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1. Can you elaborate on tongue thrust reflex?
Tongue thrust reflex is a reflex newborns have to protect themselves from choking. Anything "foreign" that enters their mouth is rejected by thrusting the tongue in an outward motion. The reflex typically diminishes by 6 months (but, when dealing with tinies, everything is a bit give-or-take as far as milestones go).
Have you ever tried to feed a 4 month old cereal? Then, you have most definitely observed the tongue thrust reflex. This is why the practice of shoveling and re-shoveling solids into a young baby's mouth is being phased out and replaced by a baby led approach. Not only is it messy and counter-productive, it is completely unnecessary to baby's diet.
The tongue thrust reflex goes away on its own, and baby will gain interest in eating solids just like mommy and daddy! Like other skills, some may take longer than others to get there. That is why baby led weaning focuses on the individual baby. There is no "right time" to start solids. When your baby eats food and enjoys it, she is ready! If you give her a bite of something, and she thrusts it back out and makes a horrible face, then there is no need to push! You'll know when she's ready! She may be curious about the food, in which case, you can hand her a bit and just let her squish it in her fingers and explore it at her own pace. All babies will eventually eat!
Force feeding solids does not get rid of tongue thrusting any sooner, and truly serves no purpose in a typical young baby's diet.
2. How do I appropriately cut food for BLW?
Start SMALL, and start soft! Obviously, if baby has no teeth yet, stay with mushy things. When things mush easily, you can cut or just pinch off a small amount--just enough to fit on your fingertip. If things are round (like a banana) cut it into 1/4s so that each little chunk is the shape of a triangle. Avocado and other foods, including cheese, cooked pasta, meatball, soft bread, etc.--you can just slice into small bits (about 1/4 of an inch in diameter, or the size of a Cheerio). As baby gets the hang of it, you can gradually use your judgement to give bigger pieces.
Avoid foods with skins, or remove the skin before serving. I will sometimes slice an apple very thinly (the pieces fall off into circles) then I run the knife around the edges of the circle, and it make a flat "cookie." Apple is best suited for babies that have a tooth or two, though!
And, oh! I just remembered--another good first food is frozen peas! They are the perfect size to eat whole. Frozen peas (and mixed veggies) offer a unique sensory experience, and some soothing relief for teething gums. :)
3. Do you have a good lactation cookie recipe? I'm not a chocolate person.
I have made lactation cookies for clients before and replaced the chocolate chips with raisins--I can't imagine not being a chocolate person, myself, but to each his own! ;)
The times I have made lactation cookies for clients, I have used these Major Milk Makin' Cookies from Peaceful Parenting. I typically leave out the nuts (I don't know why--just personal preference, although they definitely have some healthy fats in them!) and am a bitttt heavy handed with the butter and sugar. They usually turn out an ooey, gooey, delicious cookie, if I do say so myself! Never had any complaints--after all, they are cookies, right?! Lol...
Anyway, I first chose this recipe because it also comes with a great breakdown of the ingredients and why they are in the cookies, so I always share a print out of it with my cookie package!
4. I'm home all day with my 5 month old, and would love some ideas of what to do with her.
5 months is a fun, but tough age for moms! Babies are learning so much, and staying awake longer, but still, not actually doing much. So, the responsibility falls on mom to be the entertainer. I think many first time moms feel a bit unsure what to do with them at this age. By the time it's your second or third, you'll be so much more busy with the older one that you'll laugh you ever just sat around and stared at one baby all day.
Babies will benefit from a routine. They will like the predictability of the day, and it will help them to structure their own minds and know what to expect. Here are some fun activities to do with your baby;
1. Go for a walk to get out of the house.
2. If you're able, sit outside in the grass or on a blanket. Bring a hoppy if baby can't quite sit up yet.
3. Talk to baby. Even if you sound crazy, narrate your day. It will keep baby stimulated to listen to your voice, hear your vocabulary, and associate words with actions.
4. Mommy/Baby Workouts: Place baby tummy down on your shins and hold her arms. Lay on your back, and stretch your legs out and then bend your knees up to your chest and say, "peek-a-boo!" It'll be a challenge for your postpartum tummy and a THRILL to your baby! Of course, you can always work out your arms by lifting baby over your head, or place baby on her back on the floor and do push ups, giving her a kiss every time you dip low!
5. Join a mommy and me if there is one in your area; you'll meet other moms with babies the same age, learn some fun songs, and get out of the house. Not to mention, baby will find all kinds of new things to try in a different environment.
6. Find something that will make noise--a xylophone, a drum, etc. Babies are learning cause and effect and "secondary circular reactions," or the way their own actions affect their environment (i.e., splashing in the bathtub shakes the water, banging a toy on a hard surface makes loud noise, and kicking a play mat shakes the hanging toys).
7. Put baby in a sling or carrier and go about your daily chores. Baby will be stimulated by watching what you do and how you do it up close and personal!
8. Sing and dance. Don't be afraid to be silly with your baby, or embarrassed of your singing voice. As mentioned in this previous post, music is important to baby's brain development.
9. Find sensory activities for baby. If you're cooking pasta for dinner, sit baby in a high chair, and put some mushy, soft pasta on her tray to play with. Just keep in mind, whatever you put out will most likely end up in the mouth, so avoid things like play-doh and paint until later. It's always fun to smear a little yogurt, avocado, pasta, or cereal around a high chair tray.
10. Read books! It is never too soon to read books. Any kind of book--reading creates vocabulary, fluency, rhythm, and basic concepts of print.
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| Playing on the floor mat with some noisy toys! |
Structure your day according to what will work for you, but try to stick to a routine. For example;
Wake up (8)
Go outside (8:15--maybe a good time for mommy's morning coffee?)
Inside tummy time and/or Mommy/baby workout time (9:15)
Read book (9:45)
Nap (10)
Wake up
In sling/Mommy chores/Get out of the house to run errands) (11-12:30)
Music/singing/instruments (12:30)
Read book (1:00)
Stroller Ride (1:30)
Nap (2:30)
Wake up
Sensory play in high chair while mommy makes dinner (3:30/4)
Sit down and nurse baby before dinner
Eat dinner (or sit with mommy and daddy while they eat) (6:00)
Bath (7:00)
Read book (7:30)
Bed (7:45)
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| Exploring a giant hunk of watermelon! |
Of course, your day may look completely different than this, but it's just an idea of what a day with a 5 month old may look like. You'd have to insert nursing sessions and diaper changes throughout, taking up much more time than what's shown in the template, but you get the idea!
Also, notice before each nap there is a book. Little, predictable things in your day will help your tiny adjust to the flow and know what to expect next.
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