As a parent, ensuring your baby develops healthy eating habits is one of the most important gifts you can give them through their weaning journey. Establishing these habits early sets the stage for a lifetime of good health and a positive relationship with food.
But, it’s not always easy! Your weaning journey might come with plenty of challenges. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this exciting and sometimes challenging journey.
The Importance of Healthy Eating Habits
Developing healthy eating habits during the weaning stage can have significant long-term benefits for your baby. Introducing a wide variety of foods early on can help prevent fussy eating behaviours and promote a well-rounded diet.
Babies who are exposed to a diverse range of flavours and textures during weaning are much more likely to accept different foods as they grow. This can help prevent them from becoming fussy eaters who prefer only a limited selection of foods.
It isn’t always easy to do, but introducing regular meal times and healthy snacks during weaning helps establish eating patterns that can last a lifetime. Consistency in meal routines can make it easier for your child to adapt to family meals and develop good eating habits.
A varied diet during weaning also ensures that your baby gets a broad spectrum of nutrients essential for their growth and development. This helps prevent nutritional deficiencies that can occur if they become overly selective in their food choices.
Expert Tips to Develop Healthy Eating Habits During Weaning
We caught up with Jenna Hope, Registered Nutritionist, Mum and author of How To Stay Healthy to get some expert tips on how you can encourage healthy eating habits.
Here’s what she shared:
Always Make Meal Times a Relaxed Occasion
It can be so easy to worry about what your baby is or isn’t eating however, getting stressed around meal times can contribute to your baby’s challenges with food. Where possible, always try to stay calm, ensure you have plenty of time so you’re not rushing meals and make sure you’re present with your baby (and not distracted by your phone) whilst they’re eating.
Lead by Example
Where possible try to eat alongside your baby so they can see that you’re eating similar foods too. Role modelling is a great way to encourage babies to try new foods.
Don’t Accept the First Rejection
It’s very normal to reject foods they’ve previously enjoyed and vice versa. If your baby rejects one food one meal time, don’t assume they don’t like it. Next time offer it in a different texture and with a food you think they enjoy. Sometimes it can be their mood, tiredness, texture or the food combination which they don’t take to.
Give Them Some Autonomy
Some babies love to feed themselves. Where possible try to encourage them to explore their food with their hands. Ok, it might leave a bit of a mess but this is a great way to encourage them to enjoy food and gives them a much better understanding of their food and their appetite too.
Be Patient: Weaning is a Journey!
Weaning can be a challenging and messy process, requiring plenty of patience and persistence. Here are some tips to navigate your weaning journey and keep persistent.
Celebrate Small Wins
Every small step forward is progress. Celebrate when your baby tries a new food or texture, even if they don’t eat much of it.
Stay Calm and Positive
Babies can sense stress and frustration. Try to stay calm and keep a positive attitude during mealtimes to create a relaxed environment.
Consistency is Key
Consistency helps babies feel secure. As Jenna mentioned, stick to regular meal and snack times, and continue offering healthy options, even if it takes several tries before your baby accepts them.
Helping your baby develop healthy eating habits takes time, patience, and consistency. By starting with a strong foundation and establishing a routine, you’re setting your baby up for a lifetime of healthy eating.
Remember, every baby is different, and it’s important to go at your baby’s pace. Celebrate their milestones, no matter how small, and enjoy this special journey of discovering new foods together!
