How is a child to be orally softened with dates (tahneek), is it with date water or with the date itself?

We have previously explained that the Sunnah for a newborn is to be tahnik'd with dates. This involves thoroughly chewing a date and then placing it in the newborn's mouth, as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did with Abdullah ibn Abi Talhah. This indicates that tahnik is performed with the date itself after it has been chewed, not with its juice.