As soon as baby’s first taste of real food Do you throw it in the tray and say it’s over? Absolutely not! Here are 5 reasons your baby is better off when you use plates or bowls for babies.
1.) The whole thing is About the Portions People
As a dietitian and nutrition specialist who has taught hundreds of families and health professionals on baby-led weaning. most common mistake that caregivers and parents make when baby is beginning solids has to do with the size of their portions.
I’ve seen Instagram photos of babies facing piles of protein. Also, servings of starches even toddlers couldn’t eat! Parents are left feeling disappointed or frustrated when the baby doesn’t eat “all of the meals” that was offered to him.
For help with meal times why not try a suction weaning set?
So let’s get real about portions for you Baby portion sizes are smaller than you believe!
A divided baby plate or mat is a wonderful guide for keeping portions under control. Be aware that your baby is still getting most of the nutrients the body needs through breastmilk or formula for infants up to age 1. The solid foods we provide do provide SOME nutrition but also offer an opportunity for baby to explore new flavors and textures and play and play with the latest food phenomenon.
The best baby plates that we use in our home as well as in my practice is one that has two 2-oz as well as a 4-oz portion compartment, which is made in the shape of a happy smile.
It is possible to fill each part of the plate by 1/4 or 1/2 for infants who are just beginning to experiment with solid foods, but I love the visual warning that less is better here. Also, keeping portions small is more appropriate for toddlers and their tiny stomachs.
2.) Variety is the Spice of Life
Another advantage of using a split mat or silicon baby plate is that it serves like a reminder to parents that baby should be eating different kinds of food.
We know that infants who are exposed to a greater variety of foods, tastes and flavors in the 6-18 months of their lives have greater chance of becoming an eager eater and have a lower likelihood of becoming being picky eaters later on in the course of.
So what’s the best way to bump up these exposures?
Try to introduce your child to several different food items at least three meals a day. It’s not necessary that they ALL have to be totally different foods . Repurposing food in a safe manner or using leftovers is excellent ideas.
A divided plate that has 3 separate segments helps remind you that baby needs to be seeing lots of different types of foods and can help you develop the habit of eating the same way at every meal.
3.) Plates and bowls minimize mess
You might think adding baby dishes or plates for your baby is going to make more dishes. It’s true that it’s just one (or 2) more dishes for you to prepare. But I would argue that having a baby’s table or bowl for the table reduces the clutter!
Feeding a baby , especially if you are doing weaning with a baby, is an incredibly messy undertaking. However, in my experience I’ve noticed that babies who are seated in front of plates or bowls do better with minimizing mess.
When a baby is presented with food served on a tray will move it from side to side and the majority ends in the floor. When the boundaries of the divided areas of a mat or plate that baby can take food more easily, and less of it will end up in the ground.
4.) Motor Skill Development
Little bowls or plates may aid in the development of motor skills involved in eating.
By forming a soft border around an silicon bowl or plate edge baby has the ability to start raking food , and actually getting some of it in her mouth!
5.) Making Food Fun
Feeding your child should be fun, and the Happy Mat with its smiley face design does just what it says on the tin. The 4-ounce portion of the mini mat has been designed to resemble a smile. It is situated just below the two 2-oz “eye” parts.
