Introducing Foods

This is a very controversial topic. There are multiple different ways to introduce food. Here are a couple of the choices : traditional weaning (TW), baby led weaning (BLW) and combo feeding.  Here are descriptions of the different types of feeding.

Traditional Weaning (TW):  This is feeding your child purees and cereals with a spoon.  Your child learns to eat soft foods before chewing. A lot of parents that go this route start feeding their child as young as 4 months old.

Baby Led Wearning (BLW): This method is when you let your child feed themselves right from day one.  Most kids will play with their food for a few weeks and suck on it.  They are teaching themselves how to eat.  Parents who go this route have to wait until their child can sit unassisted for at least a minute before starting.  The child also has reached 6 months old.

Combo feeding:  This is a mix a both.

 We decided to go the combo feeding way.  The main reason of doing this way is because we had to see a dietitian to help us introduce food to Vincent. Combo feeding is a mix between TW and BLW.  Usually your supposed to start introducing solids at 10 months or older.  Pat and I decided to start around 6 months which is closer to BLW.  I can’t say it was full on BLW as Vincent still ate purees and cereals.  The reason the dietitian wanted us to do some purees and cereal is for him to upkeep his calories.  He needed the calories so the antibiotics he is on for his kidneys don’t hurt his stomach.  Vincent did great to eating the same dinners as us.  His first meal was ribs. He absolutely loved it.  Vincent much prefers veggies over fruits.  Since Vincent feeds himself, its very messy most meals.  It is getting better now that he is 10 months old.  The first few months was mostly playing and sucking on the food.  Now he chews, swallows and loves different food. Vincent’s favourite foods are pizza, veggies (pickles, peppers and celery), pancakes and mashed potatoes.