Tag: Weaning

From Weaning to Potty Training with Oxo Tot (Review) [AD]

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Turning your little baby into a fully fledged human is a never ending journey, starting with weaning at 6 months to getting them to use the potty between the age of 2 and 3 (telling you when they need to use it, however, is a different story!). Raising a child is a constant, but rewarding (in the end), challenge and if I can find items to make things easier then I’m all for that.

At the moment, we’re currently in the midst of potty training so decided to purchase a travel potty from Oxo Tot as we liked the design. Following on from this, we were then invited to test out a range of other products by Oxo Tot to assist not only with T’s potty training but with his appetite too!

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A #MamiaDaysOut Day Out with Aldi [AD]

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Last week, we were sent a hamper by the folks at Aldi as part of their #MamiaDaysOut challenge to use their products whilst on a day out.

We’ve always liked Aldi; their nappies being the best we’ve used (well, that T has used), so we were keen to try their kids food. 


We’ve never done any form of puree, only baby-led weaning, so when part of the hamper contained purees we were curious as to how we could get involved.

If you follow us on Instagram you’ll see I’m quite a fan of baking and making a lot of meals from scratch, so I decided for our day out that I would use some of the items in T’s baking as well – setting us up for the day. 


Breakfast

Pancakes with Strawberries. 

Recipe:

1 Purée pouch (we chose bananas and apples), one egg, 2tbsp of plain flour (or enough until you create a thickish batter), 1/2 tsp of baking powder. 

Heat a pancake pan on a medium-low heat and dollop 3-4 pancakes onto the pan. Cook until holes form in the batter and then flip. Cook for a further minute. 


Lunch

Cheese and Cucumber Sandwiches with veggies, fruit, and an apple and pear pot with yoghurt. 

Dinner

Grilled Chicken with Carrot and Parsnip mash, and corn.

Recipe for mash:

Boil and mash 2-3 medium potatoes and mix in 1/2 the purée pouch to replace any milk/butter. 

Dessert

Frozen Apple and Strawberry popsicle.


Snacks

Mini Rice cakes and homemade oat, fruit and nut bars. 

Other ideas include; Fruit Purée on toast or a dip for apples, pineapples or banana pieces. 

All in all, I found using Aldi’s new range a success, with the pouches going quite far in a recipe. I also liked how tasty they are on their own and could easily have one myself as a snack or mixer with yoghurt. 

We still have a few in the cupboard, so pop over to our Instagram to see how we use them over the next few months. 

K

This post is an entry for Britmums #MamiaDaysOut Linky. We were sent the above products for the challenge and to review, however all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Weaning: Top Places to Eat with Babies

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One of the main reasons we chose to do baby-led weaning was so that I wouldn’t have to prepare separate meals, especially when we go out. There’s no way would I remember to get something out the freezer that morning or night before, let alone find a place where I can heat it up and then feed T – all whilst eating my own meal! Plus, the sound of T enjoying the same food as us (spice and all), sounded much more appetising.

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Over the past year we’ve been to our fair share of cafes and restaurants, and most of the time T’s awake during a mealtime, so we have to share. Long gone are the days where he would be happy with a spoon toy. He wants food.

So with this in mind, I thought I’d share our top places to eat with little ones. I’ve based this list on their menu, as well as how pro baby they are (you’ll know when they’re not, going by what facilities they have available, whether Highchairs actually fit their tables, or if the floor is a little too clean (the sure sign that a baby hasn’t visited recently!)).

Of course I’m going to make a mess.


A carvery – Regardless of what Carvery is near you, you should find that they’re pretty family friendly. Because of their buffet style dining, you can pick the perfect amount for little one’s plates.

Wagamamas – By far my favourite place for T to eat. Not only because of taste, but because it’s relatively healthy (and cheap!). I like how their menu doesn’t stray far from the adult menu apart from the portion. I also LOVE how they use Mountain Buggy pod highchairs as their choice of highchair. When we went last week, the atmosphere was so relaxed even after T had made a mess.

Bills – One of my favourite places for brunch, they were a haven when I started breastfeeding T. I felt so comfortable feeding him there, and the waiting staff are so kind and didn’t bat an eyelid when clearing the table. Plus, the food is fabulous.

