Having worked amongst many babies and toddlers who either fuss at the breast/bottle or are refusing or fussy with their solids I would like to discus some of the reasons I have found are quite common causes of this fussiness. Fussy feeders covers quite a large age range from newborns through to childhood and can be due to various reasons and therefore should be looked at closely to decide if or not is behavioural or is there some other more sinister cause. In this article I would like to look at some of the behaviour that is a common causes of fussy feeding.
Newborns
Firstly let’s take a look at newborns. When first learning to feed breast fed babies often fuss with attachment, bobbing their heads around trying to latch or coming off and on if the flow is too fast or too slow or to adjust their latch. A fast teat can also cause a bottle fed baby to come off and on the teat. This behaviour is all quite normal and the fussing will eventually subside as they and their parents learn to adjust.
Babies
From the age of 3 months babies become very aware of their environment and are often distracted while feeding. They may stop sucking just to give you a smile, look around the room or come off when someone comes into their view just to be social. This is quite normal behaviour. If you want to feed without to many distractions find a quiet room and wait till after the feed to interact with your baby.
Toddler and Child
Toddlers on the other hand have realised they have some control over when, how and what they what to eat. They are trying out their independence and their new found power in making their own decisions and choices (typical for two year olds). They may fight to get into the highchair, fight with who feeds them or want to totally feed themselves. They now know what foods they prefer and what they dislike and may begin to refuse these foods. Some children who fuss at mealtimes are attention seeking, it has become a game of ‘watch my parents reaction when I refuse to eat’. All these behaviours can be just a normal part of growing up.
Force Feeding
Unfortunately many parents aggravate the situation through having unrealistic ideas of how much food should be eaten. Never force a child to eat even if you think they haven’t eaten enough they will make up for it at another meal or on another day.
Behavioural Fussy Feeder
In most situations it is better not to bring attention to fussy eating as this frequently generates a greater problem. Children are attention seekers and if they can’t get the attention through good behaviour will use disruptive or negative behaviour to bring attention to themselves. If we praise our children for their good behaviour and ignore much of their antisocial behaviour they are less likely to continue the bad behaviour. Never fight with your child over food it just becomes a battle of wills. It is better to pretend to be indifferent to what they eat and eventually their eating will improve.
Children’s Meals
As long as your child is not grazing on snacks all day or filling up on milk between meals they will generally eat because they are hungry. Some children are happy with one good meal a day, others, one every second day. When offering morning and afternoon tea offer nutritious foods such as raw vegetable or fruit.
Allow your child to feed him/herself, even if it means cleaning up a big mess after them. Don't always mix all their food together, give enough variety so they have nutritious foods they like as well as the choice of foods they may not enjoy. Dieticians have noted that a child needs to try some foods 10 times before they like them. Don't be afraid to try new foods.
Keep in mind this fussy feeding phase usually passes if you do not made a fuss of it. If your child really doesn’t like some foods such as vegetables then there are ways to disguise them in different recipes. Take a look at our recipe page.
If you are concerned about your child’s eating seek advice from your family doctor or Paediatrician.
If you would like more information on topics relating to children from newborn to 5 yrs old, such as breast or bottle feeding, encouraging your child to eat, table manners, or other behavioural issues please take a look at our e-book Publications.
Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions also has home visit to help with various issues. If you would like to know more please give Sally a call on 0409 721 145.
Next month we take a look at the fussy feeders who really don’t eat enough.
This article was written by mothercraft nurse Sally Hall from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
For more information on similar parenting topics you may like take a look at our e-books Publications on this link.
Disclaimer: Articles on our website are for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright any the use of any material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
I have started this page to help families find and experiment with new recipes to help children enjoy their food. We would like you to get involved and send us your family's favourite recipes. These recipes can be for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks between meals, they may be for lunch boxes or picnics or camping. They can be simple or involved recipes and we love trying out recipes from different cultures too. If you would like to share your recipes with us we would be delighted. Of course we are looking to encourage healthy eating habits but there are also times when we want to indulge in special treats too. So send them in and we will post them up for all to enjoy.
Children love to get involved, try to encourage them to help you with the preparations; this often helps them eat it. Choose healthy high fibre, low sugar and no or low salt ingredients where possible. And remember safety first. Always supervise your children in the kitchen and do not let children near the hot oven or stove or in using equipment that may be dangerous.
Since
my article on ‘Fussy Feeders’ I have been asked about ways to disguise
healthy foods in everyday recipes. I believe the master of disguising
food is Jessica Seinfeld who has a book called Deceptively Delicious. I
would recommend this book to any family even if you don’t have a fussy
feeder. Jessica has some wonderful ideas for all sorts of disguise in
an amazing array of foods. I’d like to share some of these with you. Jessica suggests cooking and pureeing foods to be added to
recipes. I suggest incorperating this idea with other recipes you try.
