Learning to feed

Flying peas and butternut hats -- the fun has begun now that your baby is starting to show interest in feeding himself. At around 7 months, once he can sit strongly, he will start grabbing the spoon from your hands, especially if you are too slow. He is also ready to move on to more textured foods and a wider variety of tastes, not just apple mush, pear mush and sweet potato mush.

Here are some ways to make it fun for everybody:

• Expect mess. Lay newspaper or plastic around the high chair.
• Tie a bib on every time, otherwise his clothes will all get stained and yucky.
• Give him a spoon, and have one yourself, as he might not get enough food in his mouth at first.
• Don't spend hours preparing elaborate meals -- he is still experimenting with tastes, so just do simple versions of whatever you are eating.
• Don't fixate on the amount he is eating -- as long as he is growing well and still drinking breastmilk or formula, he'll be fine.
• Make sure he uses cutlery that is the right size for his hands.
• Don't use your best crockery -- it is sure to end up on the floor a few times.

The right equipment

With chunky easy-to-hold curved cutlery handles, soft spoon and fork tips and soft angled handles on a non-spill cup with a soft spout, the products in the Clicks baby care feeding range 'Learn to feed' stage are ideal for use from around 7 months.

Feeding spoon and fork

Also available: Feeding spoons and feeding set.

Priced from R24.99. Exclusive to Clicks. Click here to read more about Clicks feeding accessories.