9 months+
Vera, 16 months, foodie
Dr. Jean Lalau Keraly,
Pediatric Nutritionist and Endocrinologist
At nine months, your little one is no longer a baby but not a big kid, either. At this age, he can discover real dishes composed of vegetables and starches. Even though the list of foods he can eat has gotten longer, you still need to feed him sensibly, without pressure to grow up too quickly. His body is still fragile, and there will be plenty of time for him to try Aunt Petra’s sauerkraut later, when his stomach is able to digest it properly.
choose foods wisely
Now you’ll be preparing dinner based on foods kids tend to love: rice, pasta, polenta. These starches do a suitable job satisfying a baby’s stomach, ensuring he’ll have a good night’s sleep and won’t be awakened by hunger pains.
small bites
It’s also at this age that your little gourmet is introduced to chunky food. No more smooth purées: You’ll gradually introduce ones with coarsely chopped pieces that can be mashed. His meals are starting to look more and more like your own!
just like grown-ups
Now that he is sitting up straight and having fun gnawing on his crust of bread, why not invite him to the family dinner table? By integrating Baby naturally into your dinners, you’re teaching him to see a meal as a moment to relax and share, a pleasurable time when he can interact with the family and taste the grown-up dishes, as long as they don’t pose any danger (allergies or intolerances).
ambience is everything
If your little one gets into the habit of eating dinner in a hurry, with the television going full blast and the family getting all worked up as dinnertime approaches, it’s guaranteed his appetite or enthusiasm will reflect that. The pleasure of eating comes not only from the food itself, but from the atmosphere in which it is consumed.
a bit of advice
If you can’t be there for Baby’s dinner—on a regular or an occasional basis—avoid making a big entrance if you happen to arrive home during his dinnertime. He’s missed you so much during the long day that his attention will inevitably be focused on you. This is enough to make him push aside even the tastiest dishes in the world! So let him eat peacefully and come say hello once he’s had his dinner. Then you’ll have plenty of time to hold and pamper him, knowing that he’s been well fed. Finally, make sure you don’t tuck your baby into bed immediately after he’s eaten. Would you like to go to bed after a good dish of risotto? Too heavy! Spend about an hour interacting and cuddling with him, preparing him for bedtime.