If you or any of your friends have recipes that you would like to share with us sent them to info@cradle2kindy.com.au
You will need to buy all the ingredients before starting this easy to
make
recipe.
Firstly prepare the rice. Short or medium grained rice will suffice if
you
can't find Sushi rice. Wash 2-3 times in cold water till the water
is no
longer cloudy.
Place rice into a saucepan -
. 2 cups of rice to 2 cups of water
Cover, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins or cook in rice cooker.
Allow to stand for 10 mins.
Mix together:
3 tablespoons rice/sushi vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
salt to taste (optional)
Pour this over the rice and stir gently until thoroughly mixed in.
Allow to
cool to room temperature.
While rice is cooling prepare fillings.
Choose ingredients from the
following list
that you and your family enjoy such as -
.
cucumber, carrot, cheese,
capsicum, avocado, egg - beaten then fried flat and cut into strips
spring onions or shallots,
. mushrooms fresh of cooked,
pickled ginger, radish or gherkins,
cold meat, sausage or chicken,
tuna or cooked fresh fish,
mayonnaise to add flavour.
Or any other filling of your choice.
Cut all the fillings into long
thin
strips. Sometimes you may like to use up bits from yesterday's
meal, for
example cold sausages, fish, or meat thinly sliced.
The last ingredients you will need -
nori (dried layers of seaweed)
Japanese soy sauce for dipping (for the adults)
water and a pastry brush or finger
With everyone sitting around the table with the ingredients on plates or
a
clean chopping board you are ready to go.
Place the nori sheet on a wooden board or bamboo place-mat and spread
some
rice mix over 2/3 of the nori sheet leaving a space of 2 cm at the end
furthest from you. On the end closest to you put a thin strip of the
fillings of your choice and a little mayonnaise to your taste. Roll the
nori sheet firmly over the filling and rice then with pastry brush or
finger
dampen the edge with water to seal. By the time everyone has made their
sushi rolls they will have had time to sit for the needed 10 minutes.
This
will allow them to set. Now cut them with a sharp knife into mouth size
pieces.
Eat with fingers or have fun with chopsticks.
Since everyone has made their own sushi, choosing what they like to go
into
it, they are bound to enjoy it. Once you have all the ingredients this
recipe is quick, easy and ready within minutes.
I have once again chosen a recipe sent in by a client who recommended another of Jessica Seinfeld’s recipes, which the whole family enjoys:
Baked Spaghetti & Meatball Pie
From: ‘Deceptively Delicious’ by Jessica Seinfeld
Ingredients
1 cup of leftover cooked pasta or wholemeal spaghetti
500 g mincemeat, minced chicken or tin of tuna drained
1 large egg white
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups of tomato sauce
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzarella
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup grated carrot (this can be let out or replaced with ¼ cup carrot puree if your child is fussy with vegies).
½ cup of pureed mixed veg – put a combination of vegetables into a food processer and puree.
NB. Vegetables can be carrot, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, pumpkin, fresh beetroots, peas, capsicum, or spinach. The idea is that the flavour of this puree doesn’t have an over powering taste or colour.
Preparation
Preheat the oven at 180 C and lightly grease a 20 cm baking dish.
If you are not using left over pasta cook your paster till al dente, drain and cool.
Into a large bowl, mix the pasta, tuna, tomato sauce, grated carrot and cottage cheese then flavour to taste with salt and pepper.
Or, using the mince mixture make 2cm balls by mixing mince with, pureed vegetables, egg white, parmesan and garlic.
Pour the pasta mixture into the baking dish spread out evenly before adding the meatballs and sprinkling with mozzarella.
Bake for 25 -30 minutes uncovered or until the centre is firm and the cheese is browned.
Note when making sauce or mince or stews, vegetables can be disguise by adding them grated or pureed. Into tomato sauces, mince or meat dishes add pureed dark vegetables to such as spinach, broccoli, peas, fresh beetroots, capsicum, carrot, sweet potato, or pumpkin and light vegetables such as potato, cauliflower, sweeds, turnips and zucchini without its skin into cheese sauces.
This recipe is easy and fun to make for young and old and because you can choose what goes on-top of your own pizza, you are bound to enjoy it. It is quick and ready within minutes. I keep a stack made up in my freezer ready for those occasions when I
need a quick meal. Bag them individually in plastic bags and stack them
on top each other then when you need a quick meal take them out and
place them on an oven tray in a hot oven.
Most children enjoy pizza. Check out the ideas on how to incorporate
vegetables that are not always accepted. Also encouraging a fussy eater
to get involved with making their own pizza with the toppings they
enjoy is not only a great way to encourage a child to enjoy their food
but a fun way to involve the whole family.
You will need:
Pitta bread - one for every member. (small children may only eat half the other half can then be shared with older children or parents).
