The essentials for starting weaning
Dear parents, welcome to this major milestone: dietary diversification. A vast world, a vast subject, in which many find themselves lost or overwhelmed with information. You may be wondering where to start, how, at what age, whether to practice DME... Don't panic! Everything is ultimately very straightforward, and Popote has been supporting parents on this topic for nearly 10 years. What are the essentials for starting your baby's weaning journey with peace of mind? We have the answers.
A complete booklet with everything you need to know about diversification
You have a thousand and one questions, and that's perfectly normal. Popote has therefore gathered all these queries in a little book and answers them in a simple and detailed way. None of your concerns have been overlooked… In this guide, Popote informs you about DME (child-led diversification), how to combine breastfeeding and diversification, how much milk baby should drink age by age, which fruits and vegetables to start with, how to introduce allergens, how to diversify fats and why. This book, created by knowledgeable parents and under the guidance of a specialist nutritionist and dietitian, is your bible to guide you from the very beginning to the end of this journey!
Popotes
Popote is a revolution in diversification, as it is the only brand that offers single-ingredient pouches, freshly cooked and blended — ideal for getting started. Everything is organic, French, well-sourced, and the selection is wiiide! You can easily let baby try all fruits and vegetables (even those that are out of season, as the pouches keep for around 8 months). We love the slightly niche flavours: fig, corn, parsnip, cherry… There's truly something for every taste, and the fact that they're single-ingredient and smooth in texture means you can approach diversification calmly, even when you're on the go!
Bonus: Popote has since diversified and now offers pouches that accompany baby throughout their learning journey, thanks to a variety of textures, proteins, starchy foods, stirred purées…
Double bonus: recipe ideas to satisfy your child's taste buds, age by age!
A good highchair
The highchair is an essential accessory and must be chosen with care. The highchair must have a good seat so that baby is comfortable throughout their learning journey. If it's adaptable, even better! The second criterion is that it must be easy to clean… We don't need to spell it out: baby will gradually explore, often with their little hands, and things will get messy.
At Charlie, we offer you the TOBO evolving highchair (from birth with the Newborn shell) and a HIKO table seat ultra-practical and portable, fitting all tables.
Bibs (in abundance)
You may already have bibs for bottle feeding, but once you start diversification, you'll see their potential reach new heights! And the choice is vast: there are bibs with sleeves, a little pocket to catch food that falls from the corner of the mouth, and even bibs that double as a tray! Whatever you choose, they allow baby to move freely and give you peace of mind about their clothes!
Letting baby explore with their hands
You'll quickly notice that baby puts their hands in the bowl, and that's a very good sign! It's exploration, and it starts with touch before taste. This curiosity is to be encouraged rather than suppressed. Baby wants to play, squish between their fingers, suck — this is completely normal.
A food processor
Well known to all parents, these food processors are absolutely fabulous as they allow you to steam cook, blend to the right consistency age by age, defrost, and sometimes even sterilise… They really do everything, except peel the vegetables. They are indispensable as they save time and are often compact. Quick to clean, unobtrusive, and their steam cooking preserves all the nutrients in fruits and vegetables. Ideal for starting diversification — you can also stock up on small glass or freezer-safe pots: meals at the ready for the whole week!
A pinch of patience
You need a great deal of composure when starting meals with baby, as they will explore at their own pace. Moreover, you need to offer a food several times to find out whether they like it or not. Children are not always equal in this respect — some are very curious and others less interested in food. Whatever the case, baby evolves, grows, awakens, changes, and nothing is set in stone!
A pinch of letting go
And goodness knows you'll need it on just about every front… Let go of concerns about quantities: baby is equipped with the satiety hormone, so trust them. Not interested? Don't force it, try again next time! And yes, they'll probably make a mess — on the floor, on themselves, and perhaps on you — that's normal, it's all part of the process. Stay calm! Baby is gradually exploring their tastes, and it's with time that they'll refine their little palate.
And good cheer!
Some accessories are less essential and depend on personal preference. A few examples: food-grade dummies, silicone (or non-silicone) cutlery, a floor mat to avoid having to mop the kitchen... It's up to you! Whatever happens, diversification is a stage of great joy for baby and for you, and these memories will stay with you forever — enjoy!
