Post by @babyplate.app

1. Offer variety from day 1 - not “veggies first” 🥦🍓 The “veggies before fruit” rule is a myth. Babies are born loving sweet. What matters is exposure - offer both, often. 2. Choking is silent. Gagging is noisy ❗ Gagging is how your baby learns to eat. If they’re loud, they’re safe. If they go quiet and can’t cough - that’s the moment to act. 3. Iron is the #1 thing nobody tells you about 🩸 A baby’s iron stores run out around 6 months - and it’s our job to refill them. Meat, lentils, eggs, iron-fortified oats. Every day. 4. Bigger pieces are safer than tiny ones 🥕 Babies don’t have the pincer grip to chew small bits yet. Soft strips the size of your finger > diced cubes. 5. Gums are strong enough to chew at 6 months 🦷 Purees alone don’t teach chewing - they need real textures to practice. Soft-cooked veg, toast strips, shredded meat. 6. Tracking foods is a lifesaver. You couldn’t keep up with which foods, allergens, nutrients. Track and explore foods in the BabyPlate app - iron, variety, allergens, all in one place. 7. No salt, honey, or sugar before 1 - but allergens from 6 months ❗ Waiting on allergens is outdated advice. Early intro (peanut, egg, dairy) actually reduces allergy risk. 8. Offer water with every meal 💦 A few sips from an open cup. It helps with swallowing, digestion, and teaches the skill early. 9. It can take 10-15 tries before a baby accepts a food 🍽️ 10. Keep offering without pressure. “Rejected” doesn’t mean “doesn’t like it” - it means “not yet.” 11. Spices and oils from 6 months 🌿 No salt, but herbs, garlic, cinnamon, olive oil - yes please. It’s how my baby learned to actually enjoy veggies. 12. And finally… keep an eye on your mom 👵 She’ll have opinions. Some gold, some outdated. In the end, you need to trust yourself - and pediatric guidance, not the 1980s rulebook. Get a 7 day trial of the BabyPlate app and make your solids journey stress free, link in bio 🔗 #babyplate #blw #trackreactions #babyledweaning