Baby Self-Feeding: Solutions for Introducing Purees and Solids to Create Lifelong, Healthy Eating Habits

227 Pages·2016·9.233 MB·English

by  Ripton, Nancy;Potock, Melanie

“What a fun read! This adorable, thorough guide leaves no dish un-turned. It's ideal for first-time
parents, or for the seasoned mom or dad who finds themselves with a challenging eater. It's
also a great reminder that modeling great food habits is an important part of parenting.”
—Abigail Tuller, editor-at-large, Pregnancy magazine
“Mealtime with infants doesn't have to be stressful! Melanie Potock and Nancy Ripton have
created a premier resource to educate and empower parents to confidently make decisions
about their child's first experiences with food. Here's to more happy, healthy eaters and their
proud parents!”
—Jena Castro-Casbon, M.S., CCC-SLP, founder of The Independent Clinician
“Figuring out when and how to introduce your baby to solid foods can be confusing. This must-
read guide helps you find a perfect balance between traditional purees and finger foods to get
your baby started right. This stress-free plan for beginning solids can set your child up for a
happy, healthy, and adventurous life-long relationship with food, and can prevent many of the
picky-eating problems that crop up during those early years.”
—Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution
“Baby Self-Feeding provides parents with easy-to-read essential guidance to help your baby
happily navigate the road to self-feeding. It includes sound practical advice about balancing
nutrition, your infant’s preferences, and confidently supporting independence and eating skills.
Based on science but balanced with down-to-earth tips on how to best feed your baby, this
wonderful contribution to infant feeding is sure to be highly recommended by both feeding
specialists and pediatricians.”
—Catherine S. Shaker, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, pediatric speech-language
pathologist and infant feeding/swallowing specialist
“Research shows that babies greatly benefit from a variety of feeding experiences beginning at 6
months of age. Spoon feeding, open cup drinking, straw drinking, and finger feeding provide the
mouth movement and development that babies need. Using a program that promotes variety in
feeding methods, such as Baby Self-Feeding, guides parents through these crucial feeding processes.”
—Diane Bahr, M.S., CCC-SLP, author of Nobody Ever Told Me (or My Mother) That!
Everything from Bottles and Breathing to Healthy Speech Development
“Baby Self-Feeding celebrates the partnership between baby and parent as baby learns to love
food and participate joyfully in mealtimes while becoming an independent eater!”
—Marsha Dunn Klein, M.Ed., OTR/L, FAOTA

BABY
SELF-FEEDING
SOLID FOOD SOLUTIONS TO CREATE LIFELONG,
HEALTHY EATING HABITS
NANCY RIPTON &
MELANIE POTOCK M.A., CCC-SLP, CO-AUTHOR OF
RAISING A HEALTHY, HAPPY EATER
© 2016 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
Text © 2016 Nancy Ripton
First published in the United States of America in 2016 by
Fair Winds Press, an imprint of
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
100 Cummings Center
Suite 406-L
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101
Telephone: [phone]
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QuartoKnows.com
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All images in this
book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and
no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright
or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to trace the
copyright holders and ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize
for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a
subsequent reprinting of the book.
20 19 18 17 16 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-1-59233-722-4
Digital edition published in 2016
eISBN: 978-1-63159-167-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ripton, Nancy, author. | Potock, Melanie, author.
Title: Baby self-feeding : solid food solutions to create lifelong, healthy
eating habits / Nancy Ripton and Melanie Potock.
Description: Beverly, Massachusetts : Quarto Publishing Group, USA, Inc.,
2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016004084| ISBN 9781592337224 (softbound) | ISBN
9781631591679 (eISBN)
Subjects: LCSH: Infants--Nutrition. | Baby foods.
Classification: LCC RJ216 .R552 2016 | DDC 641.3/00832--dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016004084
Design and Page Layout: Mattie Wells
Photography & Cover Image: Glenn Scott Photography
Additional Photography: Shutterstock.com pages 12, 14, 38, 44, 57, 64, 78, 92, 106, 130, 136, 142, 146, and
150; Alamy.com page 192.
Printed in China
The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a
physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health
program. Speak with your health care provider if you suspect your child may have a food allergy. Do not
leave children unattended while eating.
• 5

Contents
Introduction: Creating Healthy Eaters for Life 9
1
The Evolution of Baby Feeding 13
2
Early Nutritional Guidance: Encouraging Adventurous and Healthy Eaters 25
3
Weaning from the Breast or Bottle 45
4
Mindful Purees 65
5
A Healthy Start with Self-Feeding 79
6
Understanding Your Child’s Early Nutritional Needs 93
7
Self-Feeding Safety: Hazards, Allergies, and Special Diets 107
8
Table Manners, Messy Eating Solutions, and Tips for Dining Out 137
9
Addressing Picky Eating 147
10
Recipes for Early Self-Feeders (6 to 9 Months) 157
11
Recipes for Emergent Self-Feeders (10 to 12 months) 171
12
Recipes for Competent Self-Feeders (13 to 18 months) 193
References 214
Acknowledgments 218
About the Authors 219
Index 220