Tomato paste
Herbs - oregano, basil, garlic
Favourite toppings finely chopped such as -
grated mozzarella cheese,
sun-dried tomato or fresh tomato, capsicum,
olives pitted, onion,
Cold meats, ham, sausage, chicken or fish
Or any other topping of your choice. Choose healthy high fibre, low sugar and no or low salt ingredients where possible. Place these in bowls with spoons to be sprinkled on top on the pizza base.
Put enough tomato paste into a bowl and stir in a little finely chopped oregano, basil, garlic or any herb your family likes. Spread this mixture thinly over the pitta bread.
Once the pitta bread is prepared you are ready to go. Make space on your table or bench to for each child to have a pizza base in-front of them and within reach the bowls of toppings. Sprinkle the toppings over the pizza base. It doesn’t matter if it is unevenly spread or what order the toppings go on some like the cheese first some like it sprinkled on last. Allow each child to make their own pizza, don’t try to improve on their creation. You may like to make shapes, faces or patterns with the ingredients.
Encourage your child not to put too much on and to spread it around not in clumps.
Once the pizza is finished pop it into a preheated over and cook for fifteen minutes on 250 degrees centigrade or until golden brown.
Cut and serve warm or cold as a snack or for school lunches. Make sure there is an ice bottle in the lunchbox to keep food cool.
This recipy is from Jessica Seinfeld's book ‘Deceptively Delicious’.
Brownies (with carrot and spinach)
Ingredients
Non-stick cooking spray
90gms semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
½ cup carrot puree
½ cup spinach puree
½ cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
¼ cup unsweetened coco powder
2 tablespoons trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
¾ cup oat flour, or all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 130F. Coat a 20x20 cm baking pan with cooking spray.
Method
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or over a very low flame.
In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate, vegetable purees, sugar, cocoa powder, margarine, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes.
Whisk in egg whites. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in a pan before cutting into 12 bars.
Jessica’s warning: “... do not serve them warm – it’s not until they’re completely cool that the spinach flavour totally disappears.”
I acquired this recipe when I working overnight with a client. I thought it was a good winter dish. I hope you enjoy it.
Ingredients
Prepare pasta enough for 4 while cooking the following in a wok or large pot.
A chunk of Hungarian sausage cut into 2 cm slices and cut these in eights.
1 large onion cut fine
2 garlic cut fine but kept separately
8 small mushrooms
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1/2 green or red capsicum
1/2 cup tomato paste
water
pepper and salt to taste and chilli if you desire to your taste.
Method
Fry the onion till tender
Add the sausage and tomato paste and enough water to keep it as a thick sauce.
Add the remaining ingredients and cook keeping the veg crunchy.
Finally add the last clove of garlic just before taking off the stove which enhances the flavour.
Pour over prepared pasta and serve with parmesan cheese.
Since
my article on ‘Fussy Feeders’ I have been asked about ways to disguise
healthy foods in everyday recipes. I believe the master of disguising
food is Jessica Seinfeld who has a book called Deceptively Delicious. I
would recommend this book to any family even if you don’t have a fussy
feeder. Jessica has some wonderful ideas for all sorts of disguise in
an amazing array of foods. I’d like to share one of these with you this
month. Jessica suggests cooking and pureeing foods to be added to
recipes. In this recipe she adds pureed beetroots which also provides
the colour.
Pink Pancakes
by Jessica Seinfeld
Ingredients
¾ cup water
½ cup ricotta cheese
¼ cup beet puree
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup pancake mix (commercial or homemade)
¼ cup grated apple
Non stick cooking spray
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Pure maple syrup or fruit, for serving
Method
In a blender or food processor, combine the water, ricotta cheese, beet puree, vanilla, and cinnamon and blend. Dump the mixture into a medium bowl, add the pancake mix and apple, and stir until just combined. Do not over mix – the batter will be a little lumpy.
Coat the griddle or large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and set in over medium-high heat. When hot, add the oil. Spoon the batter onto the griddle or skillet, using about ¼ cup batter for each pancake. Cook the pancakes until bubbles form on the top and the batter is set, 1-2 minutes. Then flip the pancakes with a spatula and cook until golden brown on the other side, 2-3 minutes. Serve warm, with syrup or fruit.
To make your own dry pancake fixture to be used in the above recipe try...
1 cups self raising flour
1 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
Aussie Pikelet mixture is similar to an American pancake mixture.
Aussie Pikelets
(makes approx 40) Ingredients
1½ cups self raising flour
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
Method
Sift flour
Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl
To this add the milk and flour alternatively in two lots and mix well.
Cook immediately in hot greased iron griddle or heavy frying pan.
When bubbles rise turn with a broad knife or spatula and cook the other side till brown.
Serve with butter.
Pikelets can be cooked small (8cm in diameter) as we do here in Oz, or can be made bigger (size of a saucer) to be eaten like an Americans pancake with a variety of toppings.
1 cup plain flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
1¼ cups milk
Method
1. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Then make a well in the centre.
