Tommy will be eight months old on the 4th of April — where has the time gone?
Over the past three months we have started the weaning transition, introducing solids alongside milk feeds. The process has been a lot of fun and incredibly interesting for me personally, particularly as I’ve been able to take my feeding training as an occupational therapist and apply it in real life with my own child.
Over the years I have made countless recommendations to families about mealtimes — everything from tabletop setup and mealtime equipment to how food should be presented, offering a variety of foods, creating shared family meals, and thinking about meal timing.
But actually living this experience day-to-day with my own child has given me a completely different perspective.
When you add in real life factors such as time pressures, food costs, work schedules, and general household chaos, things can feel quite different from discussing feeding strategies calmly in a clinic room.
In summary, the process so far has been fun, interesting, messy, and occasionally slightly disgusting.
Our Approach to Starting Solids
We have been following a combination of baby-led weaning alongside offering purées. Interestingly, Tommy has not shown much interest in purées and has gravitated much more strongly towards feeding himself.
He currently enjoys a variety of foods, including zucchini, falafel, and meatballs.
One strategy that has helped has been setting aside some time each week to prepare food in advance. I often cook in batches and store meals in the freezer so that we have easy options on days when life is busy and cooking from scratch isn’t realistic.
Why Highchair Setup Matters
One non-negotiable for us has been having a good highchair setup. We chose the Stokke Tripp Trapp, which we absolutely love, and we have used it from the newborn set through to the highchair attachment.
From an occupational therapy perspective, postural stability plays a critical role in feeding.
Much of our body control comes from having:
- Feet flat and supported
- Elbows stable on the tabletop
This positioning allows babies to shift their weight from side to side and use their hands effectively to explore and manipulate food. Good positioning supports not only feeding skills but also independence and confidence during mealtimes.
The Role of Temperament and Timing
One factor that I think is often underestimated when starting solids is temperament.
Tommy would definitely be described as stubborn and very vocal. If things are not happening the way he wants them to, he makes that very clear.
Fatigue is another huge factor. If he is tired and there is an expectation that he should eat, we are essentially setting both of us up for failure. Learning to time meals around his energy levels and mood has been really important.
Practical Lessons We’ve Learned So Far
Like many parents, we have discovered a few things that make mealtimes a little easier:
- A smock is an absolute must.
- Suction bowls are helpful, although they haven’t completely stopped the throwing of food.
Food throwing is actually very normal developmentally. Around six months of age, babies are fascinated with watching objects fall. It’s part of their exploration of cause and effect.
While knowing that this behaviour is developmentally appropriate can be reassuring from a professional perspective, I will admit that cleaning food off the floor multiple times a day can still be frustrating.
And Finally… The Mess
The mess eventually reached a point where it felt completely out of control.
So I invested in a vacuum mop, which may genuinely be one of the best parenting decisions I’ve made so far.
Final Thoughts
Starting solids has reminded me that while evidence-based strategies are important, real family life always adds another layer. Flexibility, humour, and a willingness to embrace the mess are just as important as the feeding advice itself.
And if there is one thing I have learned so far, it’s this:
Feeding babies is equal parts skill development, experimentation, and cleaning the floor.
