Featured image: Laura Botes
Once your baby hits a certain stage in their development, they will start to want more solid food alongside their milk. This is why weaning is often also known as ‘complementary feeding’ – a time where you can help teach them how to move food around their mouth, chew and swallow.
To help with a few age-appropriate weaning options, we roped in the baby food experts at Organix.
Getting started
Just when you and your baby are in a confident routine with milk feeds, along comes weaning, a whole new adventure for all of you. Luckily, Organix pouches are filled with a blend of organic purees, perfect for little ones on the go. Organiz pouches are available in flavours including Just Apple, Pineapple and Coconut; Just Apple, Sweet Potato and Pineapple; Just Mango, Pear and Granola; Just Oat, Apple, Banana, Raspberry and Blueberry; Just Apple, Strawberry and Quinoa; and Just Oat, Apricot and Banana. Organix pouches (R32,49) are suitable from 6 – 36 months old and available at Clicks, www.takealot.com, www.babiesafrica.com and www.loot.co.za.
Finger food fun
As you and your baby grow more confident, you can have fun with all sorts of finger foods, discovering new tastes and textures along the way.
Here are some ideas to try:
6 months – soft finger-shaped foods
- Bananas cut into fingers
- Slices of avocado
- Soft cooked broccoli
7 months – Chunky, easy to bite finger foods
- Rice cakes
- Cooked veggies
- Peeled raw or cooked slices of fruit
- Pasta and noodles
- Toast or bread soldiers
- Slices of boiled egg
9 months – Smaller, chewy finger foods
- Dry cereals
- Well cooked meat or fish
- Sticks of fruit and veggies
- Squishy like bananas
- Breadsticks and pita bread
- Pea, sweetcorn and cherry tomato halves
