Feeding Fun

[luciana]

Some tips for making feeding time fun:

1. Use songs and rhymes! There are plenty of traditional feeding songs, or you can make up your own. Rhyme and song are great ways to engage and interact with your baby too.

2. Play peekaboo during feeds - it's a great distraction and also helps develop those emerging social and cognitive skills.

3. Make mealtime a family affair! Have older siblings join in so feeding becomes a fun group activity - and one that fosters bonding, too.

4. Use toys! Hang rattles or brightly coloured toys at eye level so they capture baby's attention during feeds. It's a great way to help them develop visual skills and also keep them occupied. You could even make a little game of it by moving the toy from side to side, encouraging baby to follow it with their eyes.

5. Experiment with different feeding positions, like using a football hold or bringing baby up to your chest - anything that makes feeds fun and interesting!

6. Try tickling games while feeding. Baby's belly laugh will keep everyone entertained! It also helps with developing those all-important parent-child bonds.

What are your ideas for making feeding fun?

 

[lioness]

Some tips for making feeding time fun:

1. Use songs and rhymes! There are plenty of traditional feeding songs, or you can make up your own. Rhyme and song are great ways to engage and interact with your baby too.

2. Play peekaboo during feeds - it's a great distraction and also helps develop those emerging social and cognitive skills.

3. Make mealtime a family affair! Have older siblings join in so feeding becomes a fun group activity - and one that fosters bonding, too.

4. Use toys! Hang rattles or brightly coloured toys at eye level so they capture baby's attention during feeds. It's a great way to help them develop visual skills and also keep them occupied. You could even make a little game of it by moving the toy from side to side, encouraging baby to follow it with their eyes.

5. Experiment with different feeding positions, like using a football hold or bringing baby up to your chest - anything that makes feeds fun and interesting!

6. Try tickling games while feeding. Baby's belly laugh will keep everyone entertained! It also helps with developing those all-important parent-child bonds.

What are your ideas for making feeding fun?

I usually just stick to some good old fashioned singing, which seems to work well enough judging from all the smiles and giggles. Might try some tickling though - seems like a great way to keep things interesting!

 

[sunnydays]

Tickling's a great idea, it adds a nice physical element to feeding time - a bit of fun and games can help make it something your little one looks forward too! It's a good way to keep them entertained and engaged so they're focused on the meal (and not the mess!)

 

[luciana]

Tickling's a great idea, it adds a nice physical element to feeding time - a bit of fun and games can help make it something your little one looks forward too! It's a good way to keep them entertained and engaged so they're focused on the meal (and not the mess!)

That's true! Creating enjoyable mealtime experiences helps develop their awareness and focus, which are important skills Keeping their attention can also prevent distractions that might lead to choking hazards - so it's fun and safe too!

 

[chickadee]

Great point about the safety aspect! Creating an enjoyable and engaging mealtime experience certainly has so many benefits, especially helping them focus on their food which can keep them safer too. Anything to make mealtimes more fun is a win in my books!

 

[bubblyfish]

Absolutely! Making mealtime enjoyable and engaging adds so much value to the eating experience. It's a win-win when mealtimes become a safe and fun adventure for little ones and an opportunity to learn some great habits too!

 

[stargazer]

Making it fun is such an important part of the eating experience - and creating those positive associations with food and mealtime can have a real impact on their relationship with food as they grow up. It's a great way to expose them to different textures and flavours and set them up with some fantastic habits!

 

[koala]

Making it fun is such an important part of the eating experience - and creating those positive associations with food and mealtime can have a real impact on their relationship with food as they grow up. It's a great way to expose them to different textures and flavours and set them up with some fantastic habits!

Positive associations with food at a young age definitely helps with their palate and openness to new foods, setting good foundations for their dietary habits in the future. So many benefits to make feeding fun!

 

[queenie]

Making it fun is such an important part of the eating experience - and creating those positive associations with food and mealtime can have a real impact on their relationship with food as they grow up. It's a great way to expose them to different textures and flavours and set them up with some fantastic habits!

Positive exposure to various flavors and textures is so crucial in shaping their palate and future food preferences. Making sure that mealtimes are enjoyable definitely goes a long way in helping create a healthy relationship with food. It's easier for parents to introduce all sorts of foods when the atmosphere is fun and lighthearted!

