Advice

10 Tips For Developing Utensil Skills

Using utensils take more fine motor control and coordination than most toddlers have. In fact some children will not master the use of cutlery until the age of four. With a little planning, patience and positive attitude parents can successfully introduce and encourage their toddler to use their utensils. Teaching your child to use utensils will increase motor development and aid in progressing their pincer grasp.

When To Start Weaning

Knowing when to start weaning your baby can be very confusing for parents, especially with your first baby. Although there is a lot of conflicting information around the subject, new research shows that delaying starting to wean until your baby is six months is a little too late. I believe this is very true and you need to give your baby at least two weeks to get used to solids. This will ensure that from six months your baby can move quickly, ready for the different stages of weaning.

The Facts On Shop Bought Baby Food

Commercial baby foods are perfectly acceptable and are useful when travelling or eating away from home. The food section of any supermarket gives you an amazing range of gorgeously packaged, utterly delicious-sounding, prepared foods that need no more preparation than removing the lid or opening the box.

However, we should not rely on commercial baby food and use homemade baby food as much as possible.

“Homemade foods expose babies to more flavours and a wider variety of family foods and as a result babies tend to be less picky about foods as they grow up”.

Weaning - The Importance of Gluten

It has been frequently disputed, but the recommended guidelines for the introduction or gluten to your weaning baby is no later than 7 months and no earlier than 4 months of age, according to experts. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Since gluten is present in these crops, it is found in many cereals, flours and any foods made from these, e.g. bread, pasta, crackers and breakfast cereals. Follow our guide on when to introduce gluten, and find out why it is so important to include it in your weaning baby's diet.

Kids in the Kitchen

While experimenting in the kitchen, children learn about healthy eating and nutrition. Having children participate with cooking meals or snacks helps them make better eating choices and try new things. It also introduces children to the cooking process and how things change from one thing into another through cooking or baking. Picky eaters are also more apt to try the foods they’ve cooked. I am not much of a baker, however baking a simple fairy cakes recipe means your kids can get stuck in with baking.

Try getting your kids involved in cooking it is a great activity to do together!