and trained for emergencies. If you have the time and resources, I highly recommend taking a CPR class before your baby starts solids. You will gain an invaluable peace of mind knowing you are able and prepared to attend to your child during a choking situation. 

3. Always offer age-appropriate foods! As a general rule, pieces of food should be no larger than your fingertip. Anything bigger than this is hard for young children to eat safely. Soft foods are a great place to start! As a soft food that also contains many of the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow, yogurt is a great first food to serve your baby. The soft and smooth texture of yogurt along with the great taste makes it easy to swallow and a safe choice as a first food! 

The overall best advice I give to parents navigating new foods is to not stress and to try to enjoy the process. Feeding times can be an exciting bonding activity for both you and your baby if you prepare, relax, and have fun! 

Author: Dr. Katie Freidman

Note that the views and opinions expressed in this post are solely that of  the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Stonyfield. The content provided and in any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If you have any questions about health or nutrition, we always think it’s best to consult with your doctor or healthcare practitioner.