With infinite advice on how to raise a baby, most mothers become overwhelmed with information. As Lil Tots, we are designed to provide ready-made food delivery for babies; our understanding of nutrition and its science is crucial in developing recipes. When it comes to baby food and how to go about introducing babies to natural ingredients and flavours, these are three myths debunked by expert sources.
Myth 1
Baby-led weaning is better than traditional weaning:
One of the controversial topics about baby food is the debate between baby-led weaning and traditional weaning. While both have advantages or disadvantages, one isn’t inherently better than the other. Baby-led weaning provides babies with the autonomy to explore their food and decide—the portions and flavours for themselves right at the introductory stage which is 6 months. Some of the claims for the negative side is that baby-led weaning is more likely to cause the baby to choke than spoon-feeding, can be messier, and might not offer enough nutrition. To date, there is no substantiating evidence that prove such claims. At Lil’ Tots, we offer you and your child various dishes that apply a mix of both approaches to weaning. Introduction to solid food is a long exploratory journey so let it be an enjoyable experience with a balanced instead of a ‘this or that’ approach.
Myth 2
Starting with purees is better:
At about 6 months, babies can munch on food. While starting with softer food is recommended, there’s no need to stick to one texture. Exploring different textures allows babies to learn actual textures and flavours. More often than not, pureed textures release natural sweetness, making children interested in only one type of food. Allowing babies to explore textures and flavours at this age will set them up to enjoy their veggies for life. Our top tip is to avoid hard food or food that has seeds and can become choking hazards. Stick to easy to eat portions, and cooked veggies with small chunks still give babies access to a different type of food texture. This is how Lil Tots’ baby meal delivery service benefits. We deliver fresh food to help you explore with your child various food textures.
Myth 3
Babies should eat bland food:
This myth entails a complicated line of thinking. A baby’s kidneys are still developing, and seasonings high in sodium can tax the baby’s system. So it is recommended to start with plainer flavour profiles and get your baby to build up to any spices or seasonings. Expose your child to flavours without adding sodium or chilly; milder flavours like cinnamon or nutmeg allow them to broaden their food choices. Take it one step at a time; some babies can react to spices and seasonings much like food ingredients. It is essential to expand the flavours over weeks or even months. But, one might argue, isn’t it better to avoid seasonings altogether? Our advice is to understand the balance between introducing flavours to babies versus not at all. Babies that do not take to seasonings early on struggle to adapt to newer tastes or become picky-eaters later in life.
All in all, providing babies with healthy food should be the priority for all families. To take the guesswork out of meals, try out the balanced meal plan by Lil Tots’. This plan delivers fresh baby food designed by paediatricians and nutritionists with age-appropriate chunks and finger food. In addition, our homemade food delivery service will ensure that you can feed your baby in no time with quality nutrition.
Sources
https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/introducing-solids/baby-led-weaning-pros-and-cons
https://news.ncsu.edu/2014/05/baby-food/
http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/baby-food/feeding-baby-first-food-myths