Weaning: When and How to Start Your Baby’s Feeding Journey
Weaning is a huge milestone in your baby’s life, and knowing when and how to start is key to making the process smoother for both you and your little one.
When to Start Weaning
It’s generally recommended to start weaning when your baby is around 6 months old or as close to that as possible. The earliest you should consider starting is no earlier than 20 weeks (4.5 months), but your baby’s readiness is the most important factor to consider.
Signs Your Baby is Ready for Weaning
Here are some clear indicators that your baby might be ready to begin their weaning journey:
Sitting Up Without Support: Your baby should be able to sit in their high chair without head lag for at least 15 minutes. Head and neck control is crucial for safe feeding.
Hand-to-Mouth Coordination: Babies who can easily place food or toys into their mouths are showing they are physically ready for eating. Even if you plan to start with purees, this skill is essential.
Interest in Food: If your baby watches you eat with curiosity and reaches out for your food, it’s a good sign they’re ready to explore new tastes and textures.
Responsive Spoon Feeding: A Must-Try Approach
While baby-led weaning (BLW) has gained popularity, there’s no need to feel pressured to adopt this method if it doesn’t feel right for your family. A great alternative is responsive spoon-feeding. This involves supporting your baby to bring the spoon to their mouth themselves. Doing so helps build the right connections between their mind and brain, sending crucial signals that help reduce the risk of choking. By allowing them to participate in the process, you're promoting important developmental skills while ensuring their safety.
Weaning Essentials: What You’ll Need
Starting solids can get messy, but with the right tools, it becomes a fun (and less stressful!) adventure.
High Chair: Ensure it's supportive with good posture alignment.
Bibs: Opt for an overall cover bib to protect your little one’s clothes from spills.
Plate and Utensils: Invest in a good baby-safe plate, spoon, and fork set.
Cups: Introducing a straw cup or an open cup early on is a good practice for hydration and oral development.
Fruits and Veggies: Stock up on plenty of fresh produce to introduce new flavors and textures.
Patience with the Mess: Yes, weaning is messy! Accepting this will make the process less stressful. Mess is part of the learning process!
Takeaway
Weaning is an exciting time for both you and your baby. By waiting until your baby shows readiness signs, choosing an approach that suits you (like responsive spoon feeding), and being prepared with the right tools, you’ll set yourself up for a successful journey into the world of solid foods.
Enjoy this new chapter!
When to Introduce Water to Your Baby
A common myth is that you cannot give tap water to babies over 6 months old—this is untrue. While it is important to sterilize feeding equipment, there is no need to give cooled, boiled water. Tap water is safe once your baby reaches 6 months. When introducing water, using a straw cup or open cup is preferable, as these cups help develop lifelong drinking skills.
There are two key aspects to transitioning your baby to a cup:
1. **Drinking Skills**: Learning how to drink from an open cup or a straw cup.
2. **Transitioning From Bottles or Breastfeeds**: Helping your baby shift to solid foods and liquids in a cup—like a "big kid"!
Remember that learning to drink from a cup is a skill. As with all new skills, it will take time and practice. Be patient, stay calm, and support your baby as they progress.
What Age Should a Child Drink From an Open Cup?
You can start introducing a cup to your baby around 6 months old, typically when introducing solid foods. Babies this age are eager to learn and pick up new skills quickly. Practicing with an open cup or a straw cup during this time helps them develop drinking skills before they need to fully transition from breast or bottle feeding.
If your baby is older than 6 months and hasn’t started practicing cup drinking, don’t worry—start now! The goal is to practice cup drinking, not immediately replace breastfeeding or bottle feeds. Babies 6 to 12 months old are in an ideal phase to learn these new skills, but even if your child is over 12 months, there’s still time for them to master cup drinking.
Which Cup Should I Use for My Baby?
'Leak proof' sippy cups with a built in valve are popular for their spill-proof designs when little ones tip them upside down, but they’re not the best for your baby’s development. They don’t promote the proper tongue and mouth movements required for drinking from an open cup or a straw. That said, if you’ve been using a leak proof sippy cup, don’t worry— your baby can still transition to open and straw cups when you’re ready. If you prefer using sippy cups, opt for soft spouts, which are more like straws and better for oral development than hard spouts.
TUM TUM Cups are one of the best options for your baby because they are valve-free and come with a weighted straw. This makes it easier for your baby to sip water naturally and helps them practice essential drinking skills.
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The Tippy Up Sippy Cup is valve free and free flow. The nifty weighted straw follows the liquid to aid any way up drinking!
They are the ideal baby sippy cup to transition from breastfeeding or a bottle.
The leakproof flip top lid stores the straw hygienically away. With a handy measure on the side to see how much they've drunk.
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Open Cup vs. Straw Cup
There’s no need to choose between an open cup and a straw cup—you can introduce both! Some suggest starting with one before the other, but there’s no research to show which method is better. You can try offering an open cup at one meal and a straw cup at the next, allowing your baby to practice with both.
When choosing an open cup, go for something small and manageable for your baby’s hands, like a tiny cup that holds 1-3 ounces of liquid. This prevents spills and helps your baby control the amount of water they drink.
For straw cups, it’s best to start by teaching your baby how to use a straw on its own before introducing a cup with a straw. Once your baby gets the hang of it, you can use any straw cup, but the TUM TUM CUPS is a standout choice due to its simple, baby-friendly design.
How to Teach Your Baby to Drink From an Open Cup
1. **Start Small**: Begin by filling the cup with 1-2 ounces of breast milk, formula, or water.
2. **Model the Behavior**: Show your baby how to drink by sipping from the cup yourself, then offer it to them.
3. **Assist and Practice**: Help your baby hold the cup and bring it to their lips. Spills and mistakes are normal at this stage, so be patient and let them practice during every meal.
Encourage your baby to try picking up the cup and drinking on their own as they grow more confident. If they spill it, simply remind them, “Oops! Slower next time,” and keep offering more chances to practice.
How to Teach Your Baby to Drink From a Straw
You can teach straw drinking starting at 6 months old, and many babies figure it out quickly. Their natural sucking reflex helps them understand how to use a straw right away. If your baby struggles, there are two methods to teach them:
1. **The Pipette Method**: Use a regular straw, trap a small amount of liquid at the bottom with your finger, and offer it to your baby. Let the liquid flow into their mouth to show them how the straw works.
2. **Practice, Practice, Practice**: Let your baby explore and experiment with the straw cup over time. With repeated tries, they’ll soon get the hang of it.
By introducing both an open cup and straw cup early on, you’re setting your baby up for success in learning vital drinking skills. The TUM TUM CUP makes this transition even easier, thanks to its design that supports natural, effective sipping without unnecessary filters.
Do I Still Need a Sippy Cup?
'Leak proof' sippy cups with a built in valve are popular for their spill-proof designs when little ones tip them upside down, but they’re not the best for your baby’s development. They don’t promote the proper tongue and mouth movements required for drinking from an open cup or a straw. That said, if you’ve been using a leak proof sippy cup, don’t worry— your baby can still transition to open and straw cups when you’re ready. If you prefer using sippy cups, opt for soft spouts, which are more like straws and better for oral development than hard spouts.
Bottom Line
When it comes to transitioning your baby from bottle or breastfeeding to cup drinking, there’s no rush and no single “right” method. Start introducing open cups and straw cups around 6 months, let your baby practice, and encourage them with patience. **Tum Tum Tots Cups** offer an ideal solution for developing lifelong drinking skills, making this important milestone smooth and successful for both you and your baby.
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