Tag Archives: Video

Baby-led Weaning Wednesdays: Straws

We never used sippy cups because of the speech problems associated with them. So straight from the get-go we used a regular cup with Peanut. She couldn’t hold it herself, so we held it for her. It was cute for a few months, but then it became an annoyance.

She would whine when she wanted us to hold the water. She would try to hold it herself and spill it everywhere. I was constantly worried that she wasn’t getting enough water (which in hindsight is pretty silly because she was totally getting enough fluid from breastfeeding). So when my friend showed me how to teach her how to use a straw, I was ecstatic.

Little did I know it would take over a month of trying before she got it.

Now that she’s finally figured out how to drink from a straw, we bought her straw cups. After months of holding the glass for her, let me tell you these are pretty awesome. We bring it with us and she always has a drink. When we go to restaurants I’m never afraid the water will be too cold for her to drink or that they’ll forget and accidentally put ice in it. She carries it around the house just sipping away. It’s great.

So if you’re feeling frustrated about holding the cup all the time, try a straw. Then keep trying the straw because it may take some time.

Baby-led Weaning Wednesdays: Spoons

With certain foods, spoons just make sense. Yogurt, ice cream, apple sauce, etc. all work much better with a spoon. For over a month, Peanut has been eating yogurt nearly every day with a spoon. We do it differently than traditional spoon-feeding, but I still control the spoon (she just controls where her mouth goes).

The other day while we were having some yogurt at lunch, it dawned on me that Peanut might be old enough now to handle the spoon herself. We decided to try it out and it was messy, but she used that spoon like it was second nature. I probably could have tried giving it to her sooner.

She did eventually decide to play with the spoon…

And she did eventually decide that biting the spoon was pretty cool…

And she did get very messy…

But it’s really cool that she can use a spoon all by herself now! She makes sure to suck every little bit of yogurt off and she doesn’t wine for more the second she swallows. It’s also really neat that she has the coordination to get the spoon in her mouth with very few misses.

I would suggest that moms with younger babies start trying to give them the spoon to handle themselves earlier. I’m guessing Peanut probably could have done it by herself over a month ago if I would have thought about it. Even if they don’t get it quite yet (as was the case with Peanut when I first tried to let her handle the spoon a few months ago), it’s still a nice learning experience and the only downside is cleanup. Go spoons!

Newsletter – 10 Months

Hello Ms. Dea,

This past month has been an exciting one. Last newsletter I said you finally had a tooth, now you’re at almost four (I say almost because it’s obviously about to irrupt).

Luckily these new teeth haven’t causes any pain with breastfeeding—though most of our friends don’t understand why I’m still breastfeeding you now that you have teeth. To them I say why would we stop when we’re enjoying it so? Even if your new pearly whites caused me pain we would work around it.

Remember a couple months ago when I urged you not to do this walking thing? Yeah, you didn’t listen. Though you’re still using crawling as your main mode of transportation, you’re able to walk. Mama was amazed when she set you in front of her just trying to get you to stand unsupported (which you kept doing while not paying attention and then would fall over the second you realized it) and you took steps towards her! Now how will we keep you away from the dog?!

When you were younger—as it is with most babies—you used your mouth as a form of exploration. Mouthing things still plays an important part in your scientific method, but you’ve come up with a new test—stepping. When you find a new toy it will inevitably be dropped on the ground so you see how it is for walking upon. Can I balance? Does it move? Is it painful? Every time I watch you use the stepping test with amusement I become more convinced of your brilliance.

Lastly, I wanted to mention your dancing skills. While you still don’t really bust a move, you can move to the beat. Sometimes you rock so hard that you almost fall over. You’re ridiculously cute.

Mommy loves you!