Are you getting ready to introduce solid foods to your baby? This is an exciting time for both parents and baby! To prepare for a safe and fun feeding transition, here are some feeding prerequisites and recommendations for using the Mini Mat.
Infants: At 4-6 months of age solid food is usually introduced and a baby consumes both liquids and food during this feeding ritual. This usually consists of breast milk or formula, pureed foods, mashed foods and/or chip-sized foods depending upon a parents feeding method (traditional or baby led weaning). Here are some tips for both methods.
Traditional Method Prerequisites (a feeding method where parent/therapist feeds baby liquids and purees via spoon):
- Make sure that your baby is at least 4 months of age; feeding experts usually recommend waiting until 6 months
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to sit independently with a little support from pillows or towels to ensure a safe position
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to turn her head away to support her hunger + full cues
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to lean forward to take a bite off the spoon you are offering in order to support a positive feeding relationship and gain trust
- Use the Mini Mat to hold your milk (breast or formula) and purees. The mat suctions to the table, allowing you to freely dip the spoon into the mat and feed your baby easily without chasing a baby food jar around the table. In addition, it is a good feeding practice to keep jars, labels, cartons, etc. out of baby’s eyesight to discourage food jags (e.g., baby only eating one brand of food and refusing all others).
- Use the Mini Mat for your baby to hold on to for extra balance. Since the mat suctions to the table, it can enable + support their stability.
- Use the Mini Mat to quickly measure how much your baby consumes at each feeding time. The portion sizes (i.e., the eyes and smile of the mat) are 2oz, 2oz and 4oz.
Baby Led Weaning Method Prerequisites (a feeding method where baby puts the food in their mouth, not the parent/therapist):
- Make sure that your baby is 6 months of age per BLW expert's advice
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to sit independently with a little support from pillows or towels to ensure a safe position
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to turn her head away to support her hunger + full cues
- Make sure your baby has the motor skills to lean forward to grab, explore and eat foods
- Use the Mini Mat to hold your milk and finger foods. The mat suctions to the table, allowing your baby to easily rake up foods and feed herself independently.
- Use the Mini Mat for your baby to hold onto for extra balance. Since the mat suctions to the table, it can enable + support their stability.
- Use the Mini Mat to quickly measure how much your baby consumes at each feeding time. The portion sizes (i.e., the eyes and smile of the mat) are 2oz, 2oz and 4oz.
- Use the Mini Mat to contain the beautiful messiness of this particular feeding method.
Toddlers: Feeding experts say that you can minimize food refusals when traveling by keeping feeding rituals as consistent as possible. If your toddler uses the Happy Mat during mealtime, than use the Mini Mat when traveling to keep the feeding routine familiar and reliable. Although the portion sizes of the Mini Mat are smaller due to its reduced size, it is a perfect feeding tool to encourage toddlers to use their language skills. They can ask for second helpings and explore a variety of tastes with each additional serving.
Travel: Are you going on a holiday trip that will involve your little one eating on an icky airplane tray? Dying to get out of the house and take your little one to a restaurant? Got a trip planned to grandma’s house or attending therapy appointments? The Mini Mat is perfect for traveling because:
- The Mini Mat is made from a thinner food grade silicone than our Happy Mat so it’s light enough to go in a purse or diaper bag
- It is packaged in a reusable bag, so you can can keep the Mini Mat clean during travel and contain the soiled mat for washing later at home
- The portion sizes (i.e., the eyes and smile of the mat) are travel-sized at 2oz, 2oz and 4oz
Highchairs & Tables: At ezpz, we always encourage parents to ditch the highchair tray and bring baby/toddler to the table with the whole family. If you are using the table, the Mini Mat suctions to the surface like all of our other products! And, if you are using a highchair, the Mini Mat will most likely fit on the tray – even ‘space saver’ models!
How do you plan on using the Mini Mat with your little one? We would love to hear from you and see your pictures. Use the hashtags #minimat #ezpzfun or #myezpzmat so we can repost your mealtime creations!
