Feeding a child is not all that different from feeding yourself, except it's a lot messier! Here are the steps to a fun feeding:
1. Get everything ready that you will need: bib, wash cloth, dish or feeder, baby spoon and food.
2. Place the baby in a highchair or infant seat. Make sure the safety belt is secure so that baby will not slide out.
3. Fashen the bib around the baby's neck.
4. Place a small dab of food on the spoon and slowly put it in the baby's mouth. If you are lucky, he will be hungry and have his mouth open wide like a little bird. For babies who are new to solid food, you may have to try several times to put the same spoonful of food back into his mouth. Eventually, it will go down. When the baby spits out food or makes strange faces it does not necessarily mean he doesn't like the food. It may just be a new taste he's experienceing!
5. If the baby is flailing around, making it difficult to feed him, try holding his hands down with one hand and feed him with the other. This will help avoid the baby slinging food across the room!
6. When the baby refuses to open his lips or pushes the spoon away, he is probably finished eating.
7. Wipe his hands and face with a warm, wet washcloth before removing him from the highchair.
8. Place the baby in a safe place, then clean up any spills. Be sure to have the baby sit up for 15-20 minutes after the meal so his food can digest properly.
