Welcome back! This week's #rachealanswers is a question from a mama about mixed feeding methods.
QUESTION:
My baby will start eating in a month time. Even now, she has shown interest in eating. Hence the chewing of her pillows, blankets, her hands and other people's hands. May I know, what do you think of puree (spoon feed) and BLW? Is it ok to do both at the same time?
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ANSWER:
Hi mama, what an awesome milestone! Starting my little one on solids was really one of my favorite parts of motherhood and she is still such a foodie till this day!
The short answer to your question from a professional standpoint is no. With baby-led weaning (BLW), you are teaching your little one to chew before swallowing and with puree, you’re teaching your little one to just swallow. While people still do it, it isn’t recommended to mix both methods as if your little one is used to just swallowing without chewing, she might just swallow a chunk of food whole and choke (but if your child is BLW they still get an opportunity for puree like textures like applesauce, mashed potatoes, etc. It's just the idea that they eat whatever you would normally eat in whatever form you would normally eat minus the salt and that it's "texture" safe)
I would pick one method and stick with it. With BLW you go from large pieces to small and for traditional weaning (purees) you go from small to big. I love BLW because it teaches your little one a huge appreciation for food, to listen to her body, to really learn about textures and what food looks like, to independently feed herself and build important fine and gross motor skills.
Having said that, there really is no right or wrong. A fed baby is best. Examine your lifestyle and choose what works best for your family and your child as no baby is the same. Just enjoy the process and the magic that is your teeny tiny discovering all the little things for the first time, the tartness of a cherry, the tang of a lemon, the sweetness of a mango, the crunch of a puff, the cold cold cold of a sorbet!
Motherhood is hard enough by itself, don't let comparison or the voices in your head steal your joy!
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Racheal Kwacz is a Child and Family Development Specialist, mama tribe advocate and writer. As creator of the ‘RACHEAL Method’, she combines her 20+ years experience working with children in the USA and in Asia with the foundations of ‘Respectful Parenting’, leading parents and teachers around the world in raising kind, confident, compassionate, resilient little ones. To learn more, connect with her on her website or follow her on social media @rachealkwacz!
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