Top 10 things to remember when feeding your child

1.    Be Consistent! Children and infants learn best when the skill is repeated several times.  When you are just beginning to introduce purees, be consistent with consistency of food, type of food, time you are presenting the food, and where you are feeding.  

2.    Eating is a LEARNED behavior.  Most people think that every child is born with the ability to eat.  This is not true.  Children learn from their parents modeling how to chew and swallow.  It is important that you teach your child how to eat by over exaggerating your mouth movements and eating with your child.  

3.    DO NOT force feed!  Developing a healthy relationship with food and mealtime is a very important skill to learn.  At times, it is very frustrating when your baby won’t eat, but you have to remember not to force anything into his/her mouth, as this will make problems worse.   

4.    Listen to your gut.  You are the parent, and therefore you know your child better than anyone.  If you feel that your child is not eating efficiently or if mealtimes are stressful for you or your child, it is important that you seek out professional help, even if your pediatrician does not agree.  Early intervention is best.

5.    Watch for cues. Feeding is like a dance, you need to watch your infant and begin to read their cues for when they need another bite, have had too much, or are done with mealtime.  If your infant turns their head away from the spoon you may need to give them a moment to swallow.  Other signs to watch for are pursing lips tightly, closing their eyes, placing head on tray, hiccups, or crying.  These signs may let you know that your infant needs a break or that it is time to end mealtime all together.

6.    Get Messy! Your child should be able to touch and manipulate his/her food.  It is typical for infants/toddlers to be messy when feeding especially when they are just learning.  Often it is the parent that places significant restrictions on the infant/toddler’s active participation in mealtime, making the infant less likely to join in an enjoy mealtime.

7.    Encourage self-feeding.  It is so important that you allow your child to be independent from the very beginning.  Often times this is the key to allowing “picky eaters” to advance their diets because they are in control.  

8.    Watch liquid intake.  “Picky eaters” often drink all their calories because it is easier.  Ask your pediatrician how much milk is appropriate for your child’s age, and stick to that amount.  For this reason, I usually don’t recommend fruit juices until after 2 years of age or in moderation.  DO NOT give an infant juice.  It is full of sugar and will give them a false sense of fullness.  

9.    Good fats are essential for brain growth and development.  It is important to offer your child “good” fats (ie: avocado, oils, butter, milk fats, etc) in order to help promote brain growth and development.

10. HAVE FUN!!! Mealtime and eating are supposed to be fun.  Traditions, memories, and relationships are built around meals.  Allow your children to enjoy mealtimes even if they are having a difficult time with one or two aspects of mealtime.