2. Add the egg and stir lightly while gradually adding milk.
3. Beat till mixed well.
4. Stand in a cool place for ½ hour.
5. Heat a pan with a little oil and pour in sufficient mixture to thinly cover the bottom of pan.
6. Cook till lightly brown and set. Loosen edges and toss to cook the other side.
7. Serve warm with the topping of your choice.
This mixture is more like a crape.
Toppings: Brown sugar and lemon (my favourite), jam, honey or maple syrup, pureed fruit topped with cream or ice cream.
This recipe by Robyn Barker was sent in
by Kerri from Manley.
Chicken Pasta Bake
Ingredients
250 g (2 cups) cooked fusilli pasta
125 g cottage cheese
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
500 g minced lean chicken or minced meat
400 g can tomatoes, chopped
½ cup water
2 tablespoons homemade tomato sauce or commercial Italian tomato sauce
300 ml carton fresh cream or ½ cream and ½ natural yogurt
1 ½ cups grated Cheddar cheese
Fresh breadcrumbs
Preheat the oven to 180° C. In a mixing bowl, mix the pasta, cottage cheese and 1 egg. Put into a greased baking dish.
In a frying pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion until soft.
Add the chicken and cook until it changes colour, stirring frequently.
Add the tomatoes, water and tomato sauce. Simmer until the sauce thickens, about 20 mins, and then pour over the pasta mixture.
Beat the remaining eggs with the cream. Mix in the cheese and spoon over the chicken mixture. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Bake for 30 mins.
Puree or mouli portions for your baby.
Kerri also says this dish is delicious when sliced up and served cold for lunch or for picnics. Chicken mince can be replaced with lean minced meat or a tin of tuna.
Rachel has sent in her favorite recipe Sweet Potato Custard by Bridget Swinney, which Rachel found on the baby centre website. Rachel suggests it is good to use up any unused expressed milk that may have been defrosted but not needed and suggests it is also a good way to introduce egg yolk when starting on solids.
I you or any of your friends have recipes that you would like to share with us sent them to info@cradle2kindy.com.au
Sweet Potato Custard
Ingredients
1/3 cup pureed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup formula or milk
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Preparations
Mix first three ingredients in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3 minutes).
Cook an additional 30 seconds - until 160°F is reached. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Let cool and serve.
Please note:
If there is not a family history of allergies to eggs, egg yolks can be introduced to babies at 8 months. When first introducing eggs start with a small amount of cooked egg yolk then if there is no adverse reaction, egg whites may be offered in small amounts.
Egg yolk can be boiled and added to vegetables, mixed with a little butter and smeared on toast, or made into egg yolk custard.
Into a liquidiser add equal amounts of full cream Greek yogurt and frozen fruit and zap till all ingredients are mixed together. Pour into small bowls and eat immediately. Or place ina plastic container in the freezer for ½ hour before serving or in an icy pole tray with a stick and freeze. No extra sugar is needed as the fruit sugars will sweeten this treat.
Freshly squeezed fruit juice poured into and icy-pole tray with sticks and freeze.
Small chunks of fresh fruit can be added for texture. Vegetable juice can also be mixed with the fruit juice especially if your child has an aversion to vegetables.
Suggestions
Use apples, oranges, grape or pineapple juice as the staple ingredients and add vegetables such as celery, carrot, beetroot or buy the veg and fruit juice mix from the supermarket and use that if you don’t have your own juicer.
Try mixing up your own flavours and let us know what the family favourite is.
White Christmas
Ingredients
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup desiccated coconut
¾ cup icing sugar
1 cup mixed fruit
250 gms copha
1 ½ cups rice bubbles
Preparations
Melt copha in small saucepan
Mix all other ingredients in a large bowl, pour on the melted copha
Mix well with a flat edged knife
Turn into a flat tin and press out well
Allow to set in the refrigerator then cut into squares.
Store in a cool place
If you or any of your friends have recipes that you would like to share with us sent them to info@cradle2kindy.com.au
For more information on parenting topics you may like take a look at our e-books Publications on this link.
All articles on this website have a copyright any use of any material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education purposes
only.
Packing lunch boxes is a task that parents do thousands of times. Some find it easy, others find it difficult to know what to put in there. Your job as a parent is to provide appropriate food choices. It is up to your child how much to eat from the food you provide. If your child doesn’t eat the food you provide, it doesn’t mean you got it wrong. There are many reasons that food comes back home in the lunch box:
Not enough time to eat – some children are busier playing than eating. These children often eat more at afternoon tea after school than at lunch time.
There is more food in the lunch box than your child has room for – children may eat more at lunch one day and less the next. It is hard to judge the exact amount every day. It is important to accept that your child will eat if they are hungry. Don’t get upset if they haven’t eaten everything that you packed. They can eat the rest of their lunch for afternoon tea.
Your child is not particularly hungry at lunch time. They may have eaten a big breakfast and something at morning tea. If they haven’t eaten much at lunch they will make up for it over the rest of the day.
