Big Girl Food

Zara is now 6 and half months old... where has the time gone? We have decided to slowly start introducing her to the world of solids - up until now she has been lucky enough to be exclusively breast-fed and according to her Paed, between now and 12months is the time to slowly start introducing different textures. According to her, everything babies need nutritionally is in their breast milk/formula until 12months old. She recommends only fruit and veg until 12 months and says what they get from the fruit and veg is purely a start into the world of new textures, shapes and colours to their diet. In the case of formula babies, they get introduced to new flavours too. I have read about a "new technique" called Baby Led Weaning. The basic principles are to give them food in the original state and not always mashed up, this is reported to help the transition to solids - so I guess there is no harm in trying it out.....

I had hoped that Zara would be sitting on her own properly before starting her on solids but she is ready for her grub so whats a week or two before she sits "properly" in the greater scheme of things?

So, first things first.... our introduction in to real food was a with taste of Avo. Now because this is decidedly slippery I did have to mash it a little it and then fed it Zara using my fingers. I must admit I was also a little nervous about choking hazards but with only two teeth, it is amazing how well she manages to suck, shred and "chew" on the sticks of food in order to eat them... Other foods I have offered are cucumber sticks, dried mango, celery sticks, hummus.... so far so good. She certainly appears to be ready and smacks her lips together when she is offered her food (there has also been a bit of shouting when I have "selfishly" not offered her something from my plate).