Postural Support when Starting Solid Foods with Emma Hubbard, Pediatric OT

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

In order to safely start solid foods, babies should be able to sit on their own - relatively unassisted. But what does that mean? How long should they be able to sit for? What if they tripod?...does that count? Emma Hubbard is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who is teaching about postural support for your baby when starting solid foods.

In this interview Emma is explaining how your baby should be seated in the high chair to support a safe swallow. She’s sharing milestone information about your baby’s pincer grasp and the motor skills they are developing during the weaning period. This interview is packed with practical tips you can put into practice today, involving a concise list of unsafe feeding practices you should avoid when your baby begins eating solid food.

SUMMARY OF EPISODE

In this episode we’re talking about:

• Signs of readiness to eat: why being able to sit is the most important one and why disappearance of the tongue thrust reflex really doesn’t matter that much if you’re waiting until 6 months to start solid foods.

• Developmental milestones: when should you start worrying if your baby isn’t sitting up, what age do they develop the pincer grasp and are there exercises you should be doing to help your baby get the pincer grip faster?

• Unsafe feeding practices: why are high chairs with a reclining feature even allowed to be sold, why we both dislike silicone trough bibs, and how technology at mealtimes interferes with your baby’s ability to experience food and learn how to eat

ABOUT THE GUEST

• Emma Hubbard is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who teaches parents about infant development

• Her YouTube channel is an incredible resource for parents to learn about the developmental milestones their babies are going through

• Emma is a mom of 3 who helps new parents navigate the different developmental stages their babies are going through

LINKS FROM EPISODE

• Resources to learn more about infant development from Emma Hubbard
  

  • Emma’s website: www.brightestbeginning.com 

  • Emma’s courses: https://brightestbeginning.com/courses/

  • Emma’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EmmaHubbard 

• Other Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy podcast episodes to learn more about feeding milestones:

  • Episode 141 - BLW Basics: Is My Baby Ready to Start Solid Foods?

  • Episode 236 - Positive Tilt: Get Permission from Your Baby with Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA

  • Episode 205 - High Chair Help: What if My Baby Won't Sit in the High Chair?

  • Episode 172 - High Chair Positioning: Reduce Choking Risk Using This One Simple Move with Jeff Durkee of Nomi High Chair

TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE

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• REGISTER for my free online workshop BABY-LED WEANING FOR BEGINNERS: How to get your baby to try 100 foods before turning 1 without you having to spoon-feed purees or buy pouches. Everyone on the workshop gets a copy of my 100 FIRST FOODS list so you’ll know exactly what foods babies CAN eat when they’re ready for BLW! Register for this week’s workshop times here.

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