Golden Rules
Make sure your child has breakfast before school. Breakfast can be fast and simple such as a glass of milk with Milo®, a commercial liquid breakfast drink, a piece of fruit, a tub of yogurt. Something quick is better than nothing.
Children need 2 to 3 serves of vegetables a day. Include some vegetables in their lunch box. This can include a vegetable based soup, a container of salad vegetables, a small can of baked beans or corn kernels.
Pack water or milk to drink. Milk can be sent in individual serves of long life plain or flavoured milk. Choose reduced-fat milk for pre-school children and low fat milk for school-age children.
Dairy foods, such as yogurt, milk, custard and rice pudding desserts can be packed in an insulated bag. There are many bags available that are effective for keeping food cold. Refrigerate the food overnight.
Freeze water the night before. Pop it in the lunch box. It will gradually defrost and be nice and cold by lunchtime. It will also keep other food cold, such as cold meats, tuna and cheese.
Variety is the basis of good nutrition. Vary the sandwich fillings, vegetables, dairy foods and fruit that you pack for school. There is no need to include gourmet foods to ensure variety.
Have a supply of small plastic containers available to pack raw vegetables, yogurt, baked beans, pasta salad, tabouli, couscous salad, sushi (no raw fish for school)
This article was written Eve Reed for Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions. Eva Reed is an accredited Practising Dietitian and can be contacted on T: 02 94374752 www.familyfoodworks.com.au
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
For more information on similar parenting topics you may like take a look at our e-books Publications on this link.
All articles on this website have a copyright. The use of any material
must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
I read your posts on Parenting, now I have tracked you down on your personal blog. You are worth the stkialng. What a fantastic writer, mom, and woman you are. Consider me your newest and biggest fan. Absolutely brillant writing and thoughts. Thank you
so much.
In the past Australia followed the World Health Authorities when giving advice on when to start a baby on solids. WHA suggests not to starting solids before six months of age due to the childhood mortality in third world countries often caused by unhygienic conditions. Australian health professionals have recently recommended changing the age for starting solids between four and six months although they are still encouraging those who breastfeed to continue till at least six month or longer.
The increase of all types of allergies, especially food related allergies, which has greatly increased in the past few years, has cause great concern. Immunologists, doctors and dieticians specialising in allergies have recently recommended starting solids between 4-6 months as delaying the introduction of solids may be interfering with the normal immune development reducing food tolerance and increasing allergies. (see article: The Solids Controversy written by Karen Simmer PHD FRACP. Professor of Newborn Medicine, University of Western Australia). This recent research concludes that delaying the introduction of foods may not only be to the child’s determent but also may have long-term effect on their food preferences.
Guide Lines
Before introducing solids there are some things to take into consideration; the reason why you want to introduce solids, what is the best time to feed your child and how and what foods to introduce first.
One of the guides we look for when starting solids is the child’s readiness, is he/she looking interested in food? Does he/she watch you while you are eating? or are they reaching out for your food? Your instincts will often help you decide. If in doubt try a small spoon of baby cereal and watch the reaction. Remember never force a child and avoid giving large amounts. Start with small amounts. One to two teaspoons for the first month is sufficient. Offer solids about twenty minutes after a milk feed until baby is nine months. Milk is a feed not just a snack and at this age contains all a babies nutritional requirements. By nine months a baby will be eating about one cup of solids before every milk feed except the morning feed when solids usually come after the milk feed. By this age a child should be having from 3-4 milk feeds per day with not feeds over night.
At the beginning, when starting your baby on solids, it is an introduction to food not a meal; this is a taste of things to come. It is a learning experience to encourage baby to develop their tongue and mouth muscles to thrust food backwards. This also helps develop the muscles for speech. For the same reason dummies should be limited only to sleep time and by the age of 9 months eliminated all together otherwise it may hamper speech or cause speech impediments such as a lisp.
From the beginning give your child a spoon to help them learn how to feed themselves. Be prepared for lot of mess, this is part of learning.
Introducing solids or a formula feed before baby’s night sleep to help them sleep through the night is no guarantee for a good night sleep. If a child has never really learn to self settle during the day (sleeping blocks of 2 -2 ½hours) then giving more food at night is not going to help with self settling. Babies generally sleep eight hours at night (without a feed) from three months old and 12 hours from nine to ten months old. There are of course exceptions to the rule when babies sleep through at an earlier age.
What Foods to Introduce First?
Iron enriched rice cereal is commonly the first solid to be introduced due to babies dwindling stores of iron. Cereal can be mixed with breastmilk, cooled boiled water or formula. Cow’s milk and honey should not be given to a child under 12 months. Seasoned food includes salt and sugar should be avoided. Try starting your baby on vegetables to avoid the vegetable aversion that some babies develop when introduces to fruit first.
