Monday, June 28, 2010

BLW Checklist

Baby-led weaning is the best thing for our baby. I really do believe that. I feel sad when I see children being spoon-fed. Because actually we rob them of the joy of touching and eating food just the way it is.
Emma never had any mush, or mashed up food (except when it is supposed to be mashed like buttered potatoes or rice porridge). She is healthy, chubby and loves mealtimes!

I'd love to share some of the things you might need to go on the BLW journey:
  • Invest on an easy to clean, sturdy highchair. Don't take one with intricate nooks at the bottom or on the legs. Imagine yourself pouring a bowl of spaghetti down the top. If you can clean it reasonably well, take it. Here's a link to the Gulliver ikea wooden chair that Emma uses.
  • Always spread enough old newspaper underneath. You'll never know.
  • Have lots of non-moisturizing baby wipes handy.
  • Clean the surface of the table before eating. Foods always manage to escape the plate and into her mouth. Use anti-bacterial wet wipes, or just regular baby wipes mentioned above.
  • Use a disposable table mat when outside or in a restaurant if possible. If not, just wipe as you would at home. Unless you are at a food court.
  • Clean fresh fruits or vegetables thoroughly in running water before giving it to her.
  • Always be positive and praise her eating. Never scold her for spilling food when she didn't mean to. Just enjoy our time with her and try to let her be as much as possible. Don't wipe her face all the time.
  • Remember to start only when she is 6 months old.
  • Remember that her main food is milk (breast or formula). These mealtimes with you is PLAYTIME until she turns one year old.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Turning One


Emma is one year old last week.
She can already handle a spoon, not poking herself. Because she is used to handling food like steamed broccoli, slices of apples, etc. So she can gauge distances from her hand to her mouth.
I can even trust her with chopsticks. Under supervision, of course. But it's unbelievable how nimble she is with the utensil. She can copy us picking up rice or noodle with the chopstick and eating it!
This will never happen if I have been feeding her cereals or porridge only with a spoon. Thanks again to Baby Led Weaning!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Jeremiah 29:11


If I could go back to the past to meet my old self, this is what I'm going to tell her:

Don't worry about anything. It's gonna turn out fine.
God has planned it all for you. You just take His hand.
Make sure you follow His commands. 

Everything will turn out fine.

Although now you may have no money, 

and you don't know if you'll get a good job.
You'll see, sister, that you will get an amazing job. 

And you'll do just fine.

Now you may wonder about a husband. Much less a baby. 

How would you afford it?
But He'll make sure you'll get the one He has chosen for you.
And the babies, the most wonderful babies, 

- yes, not just one baby - will come, too!

And you wonder how you'll ever serve God. 

If you'll ever gonna be any good.
Sister, you'll see, He has lovingly prepared 

Exactly what you need to be!

So now that I'm here in this wonderful future of mine, I should remember one thing more.
It's all gonna turn out fine later. 'Cos God is still in control of it all.
I do not hold my own fate. It is all in His merciful hands.
And He says, "I know the plans I have for you. Child, you'll do more than fine."

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11