Feeding needs to be an enjoyable experience for parents and baby alike. Those who gain pleasure from food during mealtimes throughout their childhood have fewer problems keeping up a healthy diet as an adult and are less likely to develop issues around food. The setting for this formative food experience is the kitchen, which must become a welcoming place for every baby.
Making small changes
Whether tiny or spacious, old-fashioned or high-tech, once a child appears on the scene, it’s a good idea to organise even the smallest of kitchens to suit the needs of the entire family. There is no need to unleash an army of architects to knock down walls or employ interior decorators to rearrange furniture. Actually, just a few changes are needed to create a safe and tranquil corner where parents and baby can embark on their new adventure in feeding, together creating a unique bond in the process.
Setting the scene
Grown-ups love to eat their food in a quiet, dimly lit, ambient atmosphere. For a baby, it is enough simply not to have bright lights shining in their face as they savour their first spoonfuls of grated apple or pear. In reality, little effort is needed to turn part of the kitchen into a calm oasis for the new bonding experience between parent and baby that occurs during feed time.
Keeping baby happy
In the early months, breast or bottle feeding can be done in a comfortable nursing chair, as part of the nursery furniture. When the time comes to start weaning, switch to a highchair, which keeps a baby upright while feeding and eliminates the risk of choking. Find a space for the highchair near the adults’ table where it can be positioned safely and conveniently to offer food to the baby, whose first experiences of pureed fruit, pureed vegetables, or baby rice work best when everyone feels relaxed, comfortable, and well-disposed in a comfortable chair.
Important features of a highchair
At mealtimes the highchair should be strategically placed in the dining area where it isn’t too busy and away from very bright lights. If the highchair is in the kitchen, it should be away from the heat of a stove or oven.
A highchair needs to:
- conform to strict guaranteed New Zealand safety standards
- be stable and impossible to topple over
- be light and easy to carry
- be convenient to store
- be easy to clean
- be the right size for your baby, so trying it out first in-store is a good idea
- have an adjustable seat height, so it can grow with your child
It is recommended that you never leave a child in a highchair unattended. If you have to move away from your baby for a few seconds, place the highchair with its back to a wall to be certain it will not topple over.
Recipes extracted from The Silver Spoon:
Recipes for Babies
RRP $49.99, Phaidon