Don’t be too hasty try new foods. The rule to thumb is to try only one new food every 5 days. Introduce the new food in the morning when you have all day to see if there is an adverse reaction. If baby doesn't like it try again a few days later and keep trying. Babies sometimes need to try up to ten times before they acquire a taste for some foods. Avoid your child becoming a fussy eater by introducing a variety of tastes and textures over the first year of their life. This will also help them to develop a preference for healthy foods.
Baby may gag on the spoon or the food even when it is highly pureed; this is expected as they haven't experienced swallowing solids before. She/he is also learning how to move food from the front to the back of her/his mouth. Proceed with caution while baby learns this new skill and expect a lot of mess.
How Much?
Do not be tempted to over feed your baby; some babies don’t know when to stop. Offer one teaspoon and at the most two for the first month, once a day, then slowly increase to half a cup by six months, twice a day, and one cup three times a day by nine months.
Never force a baby to eat as this can often cause feeding problems and unpleasant mealtimes. When baby shows signs that she/he has had sufficient don’t push her/him to take more just to finish the bowl. If baby begins to spit, throw or play with their food it is time to remove it. This will also encourage baby to eat when it is mealtimes and not play. Have a cup of cooled boiled water on hand to offer baby, encourage the use of a cup. Start to introduce a cup around six months when you are starting her/him on forked mashed solids.
Preparation
If you are using a microwave to heat food make sure you stir the food well to disperse the hot spots. Don’t over heat food or reheat half eaten food. Always take out of the storage container what you need for one meal, and then add more if necessary. Never re-use half eaten food. Freshly prepared food which can be frozen in ice cubes is preferable to processed baby food. Many babies become fussy if only given processed foods and will refuse other types of food including those which are not highly pureed. When you cook your own vegetables take some out to prepare for baby. This will save you time.
This article was written by mothercraft nurse Sally Hall from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions. If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
All articles on this website have a copyright the use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
Offering a variety of vegetables and other healthy food does not guarantee a non-fussy eater - my daughter used to eat all my homemade vegies with great enthusiasm but suddenly became fussy at about 20 months. I hadn't changed the way I did things - she was just less interested in food.
Some years ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that solids not be introduced to infants until they were at least 6 months old. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) followed with a similar advice in Australia.
The previous recommendation had been to introduce solids at 4 to 6 months. For many mothers, the change was counter-intuitive, as many infants appear to be interested in solids before 6 months. For some breastfeeding mothers, use of solids such as stewed fruit is a preferred option to formula when they are not immediately available. Surveys have confirmed that majority of mothers in Australia did not follow the revised recommendations with many introducing solids to their children at 4 or 5 months without ill effect.
The 6 month recommendation was based on the belief that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months was best. The evidence for this was limited with only one or two studies in developed countries showing less gastroenteritis in infants exclusively breastfed. Exclusive was defined as only breastfeeds with no other fluids or solids. It may have been better to focus on avoiding formula as supplementing breastfeeding with formula will reduce duration of breastfeeding. Formula-fed infants generally have worse health and developmental outcomes than breastfed infants.
Problems arose
Unfortunately, it is possible that the recommendation to delay the introduction of solids not only did not benefit infants but also may have done some harm. It has become clear that delaying the introduction of a variety of foods to young children may have long-term effect on their food preference. It is best to introduce a variety of tastes and textures over the first year of life to develop healthy food choice and avoid fussy eating habits.
Food allergies and intolerances
More recently, another consequence of delayed introduction of foods has become apparent. The incidence of allergies of all types, especially food allergies, is increasing and research suggests that delayed introduction of solids has interfered with the normal immune development in infancy reducing food tolerance and increasing allergies.
Doctors who specialise in allergies from around the world have written a joint recommendation that solids should be introduced from 4 to 6 months and not delayed until 6 months or older. Breastfeeding is of course encouraged for the first year of life.
Breastfeeding combined with gradual and steady increase in the variety of foods results in the lowest incidence of allergies.
Always when introducing solids, the parents need assess safe risk and infants need be developmentally ready. Young children can choke on solids. This is an important reason for not introducing solids at 2 or 3 months of age. When solids are started from 4 months, early foods should be soft and mushy and only one new food each week. From 6 months new textures can be included but not hard foods, such as uncooked carrot or raw apple, which can lodge in the infant’s trachea or wind pipe.
All parents should be aware that young children may choke on solids. Parents need know that if they believe a young child in gagging or choking on food that a firm hit on the back may help dislodge the obstruction. (Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions suggests all parents and care givers complete their First Aid - St John has a 'Course in Caring for Kids' that is highly recommended)
The Solids Controversy was written by Professor Karen Simmer PHD FRACP. Professor of Newborn Medicine, University of Western Australia.
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Cooking areas and utensils must be kept clean although it is not necessary to sterilize baby’s bowl and spoon unless baby has an infection such as thrush. Hot soapy water is sufficient.
Food should be eaten immediately unless stored in airtight containers and kept in the refrigerator of freezer. Refrigerated food should be exposed of after five days if not consumed.
