A MUM-OF-TWO has caused controversy after giving her 10-month-old twins desiccated coconut for breakfast.
Brittany Miller is mother to Emiliano and Elijah and regularly shares videos of her parenting journey on her social media pages.
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She recently started baby led weaning (BLW) with her sons and earlier this year, came under fire for giving the boys steak for dinner.
But now, the influencer has caused a stir yet again after posting a clip of her 10-month-old twins’ eating breakfast.
Before handing her kids their plates of food, Brittany said: “It’s breakfast time for the boys and I feel like I haven’t shown you their food in ages and they’re doing so well with their food.”
As she gave her followers a close-up look at their lavish meal, Brittany added: “So they’ve got French toast with strawberry yoghurt, and I’m just sprinkling coconut all over it.
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“This is cold steak – I just keep steak in the fridge and I just give it to them because it’s cold, it’s really soothing, they can actually chew it up now.
“And then they’ve got a tomato – they love tomato because it’s just so juicy and refreshing on their gums, and then they will have some orange, but not until they’ve had this.”
Moments later, the brunette explained: “Emi has gone straight for the French toast, Eli has gone straight for the tomato, he literally loves tomatoes so much.”
But Brittany’s TikTok clip, which was posted on her official account @brittanyhmiller, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and racked up 1.3 million views in just three days.
Not only this, but it’s also amassed 80,300 likes, 671 comments and 1,398 saves.
Despite the meal appearing delicious and nutritious, numerous social media users were concerned by Brittany’s boys eating desiccated coconut and many eagerly raced to the comments to voice their fears.
One person said: “Omg really? Coconut will get stuck in their throat.”
Another asked: “I’m scared to look. Is it safe for them?”
Whilst someone else questioned: “Coconut gets stuck in their throat??”
To this, Brittany confidently clapped back and simply penned: “No.”
So they’ve got French toast with strawberry yoghurt, and I’m just sprinkling coconut all over it
Brittany Miller
Despite lots of concern amongst fans, desiccated coconut can be safely introduced to babies and is commonly used for children as a natural way to sweeten, add grip for weaning or provide extra nutrients to meals.
It is generally considered safe for babies in small amounts, but it has been advised to wait until children are around nine to 12 months, when they are better at chewing and swallowing.
When choosing desiccated coconut, it’s advised to check that it is unsweetened and without added preservatives.
What is baby led weaning?
Starting your baby on food can be a daunting, scary process.
And while mums have depended for years on purees and soft, easy to eat foods for their babies, there’s another approach that often causes controversy.
Namely baby led weaning (BLW).
Instead of spoon-feeding your baby pureed or mashed foods, BLW means offering them “only finger foods and letting them feed themselves from the start”, the NHS explained.
“You can offer a range of small, finger-sized pieces of food,” they added.
“Some parents prefer baby-led weaning to spoon feeding, while others combine a bit of both.
“There’s no right or wrong way – the most important thing is that your baby eats a wide variety of food and gets all the nutrients they need.”
Raw coconut chunks should be avoided due to choking hazards, and finely shredded or blended coconut is safer for babies.
For younger babies, who are under nine months old, it is recommended to avoid desiccated coconut due to the risk of choking and digestive difficulty.
NHS advice
According to the NHS, when it comes to weaning, there are a number of foods parents should avoid giving to babies and young children.
The NHS website reads: “Babies should not eat much salt, as it’s not good for their kidneys.
“Do not add salt to your baby’s food or cooking water, and do not use stock cubes or gravy, as they’re often high in salt.
“Remember this when you’re cooking for the family if you plan to give the same food to your baby.
“Avoid salty foods like: bacon, sausages, chips with added salt, crackers, crisps, ready meals, takeaways.”
Different parenting techniques
Here are some widely recognised methods:
Authoritative Parenting
This technique will often foster independence, self-discipline, and high self-esteem in children.
It is often considered the most effective, this technique is where parents set clear expectations – enforcing rules – whilst also showing warmth and support.
Authoritarian Parenting
This is opposite to authoritative parenting, as it is where the parent sets high demands but is low on responsiveness.
It involves ensuring the child is obedient and often employ punitive measures. While this can lead to disciplined behaviour, it may also result in lower self-esteem and social skills in children.
Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents tend to be indulgent and lenient, often taking on a role more akin to a friend than an authority figure. They are highly responsive but lack demandingness, granting children a lot of freedom. This method can nurture creativity and a free-spirited nature but may also result in poor self-regulation and difficulties with authority.
Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved or neglectful parenting is marked by low responsiveness and low demands. Parents in this category offer minimal guidance, nurturing, or attention. This often leaves children feeling neglected, which can have significant negative effects on their emotional and social development.
Helicopter Parenting
Helicopter parents are extremely involved and overprotective, frequently micromanaging their children’s lives. Although their goal is to protect and support, this approach can hinder a child’s ability to develop independence and problem-solving skills.
Free-Range Parenting
Free-range parenting encourages children to explore and learn from their surroundings with minimal parental interference. This method promotes independence and resilience but requires a safe and supportive environment to be successful.
Attachment Parenting
According to Marriage.com, Attachment parenting focuses on physical closeness and emotional bonding, often through practices such as co-sleeping and baby-wearing. This approach aims to create secure attachments and emotional well-being, but demands significant time and emotional commitment from parents.
Each of these parenting techniques has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. The key is to find a balanced approach that aligns with the family’s values and meets the child’s needs for a healthy, happy upbringing.
Not only is it advised to minimise the amount of salt you give to babies, but sugar is also a no no.
According to the NHS: “Your baby does not need sugar. By avoiding sugary snacks and drinks (including fruit juice and other fruit drinks), you’ll help prevent tooth decay.”
Additionally, parents should also steer clear of saturated fats.
“Do not give your child too many foods that are high in saturated fat, such as crisps, biscuits and cakes.
“Checking the nutrition labels can help you choose foods that are lower in saturated fat,” the NHS recommends.
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