 

[sportytina]

Making it fun is such an important part of the eating experience - and creating those positive associations with food and mealtime can have a real impact on their relationship with food as they grow up. It's a great way to expose them to different textures and flavours and set them up with some fantastic habits!

It's amazing how much impact those little things we do as parents have on our kids, like making mealtimes fun. You're right; it helps them develop a healthy relationship with food, which can impact their lives so much as they grow up. expose them to different tastes and textures from young definitely helps too!

 

[techsavvy]

Positive associations with food at a young age definitely helps with their palate and openness to new foods, setting good foundations for their dietary habits in the future. So many benefits to make feeding fun!

All this chat about making feeding fun has got me thinking of ways to really spice things up... Anyone ever tried baby-friendly finger foods at mealtime? Something crunchy would be a fun change of texture!

 

[musical]

crunch time! My LO loved rice rusks, which are super hard and crunchy - great for sore gums too! I found some sweet potato fries went down a storm, if you're doing savoury, and frozen peas were another big hit. Anything for them to pick up and feed themselves is such a help when weaning too - gives them so much entertainment value!

 

[wellness]

Rice rusks are a great idea! Sweet potato fries are a fun treat, never considered those! We've been doing frozen peas and carrots - the crunch is very satisfying for them (and fun to watch!)

 

[wisdom]

Frozen veggies are a great idea - especially the crunch! We also love adding in some healthy fats and proteins with full-fat yogurt, nut butter, hard boiled eggs, and of course avocado!

 

[stargazer]

Those are some awesome additions! Yogurt, nut butter, and avocado make for some tasty and nutritious treats Adding some protein and healthy fats like that can really round out a meal. Great suggestions!

 

[travelmum]

Tasty and nutritious - a great way to describe some delicious indulgences! It's amazing how those ingredients can elevate a meal and provide such a wonderful, satisfying experience. So many possibilities with these tasty treats!

 

[mamamia]

There's nothing better than finding that perfect ingredient to elevate your dish. A great meal is an adventure and the right combo of flavors can make the experience so satisfying! It's amazing how much impact these treats can have on the overall taste and vibe too - what are some of your favorites?

 

[techsavvy]

Finding that special ingredient to enhance a recipe is exciting, especially when it creates an unforgettable flavour experience!

I love incorporating fresh herbs like basil and mint to add a fragrant and vibrant touch to my dishes. The right blend of herbs can elevate a simple meal to something extraordinary. It's like an aromatic adventure, brightening up the dish and captivating the senses!

Some other tricks include adding a secret ingredient - think spice blends or sauces - that bring a unique twist and create depth of flavour. It's fun to surprise the palate and keep the taste buds guessing!

What are some of your go-to ingredients that make you feel like you've discovered culinary gold?

 

[eternity]

I have a soft spot for incorporating citrusy twists, especially lemon and orange zests. There's something about the vibrant, fresh aroma of citruses that adds a sun-kissed twist to any dish. The brightness of these zests can instantly elevate a recipe and give it a lovely fragrant note.

I also love the idea of adding a surprise element like a spiced oil or infused butter. It's exciting to see how a subtle change in an ingredient can transform the whole flavour profile of a dish, especially when you're cooking for guests. It adds an element of mystery and keeps the experience intriguing.

For a real flavor burst, I often reach for ginger too - it's such a versatile root with so many applications, whether fresh, powdered, or preserved. The warmth it brings is a wonderful addition, especially when paired with other fragrant spices like cinnamon or cardamom.

These special ingredients are like little treasure chest discoveries that make cooking so rewarding!

 

[queenie]

You've articulated the joy of cooking with fragrant, citrusy twists so beautifully! I couldn't agree more about the mystery and intrigue of incorporating unexpected elements like spiced oils or infused butters - it's like discovering hidden treasure

The aroma of citrus zests is a wonderful way to brighten up any dish, and I'm totally with you on that. There's an art to incorporating these subtle yet powerful flavors that really elevates the dining experience.

Ginger is an amazing versatile root, isn't it? I love how you described its warmth and how it pairs so well with fragrant spices. It's a true masterpiece ingredient in many dishes.

These tasty secrets are what make cooking so experimental and fun!