Food may be stored in the freezer up to two months.
When freezing food there are various ways to store it. Ice cubes are convenient for small amounts or if needing to store a variety foods separately. For example store in some cubes pumpkin, in others zucchini, apple, or mango then take out what you need per meal. Food can also be stored in meal size containers ready for use. Prepare bulk quantities or make a little extra when making the family meal. Separate baby’s food from your own before adding salt or other flavourings. Meat, vegetables or fruit can be frozen although some foods freeze better than others. Flavourings
Heat baby’s food by placing it in a cup and standing it in boiled water to allow it to heat slowly. Be very careful if using a microwaves as they heat food unevenly producing hotspots which can cause severe burns.
Do not add to the natural flavour of foods such as butter, sugar, honey, salt, or splices. A baby has more sensitive taste buds than an adult and doesn’t need his food enhanced.
Avoid giving food mashed together as one big mushy multi flavoured mixture. Serve foods separately so that baby can distinguish between flavours and begin to know what he likes and dislikes.
Commercial Food.
Commercially prepared baby food is excellent for emergencies but can if given to frequently become the only food baby will take. If this is the case I suggest mixing it with a little home prepared food. Decrease the amounts of commercially prepared food and increase the volume of home cooking at every meal until he is happy with your cooking. This method can be adapted for children who will only eat pureed food and balk at lumps or who refuse to eat certain types of food. Disguises or concealing disliked food within other accepted foods is often a good way to encourage a fussy eater.
Prepare different types of meals soups, stews, rice, pasta, BBQ meat and veg, finger foods such as sandwiches, pizza, sushi, include foods of different textures and flavour. Meat for example can be served in a variety of ways. Minced with a sauce and served with pasta or rice. Made into a paste or pate and used as a sandwich spread. Bits size such as meatballs, or meat on a bone. Meat in soups either liquidized or very finely chopped into small manageable pieces.
Tips: Woodern boards harbour less jerms than plastic or marble chopping boards.
Remember: Always wash you hands, the serfices/ bench tops and the utencils before preparing food.
If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help
Cradle 2 Kindy provide professional parenting coaches to assist you in the task of introducing your child to solids and ideas for a balanced diet.
Call now and book your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach on 1300 786 101
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright any use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
In his ground-breaking book: ‘Releasing Fat’, Dr Ray Strand explains the underlying causes of one of the most prevalent threats to our health today. Syndrome X or ‘The Metabolic Syndrome’. Syndrome X is a sign of serious disruption of normal body function, and carries with it a HUGE risk for suffering from the following potentially catastrophic health conditions:
Stroke,
Coronary artery disease,
Hypertension,
Diabetes which is also becoming common in children and teenagers.
It all begins with what Dr Strand refers to as ‘carbohydrate addiction’ and ‘insulin abuse’. In most cases this begins in childhood and adolescence through poor food choices.
Refined Carbohydrates
When we eat refined carbohydrates (white sugar, white flour, white rice, most breakfast cereals and even potatoes, raw sugar and honey) they rapidly increase blood sugars which is the reason they are termed: ‘high-glycemic’. This is in contrast to most fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are digested and absorbed slowly: these are called ‘low-glycemic’ foods.
When high glycemic foods are eaten, the body produces large amounts of insulin, in order to deal with high blood sugar. Insulin allows the sugar to enter the body cells where it is used for energy, or stored as fat. When you have eaten high glycemic food, you get a rush of glucose into the blood stream, followed immediately by a rush of insulin, which causes the blood sugar level to drop rapidly. When this happens you feel weak, shaky and STARVING. You crave more high-glycemic food to bring your blood sugar up to normal again.
Low glycemic foods
On the other hand, when you eat low glycemic foods, insulin releases slowly, blood sugars reach a plateau and stay constant for 3 - 4 hours then drops slowly . You feel satisfied and energized. When you feel hungry there are no strong cravings.
Carbohydrate addiction
This repeated cycle of consuming high-glycemic carbohydrates leads to ‘carbohydrate addiction’ followed by obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. You are literally abusing your own insulin. This eventually leads to the body’s becoming less and less sensitive to insulin. Known as ‘insulin resistance’. The body compensates for this situation by making more and more insulin. As blood insulin levels rise, many metabolic changes begin to occur: blood pressure rises, triglycerides (fats in the blood) increase, HDL or good cholesterol decreases, you begin to store fat in the mid-section (central obesity), and you develop greater inflammation throughout our body. This leads to a significantly increased risk in heart disease and diabetes.
Changing your diet
If you simply eat whole fruits, whole vegetables, and whole grains with just a few exceptions, you will be providing your body with all of the good carbohydrates it needs and your blood sugar will not spike. In fact, they will allow you to become more sensitive to your own insulin, while at the same time increasing the fat releasing hormone, glucagon.
Changing your family’s diet is very important to avoid your children (as well as yourself) entering onto this vicious cycle.