Pizza Hut – Cheap and cheerful, with so many options to choose from. Whilst S and I can be a bit naughty, we still have the option to give T something healthy from the salad bar.

A few for the locals…

Iydea, Brighton – A lovely little vegetarian cafe based in the heart of Brighton. Ideya serves wholesome food at a decent price and is, again, really healthy (if you want it to be). What I love most about Ideya is the amount of choice available.

Riverside Cafe, Lewes – part of an old warehouse, the riverside building not only contains a cute little cafe, but also a barbers, fish monger, and a butchers. We went there a few weekends ago and had homemade sausage rolls with coffee. It was lovely and reminded me why I love eating locally.

credit: https://wednesdaysinthecountry.wordpress.com

Shoreham Airport (Hummingbird Cafe), Shoreham – Bit of an odd one, I know, but we found this place on a whim when we were desperate to find a place for breakfast. Although the menu is quite small, there is a lovely selection of food available, from cereal to pastries, to a full English. Plus, it’s next to a runway!

So there are our favourite places to eat, but we’re always on the look out for new places. Any recommendations? Where do you like to go when eating out?

K

Weaning: Hints & Tips

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We’ve been weaning for 3 months now and I can honestly say it’s been the most frustrating and enjoyable experience of my life.

On one hand, I love the new flavours and textures T gets to experience on almost a daily basis generic for benicar. The look on his face when he’s tried something new and is working out whether he likes it (or doesn’t like it!)  to when T notices that I’ve served him one if his favourites.

On the other hand, it’s been hard work dealing with the mess, the waste, and the general frustration when T can’t quite deal with something but wants it really bad and gets upset when I take it away or it falls on the floor. It’s also hard to watch something you’ve lovingly prepared get thrown or crushed in their chubby hands.

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Over the past 3 months I’ve picked up a few hints and tips to make, let’s be real, my life easier:

1) Get an easy wipe mat. This was one of the best things I purchased after losing the 8th piece of pasta to a fluffy carpet. As long as it’s kept clean, it means less wastage (sort of) and your carpet is kept beetroot free! I purchased ours from a local hardware shop who sold it by the metre really cheap. It beats buying a special “weaning mat”.

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2) Freeze freeze freeze. For days when you’re not going to be having the same, or when you just need to plump out their meal, it’s really useful to have a few things in the freezer. Things like pastry, eggy bread, and pancakes all freeze well. I also found a lot of fruit freezes quite well which means it lasts longer and all you have to do is get it out the night before for the next day. Our frozen veg drawer is bursting at the seams!

3) Reuse reuse reuse. Similar to the above, I try and cut out a lot of wastage by freezing leftovers (as long as it hasn’t already been frozen), or turning it into something new. Left over weetabix or porridge? Add a bit more weetabix/porridge to the bowl, place on a baking tray, and bake for 10-15 minutes. You now have a mid morning snack!

4) Get a painting overall. There have been several occasions when I didn’t have the time to fit in a clothing change before going out. So to combat the weaning mess I got a painting overall from IKEA for those days or if I stupidly put T in white. It took T a bit of getting used to and it was quite the distraction at first, but now he ignores it and clothes don’t come away raspberry stained!

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5) Plan meals. This may sound like a chore, but it’s one of the best things I do every Sunday night (living the dream, people!). I often can’t remember whether I’ve showered so I have no chance remembering what T ate on Tuesday on a Thursday. We purchased a small, magnetic white board for the fridge which we fill in all T’s meals (including snacks) for the week. This way, I know when he’s had banana and that I can’t give it to him again for at least 2 days… unless I want a clogged baby!

What are your hints and tips for (happier) weaning?

K

9 Month Update

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T is 9. Months. Old. 9 MONTHS.

I’ve given up wondering why T isn’t making any effort to move. It’ll simply come when it comes. He’ll move when he wants to / works out how (I hope). He can stand quite happily on edges of sofas and knees so I’ll take that as progress. Plus, I’ve realised that one day he won’t be so small (or so still) so I should really make the most out of it now.

Where he’s not moving, he makes up for in voice and noises. He has a few regulars such as “mamamama” and “babababa” which both go on for a while. I don’t think they’re any relation to words, but they’re definitely sounds he likes making. “Mamamama” he makes more when he’s annoyed or if I’m in the kitchen. Other noises include lip smacking, lip popping, and something that sounds like a motorboat and a raspberry when he blows air through his lips. It’s all very cute.

