Thread by @THARIHealth

I want to talk about the perils of “new age parenting”. Some of the new “trends” are detrimental to children’s development.

One that’s very common is blending food for babies beyond 8-9months.

This is wrong &delays child’s development.

#Parenting #BabyFeeding #BustingMyths

You find kids at >12mnths still eating finely blended food. Introduction of solids is often between 4-6mo. Starting w finely blended foods.

Kids need to start eating more texturized foods frm 7-9mo. After this, it can be difficult as they have developed habit of not chewing.

This over blending can be due to many reasons.
I see the “parenting by fear” trend that is telling parents kids will choke on food.
Or maybe it’s just trendy to say I bought blender “xyz”;
Or that “you know my baby is so fussy/ is a lazy chewer”

Trends where parents don’t PARENT

And simply go with whatever flow.

Let’s go back to basics. We didn’t grow up on blended food and we didn’t choke. So that fear of babies choking is unfounded. If feeding is monitored, child is sitting up, & are given age appropriate small pieces of soft foods they won’t choke.

A child is ready to eat:
• when their neck is strong & can hold their head up nicely. - 4mo

•thicker soft foods when they can sit up & eat. 6-7mo

Babies use their gums & tongue to chew if they don’t have teeth yet.

#BabyFeeding #Parenting #BustingMyths

Babies need to be encouraged to play w different texture foods. Let them feel food w their fingers, let them put it in their mouths. This also teaches them to feed themselves later.

There’ll be a mess. That’s ok. Kids are messy from day 1!
#BabyFeeding #Parenting #BustingMyths

Not allowing babies to start chewing early delays the oral muscles development. - lips, tongue, cheeks & jaw. These are important for speech development.

Delaying introduction of different foods (not in a blended mush) also contributes to kids being “fussy eaters” #BabyFeeding

Because when they finally meet “broccoli” they don’t recognize that taste when it’s not blended with yogurt etc, & the texture may feel strange for them.

Parents need to not take the route of least resistance. Be patient, & persist. Try again another time w a different recipe...

It’s not always a good thing for the baby/ kid to just get their way. Kids can be very manipulative from a young age & will push limits, especially there’s no rules/ boundaries.
Don’t be fooled by their cute lotte faces / crying. They need your guidance as a parent. #BabyFeeding

Chewing is good for babies & their speech development . They are ready from about 9mo to tackle thicker & more course foods. There should be no fine blended/ puréed foods beyond 10mo.
Cut food up into chunks or use a fork to mash it up if still necessary. #BabyFeeding #Parenting

There’s a lot of credible info available online. Don’t be selective in what you decide to use coz it suits your lifestyle - “it’s easier to:- just blend & freeze than to cook frequently; -just let baby drink their food than monitor them eating” etc.

health.govt.nz/your-health/he…

If in doubt, Speak to your local primary health care professional, or seek advice of a dietician early on.

It’s either that, or you may ended up needing a speech therapist later while also dealing with eating disorders & malnutrition. #Parenting #BabyFeeding #ThariTeaches 👩🏽‍⚕️

Information above is for apparently healthy kids who have no physical impairments interfering with normal milestones. Please see your dr or baby’s Paediatrician if there’s a real concern about baby’s development.

#BabyFeeding #Nutrition #Parenting #ThariTeaches #BustingMyths 👩🏽‍⚕️

@mhlangatpn please feel free to add any information related to safe introduction of solids for parents who fear choking..

Thanking you in advance ❣️😊