Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning Quotes

“cheeses that contain around 50 milligrams of sodium or less; some soft cheeses like full-fat ricotta, fresh mozzarella, mascarpone, quark, goat cheese, and crème fraîche tend to be lower in sodium than hard cheeses (although Swiss may be a good choice among the latter).”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“Safer Serving and Storing Some chemicals in the plastics, glues, dyes, and coatings used in food packaging, including storage containers, dishes, and utensils, may pose a risk to babies and children. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which means that they interrupt the normal functioning of hormones. This can lead to negative effects such as an increased risk of obesity and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, a change in the timing and effect of puberty, and other gastrointestinal and metabolic health issues. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do not microwave food and beverages in plastic or put plastics in the dishwasher; instead, stock your kitchen with alternatives to plastic, such as stainless steel or glass. If possible, avoid plastics with the recycling codes 3, 6, and 7 altogether. You can further reduce your baby’s risk by choosing feeding plates, cups, and utensils made from stainless steel, silicone, or bamboo, and storing any leftover foods in glass containers rather than plastic ones.”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“Most restaurants provide high chairs and offer at least a few menu options that work well during BLW. Here are some ideas: •Sweet potato fries •Steamed or mashed veggies •Meat or fish patties •Pasta •Scrambled eggs or omelets •Whole-grain toast •Pancakes •Tomato slices •Hummus •Pita bread”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“Here are some on-the-go snacks that work well: •Bananas •Avocado slices (keep the skin on each slice during your travels so that the slices hold their shape, remove the skin right before serving, and pack a small bag of ground flaxseed or bread crumbs to roll the slices in so your baby can get a good grip) •Pancakes (make a big batch on the weekend and freeze the extras so you can toss them in your bag as a portable snack option) •Whole-grain, low-sugar cereal or berries in a lidded snack cup (to help control spills)”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“baby at each meal. Role modeling is a powerful and important part of the process. 8.Offer your baby water. Using a small, automatic-sealing–valve, open, or straw-type cup, offer water only at mealtimes so that it does not replace breast milk or formula between meals. Skip sippy cups, which can delay oral-motor development. (Juice is not recommended for babies under 1 year, and many pediatricians and dietitians do not recommend juice at all, regardless of age.) 9.Check for chipmunk cheeks. Some babies occasionally pocket pieces of food in their cheeks. Offering only a few pieces of food at a time can help prevent overstuffing of the mouth. At the end of meals, model a wide-open mouth so that your baby will also open up and allow you to check for pocketed food. If food is present, encourage your baby to drink a few sips of water, chew, and wash it down. If this is unsuccessful, you may need to carefully finger-sweep the inside of your baby’s cheeks to pull the food forward and out of the mouth (be cautious not to push the food back toward the throat). 10.Make accommodations when necessary. If your baby has a cold or other illness, offer breast milk or formula more often and do not worry about offering solids.”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“2.Wash your baby’s hands. Wash yours, too! 3.Seat your baby safely. Always seat your baby upright in a high chair, with hips and knees bent at 90-degree angles. Make sure your baby is not leaning back, which increases the risk of choking. Use a high chair with foot support so your baby’s feet are not dangling. Fasten the safety straps and then attach the high-chair tray, or pull the chair close to the table. 4.Safety-test the temperature and texture of finger foods. Warmed foods should feel lukewarm, not hot. Be sure that the foods are either soft enough to easily squish between your fingers (like a steamed soft stick of carrot) or large and fibrous enough not to break off into pieces when sucked (like a strip of steak). Do not offer foods that will form crumbs in the baby’s mouth. 5.Offer appropriate portions. Place three or four pieces of appropriately sized finger foods on your baby’s plate—not so few that your baby gets bored and not so many that it is intimidating. 6.Always supervise mealtimes. Sit with your baby and watch closely at all times during meals. Important safety tips: Never leave your baby unattended with finger foods, and never put food in your baby’s mouth—both of these increase choking risk. 7.Eat together as often as you can. Remove distractions like televisions and phones, and eat together as a family as often as your schedule allows. If family meals are not possible, try to have at least one person eat the same foods as your”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“1.Keep mealtimes positive. Time meals for when your baby is not too hungry, full, or tired. Right after breastfeeding or formula works well for some, whereas for others, it is better to wait a bit. Find what works best for your baby.”
― Malina Malkani MS RDN CDN, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“(Juice is not recommended for babies under 1 year, and many pediatricians and dietitians do not recommend juice at all, regardless of age.)”
― Malina Linkas Malkani, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies

“adult pinky finger” as a benchmark visual reference for length, width, and depth. If you find that slippery foods like mango or avocado are too hard for your baby to grasp, try rolling them in something like bread crumbs, ground almond flour, or ground flaxseed to give your baby a better grip.”
― Malina Linkas Malkani, Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies