Squeeze pouches, feeding bottles and smoothie cups with straws have become more and more popular because people don’t want the mess. I get it - kids get themselves filthy and it can be overwhelming but… Messy is actually best!

Why I'm mindful about squeezy pouches and smoothie cups:

They remove the sensory part of food. Learning to eat well needs to involve all of your senses: touch, taste, sight, and smell. Smoothie cups even bypass the taste buds on the tip of the tongue, so your little one isn’t even getting the full taste experience.

Every time your child uses a pouch or a sucky bottle, they’re missing out on an opportunity to learn how to self-feed with a spoon. They’re not developing those fine motor skills or the oral motor skills needed for eating.

They’re not learning how to chew or manipulate food effectively - skills that are essential for reducing the risk of choking.

They don’t get to build a real understanding of food and its textures. Liking carrot in a smoothie doesn’t mean they’ll like carrots in meals.

They miss the chance to learn how to eat like others in their culture. Sitting at a table or on the floor with family is important - children need to observe others to learn how to eat. Adults don’t eat their meals through a straw, and kids don’t need to either.

Food for thought

Give your little one the best chance of getting started with solids by only giving pouches and bottles on the go when necessary. The rest of the time let’s embrace the mess and give them opportunities to learn. If you're interested in teaching your baby how to use an open cup, check out our range of Clever Cups

Watch the full reel here

You’ve got this.