Weaning: Self-Feeding

Weaning is going really well and Holly is trying more adventurous tastes and textures with every day that passes. I don't think her appetite or eagerness to try new foods will ever match her older sister but I'm happy that she is enjoying the weaning process just as much.

We have now moved on to the Mellow Mummy tried and tested combo of baby-led weaning alongside mashed homemade foods. Having spent a week in a hotel with no baby food facilities (or packaged food available to buy), Holly had to get used to finger foods very early on.

At meal times I now serve Holly pretty much the same food as the rest of the family - sometimes without a sauce, or chopped up slightly differently (and often without our last-minute addition of fresh or dried chillis!).

Tommee Tippee sent us a few pieces of tableware from the explora range - many of these are designed for slightly older babies but because Holly is already self-feeding we are getting to try them out already.

Our favourite piece of Tommee Tippee tableware is these Tommee Tippee Easy Scoop Bowls which come in a pack of 4. I find them so versatile and use them for almost every meal - I sometimes use them for Lara too because they are a good size for an afternoon snack. Theoretically you can fasten the bowls to the table or highchair tray with the Tommee Tippee Magic Mat but I haven't had any success with this on any type of surface so I have given up - Holly just pulls the bowl off and makes as much mess as if I hadn't used it at all.

We also like serving Holly's meals in the Tommee Tippee Section Plates which are perfect for us because we can put some of the mashed food in the middle to spoon feed her and also some finger foods at either side to keep her occupied as we eat.

The last thing that I have just started to try with Holly is the Tommee Tippee Snack n Go cup which is designed for holding toddler snacks.  Holly very occasionally has a snack in the afternoon and I think it will be a long time before she totally gets the hang of the cup but the idea is that they can push their little hands through the flexible lid to grab a small crisp or biscuit without being able to tip the entire snack pot up and lose all of the contents.

Sometimes when I watch Holly eating all by herself I can't believe how grown up and independent she is already.