everything you need for starting your baby on solids
so your baby is about ready to start eating food. what now?
after months of breastfeeding and pumping, you’ve gotten your routine and all the necessary equipment down pat: the pump, the breastfeeding pillow, the right nipple level on your bottle, the perfect timing on the bottle warmer, and the exact posture your baby prefers to be in for their feeds.
but as always seems to be the case with parenting, once you’ve feel like you have everything figured out, your baby is ready something new!
don’t worry mama, we’re here to help you with everything you need to get your baby started eating. from seats, to spoons, to the food itself, we’ve found some of the greatest options around to suit every budget and every baby.
here is a complete list of what you need to get your little one started eating their first foods:
1. a place for baby to sit.
while babies can drink milk fully reclined, the proper swallowing and digestion of food requires the baby to be upright and sitting with minimal assistance.
- free option: the lap of an adult. It is almost impossible (in our experience) to feed baby on your own lap, so this would require two adults at each feeding: one to hold baby and one to give her foor.
- a classic high chair for those with limited space, budget-shoppers, the high-design minded, and folks in between.
- a seat that attaches to the table or countertop and can go out with you.
- a booster that can attach to an existing dining chair and age with your child.
2. a bib to protect baby’s clothes
you’ll find out quickly if your baby is an eater who gets it all in their mouth (rare) or if they’re the type who splatter food everywhere (more common:). chances are that regardless of your baby’s eating style, you’ll want something to protect their clothing so you’re not needing to change them after every meal.
- free option: create bandana like bibs by cutting triangles of absorbent fabric from a towel or flannel shirt that you no longer need
- there is the classic type of bib
- and organic bibs
- there are bibs have pouches at the bottom to contain food that doesn’t make it into baby’s mouth
- and even baby smocks to cover baby’s entire upper half (except their hair!)
3. a spoon for baby to eat from.
this one is pretty self explanatory. the food has to get from the baby jar or bowl into baby’s mouth somehow!
- free option: let baby use your smallest spoon at home (caution: the dimensions and depth of spoons meant for adult mouths can be off for babies, even if the size is correct)
- there are spoons that babies can hold if your little one prefers to DIY
- spoons the adult feeder holds for babies who don’t yet have the fine motor skills needed to feed themselves
- spoons that can double as teethers
- super innovative spoons
- spoons that dispense their own food for eating on the go
- and even spoons that look like toys
4. last but not least, you need food itself!
as a breastfeeding mama, you've fed your baby liquid gold since birth. why stop feeding them the best now?
- look for foods with natural, organic ingredients
- introduce baby to a range of tastes and flavors
- shop brands you know and trust
this post is sponsored by our Stonyfield YoBaby Yogurt. YoBaby is a pumpspotting favorite as well the #1 pediatrician recommended yogurt for babies 6 months to 2 years among refrigerated yogurts.