We still haven't decided how we are going to approach introducing solids into MiniMe's diet. We've read the Baby Led Weaning Book and the current advice on the NHS Start4LIfe website, which suggests purees and mashed foods are the best way to start. I suppose the most important thing we've gleaned from it all is that we will wait until MiniMe is ready to start, even if that means waiting another few weeks, or a month. I'm not frightened by the study I talked about in my last post that warned about how introducing solid foods too late would raise MiniMe's chance of getting diabetes, and so we will wait.
In the meantime, though, we've been thinking about weaning gear. All that stuff that clutters up the cupboards and comes flying out when doors are opened clattering to the floor...the plastic stuff. I know strictly speaking for Baby Led Weaning we wouldn't need any gear, just pull MiniMe right up to the table and let her go for it. I'm just not that relaxed. We purposely bought a highchair with a tray so that MiniMe could eat off of that if she goes straight onto finger foods, but if we choose to introduce purees or mashed foods first then she will need something else.
Although I love the idea of MiniMe using plates and bowls and spoons that aren't plastic we (I) really need to be realistic. She won't be able to lift up a GLASS sippy cup let alone DRINK from it for months, and I totally don't fancy the idea of my china dishes being knocked onto the floor...so, really, it has to be plastic.
I didn't fancy spending much money on weaning gear right now, since we don't know what we are going to be doing and when we are going to be starting, so we picked up some plates, bowls and cutlery from IKEA when we were there before Christmas buying MiniMe's highchair.
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| Ikea bowls |
The IKEA stuff is great and cheap! 6 bowls and plates and 6 sets of cutlery for £3...they make cups too but I'm not anticipating using a cup for a while. The bowls and plates are a nice size, the colours are great, and they dishwasher safe (not that we have one of those) the cutlery looks a bit chunky to me for little hands, but I'm sure that the spoons will be just fine. I don't imagine MiniMe will be skilfully cutting up her dinner with a knife and fork just yet.
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| Vital Travel Weaning Set |
I was given an ORANGE version of this travel weaning set by a mum2be I know here in Edinburgh. I think it will soon become part of our essential going out kit. I know that I could pack up a puree or some finger foods for MiniMe for when we are on the go in any old tupperware container, but part of me likes the idea of her having her own "lunchbox". I assume that she will quickly recognise it as her own, and (hopefully) get excited about the prospect of whatever is inside.
We are definitely equipped with enough bowls, plates and spoons to see us through purees and mashed foods if we choose to go that route and if we don't I still imagine we will use them for Baby Led Weaning.
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| Born Free Training Cup |
Our Health Visitor gave us a FREE FLOW training cup when she came to see us at 6 weeks. No, it wasn't that fab Born Free cup, it is a bog standard plastic cup with a sippy lid. The catch is that there is no leak-proof/spill-proof valve in the lid so it shouldn't affect the way that MiniMe nurses. I don't know if the cup I was given is BPA free so I have been looking into other options and these Born Free training cups seem like a great one. I know MiniMe isn't going to be drinking loads of water in the first instance, but I do think it is important for her cup to be BPA-free.
The next thing to decide on is some massive bib to catch all the mess!
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