Knowing how to cut foods appropriately for early eaters (6-9 months) is critical for safe swallowing.
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Practice Skills: Help your baby develop mouthing and grasping skills before starting solids, typically between 3-6 months of age.
- Why practice without food? Introducing oral development tools early allows babies to explore their mouths, build coordination, and develop important pre-feeding skills.
- Why practice with purees? Before offering strips of soft foods, dip the oral development tools into a puree. This lets your baby practice the fine motor movements needed for chewing and swallowing without overwhelming them with large amounts of food.
- Product Recommendation: The ‘stick’ tool from the ezpz Oral Development Tools is the size and shape of a baby-led piece of food, so it offers great pre-feeding practice!
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Practice Grasping: Did you know that the palmar grasp is a baby's first feeding grasp, typically emerging around 6 months of age?
- Why practice the palmar grasp? This fine motor milestone aligns perfectly with the introduction of solid foods. It's one reason the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting until 6 months to start solids, as babies are better prepared to feed themselves with this grasp.
- Why is the shape of food important for the palmar grasp? Early eaters use the palmar grasp to hold food in their hand and bring it to their mouth. For the infant to grasp and handle the food successfully, it should be strip-shaped—about the length and thickness of an adult pinky finger.
- Product Recommendation: The ezpz Baby-Led Weaning Food Cutters make it easy to prepare food in the ideal strip-shape for promoting your baby's grasping skills.
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Practice Choking Prevention: One of the first steps in preventing choking is to prepare food appropriately for your baby’s age and developmental stage and to establish a proper oral care routine.
- Why avoid small pieces of food? It's important to remember that a baby's airway is about the size of a straw, making it easy for small pieces of food to obstruct it. Instead, offer larger, appropriately shaped pieces of food that encourage self-feeding while reducing choking risk.
- Why provide oral care? Regular oral care helps you monitor for food pocketing and clears food debris, contributing to a safer feeding experience and a healthier mouth.
- Product Recommendation: The ezpz Baby-Led Toothbrush and Sensory Tongue Depressor help parents establish a safe and effective oral care routine.
I hope these food-size tips help you and your early eater have successful and fun mealtimes together!
