There are hundreds of books out there! And that makes it all the more difficult to choose which books to read up on when you're becoming a mother. Well, to help you, I will be writing a series of blog posts on what books are the best to read in a particular motherhood topic.
Pregnancy ~ Birth ~ Breastfeeding ~ The Fourth Trimester ~ Weaning ~ Parenting ~ Marriage
Your milk has given your baby the best start in life. But sadly they cannot forever get all their nutrients from you. So when they begin to sit up on their own and they try to take your food they are ready. For each baby that is a different age. My approach to weaning is very baby-led. The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: ‘Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life.’ Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 and a half and 7 years This may surprise many people. It isn't what the general population does. Weaning is meant to be relaxed and a special time where a baby or child discovers food at their own pace while being fully breastfed. I was completely lost when my little one reached 6 months... they were so many people saying so many different things. But I learned that what was best was to turn off those voices and listen to the most important one... my son. So here is the best book that will help you get the confidence you need as you learn to be led by your baby.
#1 Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley PhD and Tracey Murkett
Dr Rapley begins this book by explaining what is BLW (baby-led weaning). She talks about the history of feeding babies and what makes BLW different. There are so many benefits to BLW for you and your baby and she outlines them in detail. She helps you understand how you can learn to follow your baby's lead (since their outward development helps us understand what is going on inside). Dr Rapley discusses safe food and how to offer food to help your child learn. She explains how BLW can help your baby avoid allergies! There are lifetime benefits for your baby when using BLW. This book will answer any question you have and also explain the facts and research behind it all. Dr Rapley helps you know how to introduce the wonder of food by giving you exact information on a balanced diet and buying the best kind of foods out there. This book will give you the confidence you need to listen and follow your child. It is a must-read!
So in my case, I can't remember the exact date I started giving my little one food but it was somewhere between 6 and 7 months. At different parts of the day, I offer him some sort of food to discover. The purpose of food at this stage is not to fill his tummy but to help him understand and experiment with food (also it helps with language development). I offer him whole solid foods (no mush or purees). He gags like all babies but has learned how to deal with it as he experiments different things. There are some days he absolutely refuses food and that's okay. He knows his body best and as a parent, I respect and listen to him. But during this whole journey, he is fully breastfed and I plan to feed him mainly this way for the first 2 years (unless he weans on his own before). This way he can wean in a relaxed environment and be confident with food. At mealtime, he can have what we have (which motivates us to eat healthier). Most of the time there is a big mess to clean but I teach him to help me and it becomes a practical life skill learned for him. Once he has fully weaned I will write a blog post about our journey. But until then we will press on!
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