When baby starts weaning, many parents want to do things right.
Stimulate, vary, awaken , develop.
And without realizing it, every meal can become a “learning” .
But in BLW , not everything at the table has to be educational
When the meal becomes a mission
One might quickly conclude:
“We need to introduce him to a new food.”
“You have to vary it.”
“We need to stimulate his motor skills.”
“We must take advantage of the moment to teach him.”
Gradually, the meal can become a mission to be accomplished .
However, child-led diversification is not based on performance.
Learning happens naturally
In BLW , baby learns:
by observing,
by repeating,
by touching,
by exploring.
There's no need to turn every plate into a learning experience.
Simple repetition is often more effective than constant stimulation.
Too many goals can create tension
When you want to:
vary at each meal
to offer something “new” constantly,
optimize every bite,
We can unconsciously transmit a form of tension.
However, the atmosphere of the meal has a much greater influence than the precise contents of the plate.
Simplifying also means providing support
Simplifying does not mean neglecting.
This means:
accept repetition,
to make room for the ordinary,
Trust the process.
A simple, repeated, calm meal… can be very nourishing, even without an “educational objective”.
In summary
In BLW , every meal doesn't have to be a lesson.
Even in simple things, a baby learns a great deal.
Letting go of the idea of optimizing every moment often allows you to find more serenity at the table.
