Feeding Our Children With Love

What and how we feed our children is a very personal topic. Of course we all want the best for our babies and toddlers - and whether or not you are a new or seasoned parent, chances are you are doing an amazing job. Many times using our instincts as parents to determine our children's readiness for different stages of eating is on point.

However, there are other times when we may be influenced by something we see on social media, what another mom is doing with her children, or what your family members are advising you to do when it comes to various aspects of your child's eating.

I'm so happy to share some of my thoughts with you. Having raised 2 healthy, thriving boys who are now very self sufficient with their eating at 14 and 17 years old, you might think that we had zero issues as babies and toddlers. I can confidently say that was not the case! From dealing with severe reflux and choking issues (son #1) to texture and pickiness (son #2) I have dealt with some pretty significant challenges as a mother. I hope to offer gentle guidance and support to you during this phase of life!

Starting Solids:

• Each child's readiness for solid food depends on their own rate of development. Some factors to consider:

  • Can they sit in a feeding seat with good head control?

  • Do they seem eager to be fed?

  • How do they handle food on a spoon? It's normal for babies to not know what to do - for example, pushing the food out of their mouth, making "raspberry" sounds, etc. Choking, crying or other negative behaviors are all signals that he or she is not ready for solids. Wait a few weeks and try again!

  • How is your baby growing? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your baby is 6 months to start solid foods. However, some babies are ready earlier than that. It's important to talk to your child's pediatrician about starting solid foods if you have questions about readiness.

    
    

• Vitamin/Mineral Supplements:

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 400 IU of daily vitamin D drops for all breastfed or partially breastfed infants from birth, and iron supplements (1 mg/kg/day) starting at 4 months for infants taking over 50% breast milk, until solid foods are introduced

Baby's First Foods:

• Should be soft or pureed (small bites is not sufficient - food must be soft to prevent choking)

• Introduce one "single ingredient" new food every 3-5 days

• I usually recommend starting with vegetables and proteins before fruits to discourage preference for sweet foods

• There is no evidence that waiting to introduce eggs, diary, peanut products, or fish prevents allergies. If your baby has severe eczema or other known egg allergy, testing for peanut products is recommended before introducing.

Finger Foods

• Introduce when baby can bring hands to mouth

• Food should be soft, easy to swallow, and cut into small pieces

• Choking hazards include any food that requires chewing:

  • hot dogs/meat sticks, whole grapes or chunks of other hard fruit, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, hard or sticky candy

Juice

• Babies do not need juice

• AAP recommends less than 4 oz 100% juice for children 1-3 years

Division of Responsibility in Feeding - Ellyn Satter, RD

• As the adult, your job at meals and snacks is:

  • 1) WHAT: Choose the menu and select what foods will be provided.

  • 2) WHEN: Select consistent times when food will be provided.

  • 3) WHERE: Determine the eating environment where food will be provided

    
    

• As an adult, you can trust the child at meals and snacks to:

  • 1) WHETHER: Determine how much to eat of the food that is offered

  • 2) HOW MUCH: Decide whether or not to eat the food that is offered

    
    

• Trust between the parent and child is the goal.

• This trust model assumes that, when parents provide a supportive, positive eating environment, children will be capable with eating and will grow appropriately.

  
  

What Defines a Good Eater?

• Children who are good eaters take care of their food needs - and this may not align with your definition of a "good eater."

• Children rely on their internal cues to determine how much to eat.

• Children challenge themselves when eating - new foods may mean a familiar food prepared in a different way, or a food that the child has never tasted before.

• Children learn to eat new foods by eating with adults whom they trust - and these new foods may need to be served repeatedly until they don't feel new anymore.

Resources:

• Healthychildren.org

• Ellynsatterinstitute.org

• https://www.eatright.org/for-kids