Solids got you torn between baby-led weaning (empowering!) and traditional spoon-feeding (convenient!), or confused about what gear to choose for this stage? Are you afraid of choking and allergies?
Maybe your toddler’s picky, refusing food, or throwing it everywhere at mealtime… or you want to make sure you start the process off right so your baby doesn’t develop these habits. It can tough to know what to do, with so many different methods and opinions out there.
Montessori weaning is ultimately about letting babies and toddlers explore a variety of foods with all their senses, and feeding them in a respectful way that keeps them in touch with their bodies’ signals, while teaching table manners and the ways of your culture. Babies need a lot of exposure to foods in a low-stress environment to develop healthy eating habits and a broad palate. In this sense, strict methods matter much less than being attentive and giving them freedom within limits as they explore foods - meaning weaning can be as chill as you want.
Here are some quick tips:
- Try a low weaning table for snacks, and a Montessori-friendly high chair for family meals.
- Offer resistive foods that they can grab and chew on, for the development of oral skills.
- If you want to occasionally spoon feed, learn how to do so responsively.
- Show them how to use utensils by modeling and offering them opportunities.
- Teach open-cup and straw drinking from an early age to avoid sippy cups.
As an AMI-certified Montessori 0-3 guide and your parenting sidekick, I can guide you through this messy stage with more confidence and a balanced approach that fits your life. Book a free 15-min call with me, share your challenges, and let’s create a plan together.