Thanksgiving is a time to gather family and friends and share a delicious meal. You envision a table full of loved ones – or perhaps just your small family – and enjoying favorite dishes from recipes that have been passed down for generations.
Unfortunately, it’s not always how Thanksgiving (or other holiday dinners) work. For parents with picky eaters, Thanksgiving may be stressful as you anticipate comments what family members will say about your kid’s eating habits (and what they imply about your parenting). Perhaps you’re doing Baby-led Weaning (infant self-feeding) and you worry that loved ones will not understand how your baby eats. The sights and the aroma’s might be completely delicious to adults, but for many children, especially picky eaters or children with special needs or allergies, this meal can cause stress to the whole family.
Remember, flexibility is important with all things, especially children and holidays.
We’ve laid out some strategies for keeping Thanksgiving fun and low-stress with your BLW baby or selective kiddo.
If your child has known food allergies, make sure to inform your host ahead of time. Always ask for ingredients in foods you didn’t make, and consider bringing allergy-friendly Thanksgiving dishes your child can enjoy so they can be part of the celebration.