We had an awesome Christmas. T was truly spoilt by family and friends, and often didn’t know what to do with himself whilst surrounded by toys.


Christmas Day even got a bit overwhelming for him, so much so he had to have a nap half way through opening presents. Christmas dinner, however, was not a problem. He tried a bit of everything and has found a love for turkey.


Weaning is still going well. He has days where he doesn’t eat much and is quite picky, other days he doesn’t stop taking what is offered. He still loves toast and banana, but now also enjoys hard boiled egg.

Since hitting 9 months he really knows to deal with things, such as; how to get things off other things (like the rings off the stacker), how to pull things towards him if something he wants is on it (like a tablecloth to get a plate), or just general search (and destroy), which is my favourite. We got him a ball pit for Christmas, so when I set it up I often hide sensory toys under the balls as well as other little gems, however it doesn’t take him long to start flapping or waving his hand around to move the balls before finding something.

It’s these sorts of activities that make me understand what T is going through when he watches me and other babies. He’s taking everything in, soaking it all up. When I think about what he was like even a month ago, it makes me realise that I take what I’ve learnt for granted. Walking, talking, etc. has all been learnt over time , and slowly but surely, he’s doing it as well. It’s really an amazing sight.

K

Weaning: 1 Month On. 

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I’m not sure what I expected when we started weaning T a month ago. I had no idea whether he’d like the tastes or the textures, whether he’d like the same foods as me, even whether there’d be spitting out, or even choking! I guess I told myself to take each day as it came, and that I did.

I’ve very quickly learnt that one day can be so different from the previous, and that’s no different when it comes to weaning. Some days he ate everything on his tray, other days he played with the food (even if he’d had that exact meal a week or so ago!). There was no obvious explanation so it was pointless trying to work it out.

Here’s what else I’ve learnt:

There WILL be mess. Face, hands, highchair, the floor, the dog, ME! Pretty much after the third time T dropped/chucked his banana on the floor I went to my local hardware shop and bought a plastic table cover. At least this way im not getting food on the carpet, and he can have it back if it’s been dropped (until it becomes a game!).

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There WILL be wastage. Similar to above, what misses the mat completely, ends up in the compost bin (or my mouth if it’s not covered in fluff). This can get frustrating as you’re torn between doing smaller meals so that there’s no wastage, but once it’s gone, it’s gone and T has nothing to eat.

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You WILL end up finishing off the odd bowl or plate of something. Which isn’t so bad if he’s eating veggies. Banana pancakes? Toast?  Not so much.

Poop WILL change almost immediately. It took a few days for the poop to really change but when it came, it came, and it wasn’t long before I started missing the breastmilk poops. It is cool, however, to see what’s been going down. Literally.

Going down the baby-led weaning route means you don’t really have to prepare much as they’re eating what you’re eating. So if I’m having a cheese salad, he’ll have that as well. The only times I have to prepare him something different is when I’m not having a baby friendly meal like Ryvita, or if I don’t want to give him toast for breakfast for a second day in a row because I am. I still have a few stable bits in the freezer like banana pancakes, mashed potato, pin wheels, etc. but these are generally used for days when he needs a bit more to his meal or a bit of variety.

At the moment, he’s only having breakfast and lunch as I’m finding it hard to find the time to offer a dinner once he’s had another feed after lunch, a nap, and then another feed as it’s then time for a bath and then bed. I could try and fit it in around 5pm but he’s sometimes mentally getting ready to settle down by then. When he does get round to having a dinner/supper though, he’ll likely be having dinner on his own, which I don’t like the thought of, as S gets home so late and I’d rather eat with her, and I don’t want two meals, but then that factor isn’t as important right now.

I was/am quite nervous of choking, so I’m still reluctant to offer things like red meat but watching him at the moment devoir tougher things like red pepper is starting to gain me more confidence.

Of all the things to come out of taking a baby led weaning approach, eating out is one of them! It makes it so much easier! All we have to do is share our plate or get a side of veggies for him.

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It’s been a fun month, albeit stressful. It’s exciting watching him try all these new flavours – I’m looking forward to him trying his first Christmas dinner!

K