Setting up mealtimes

3 min read

A good setup makes eating safer and easier. Use a highchair with a footrest so your baby’s feet are supported and the body is upright and stable. Fit the tray or table at a height where hands can reach food easily.

Sit with your baby and eat something yourself when you can. Babies learn by watching. Turn off screens and put toys away: distractions make choking harder to notice and eating less fun.

Prepare for mess. Use a bib, a mat on the floor and a wipe-clean tray. Mess is part of learning. Let your baby touch and squash food, since it builds the skills that lead to eating well.

Never leave your baby alone with food, and never feed in a moving car or a bouncer. Keep meals short, around 20 to 30 minutes, and end them calmly when your baby has had enough.