Approaching the age at which it is recommended to start complementary feeding, mothers often study information about what food should be introduced into the baby's diet and in what sequence. However, the important question of what kind of items and things a mother will need to comfortably feed her child with adult food is often overlooked. What do you need to start feeding.
Consider the main items that will be required for the convenience of a mother and a baby who is passing to adult food
1. High chair for feeding. It is a high chair that allows you to feed your baby while sitting on a stool next to him.
There are many models (including various transformers). We recommend choosing a highchair with a padded but washable seat. It is important that the chair has fixation belts, preferably five-point ones, like on a stroller. If the chair has a table, then it is advisable to choose a model with a well-washable surface. It is better to choose a tabletop with a side (so it will be more difficult for the baby to brush the plate and all its contents onto the floor). Also choose models in which it is possible to adjust the tabletop, i.e. push or move her away from the sitting child.
2. Children's dishes. Children's tableware should be more than just beautiful, bright and interesting. It should be safe and comfortable for both the baby and the mother.
We do not recommend purchasing plastic dishes. Although unbreakable, plastic, even of good quality, absorbs odors and is scratched. And bacteria begin to multiply in microcracks. It is better to use earthenware dishes that are easy to clean.
If you nevertheless decide to purchase plastic dishes for a child of the first year of life, regularly replace the old set with a new one.
Children's dishes are also different in size, many mothers are attracted by small cups, plates, spoons and even forks. Indeed, the use of small cookware is very convenient. This allows you to limit the circle of people who will use this dish, because your older children or your beloved husband are unlikely to pick up soup in a bowl the size of a child's fist. In addition, the small size of the dishes allows you to more accurately determine the portion size for the baby.
3. Small saucepan. Since it is recommended for a child of the first year to cook the food immediately before taking it, a small saucepan will be very useful. We do not store boiled vegetables or soup for a child for more than a day, therefore we cook all this in small quantities. Which means in a small saucepan. It is desirable that this saucepan is enameled.
4. Blender. The blender is a great invention of our century that makes life easier for the mother of a small child. You can grind anything with a blender. But it is better to use a deep mug or a special bowl, otherwise it will take a long time to wash the kitchen from splashes.
5. Children's grater. A baby grater is an indispensable item at the beginning of complementary foods. This is a plastic or metal grater that, when rubbed, turns an apple, pear or banana into a real fruit puree, no worse than from a jar. We highly recommend it!
6. A set of bibs. Be prepared for the fact that at the very beginning of the feeding you will need 7 to 10 bibs. Therefore, we advise you to buy a whole set. It is better to purchase fabric bibs with a bottom waterproof layer. So drops of mashed potatoes, porridge or soup will not roll onto clothes, but linger on the fabric surface.
7. Net for feeding. When a child has already learned to chew and bite, by about six months, some fruits and vegetables can be given to him to taste. To prevent the baby from choking on large pieces of food, place it in a special feeding net.
We do not recommend choosing a silicone mesh, despite the fact that it seems to be more hygienic. As practice has shown, under mechanical action, the holes on the silicone mesh stretch and sufficiently large pieces of food enter the child's mouth, which he cannot always swallow.
8. Bathrobe for mom. Choose comfortable clothes that you will wear exactly at the time of feeding the baby. Just so as not to change clothes after every feed and not be angry with the little one who has put a stain on your favorite T-shirt.
We have listed all the basic items you will need during the introduction of complementary foods.