High nutrition and low glycemic products can help. Ask Cradle 2 Kindy for more information about products that are available through independent distributors. (Article writen by Tony Reid. DTCM, DAc, CCP, MAACMA)
Tips: Encouraging our children to eat healthy will incuse good habits for later in life.
Remember: Avoid eating ‘junk’ food and filler foods which are often refined carbohydrate. Provide low GI foods as an alternative.
If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help
Cradle 2 Kindy provide professional parenting advice for your child and assist with tips for good dietary habits. We can also help with suggested recommended food supplements for children and adults.
Call now to book your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach on 1300 786 101
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright any the use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
Having read The Glycemic Load Diet, I was intrested to get this book and try some new recipes. Every dish I have tried so far has been easy to prepare and quite tasty. Also, this book includes an overview of information from The Glycemic Load Diet, which
may be helpful for those who do not own that book.
In today’s society our children face many of life’s obstacles very early, even while at the breast. Some children react to breast milk. This of course is very rare and is usually attributed to what their mother is eating. There may be a lactose intolerance or a reaction to a certain type of food which their mother is eating which passes through the breast milk to the child. Some of these children may grow out of their reaction other may be found intolerant or allergic to these foods. Food intolerances can also occur with bottle fed babies such as a cows milk intolerance. Some allergies and food intolerances are only picked up when a child starts solids and is introduced to these foods. Not all children develop food allergies or intolerances but it is good to be aware of other who are.
Difference between food allergies and intolerances.
What is the difference between food allergies and intolerances? An allergy will give an immediate response as it is the immune system reaction to food proteins. An intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system but is triggered by food chemicals which irritates the nerve endings. These chemicals are found in groups of foods which accumulate in the body and eventually cause a reaction.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are often inherited and are associated with eczema, asthma and hay fever. Food allergies can range from mild to severe causing vomiting, cramps and diarrhoea, hives, swelling on the face, mouth, eyes. The most sever is a life threatening anaphylaxis attack which cause breathing difficulties due to the throat and tongue swelling or asthma. Common children’s allergies are soy and cows milk, egg, sesame, wheat, seafood, peanut and other nuts. Many children grow out of their food allergies by five but peanut and seafood may continue through adulthood. Allergies but not intolerances can be diagnosed through a skin prick test.
Food Intolerances
Many foods have additives including colourings and preservatives but others have natural chemicals those low in chemicals are almost never a problem. Natural chemicals in foods help to enhance their flavour. Levels may either be high in unripe fruits and decrease with ripening or visa versa. MSG for example is found naturally in tomato, mushroom, silverbeet, prune, plum and grape. Organically grown foods may have higher levels of natural preservatives and pesticides in their skin.
Foods moderate in natural chemicals
Pear, apple (golden, red delicious), mango, banana, papaya, rhubarb.
Tuna, salami, sausages, seasoned meat and chicken, tasty cheese.
Honey, jams, fruit or chocolate flavoured drinks, stocks and sauces.
Food intolerances are rarely serious. If you suspect your child has a food intolerance or allergy contact your family doctor of Paediatrician.
The good news is children often grow out of food intolerances and allergies.
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit, NSW has put out a recipe book called “Friendly Food’. It is a guide to avoiding allergies, additives and problem chemicals in foods and can be purchased through the allergy clinic or your local book store.
Remember: Always intorduce children to a new food slowly. Give at leaset 5 days between intoducing each new food. It is recommended to offer one small serve at the beginning of the day just incase there is a reaction to the food giving you time to seek medical assistance.
If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help
Cradle 2 Kindy provide professional parenting coaches to assist you in the task of introducing your child to solids and ideas for a balanced diet.
Call now and book your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach on 1300 786 101
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright. The use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
1093 Kelp
270 Salmon with the edible bones
260 Sardines with bones
Daily Requirements of Calcium
Calcium needs vary during your life the following is a list of daily requirements:
Breastfeeding mum's
1300 mg
Infants
under 1 year
600 mg
Children
1 - 3 years
400 mg
4 - 6 years
500 mg
7 - 10 years
600 mg
Adolescents
11 - 18 years girls
800 mg
11 - 18 years boys
1000 mg
Adults
19 years and over
700 mg
If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help
If you are continuing to have problems with a fussy eater or food refusal please call your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach for advice.
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright. The use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
In the past World Health Authorities advised not to start solids before six months of age this was due to the unhygienic conditions and child mortality in third world countries. WHO also thought it may contribute to the increasing problems of childhood obesity in the west. Breastfeeding is still encouraged till six month or longer as it contains all the nutrients a baby needs to grow and be in good health. Today parents are encouraged to start their babies on solids by four months. This is largely due to the increase of allergies in children.
Solids should always be given in small doses, one to two teaspoons for the first month is sufficient. Always offer solids about twenty minutes after a milk feed until baby is nine months. The milk feed is a feed not just a snack and at this age contains all a babies nutritional requirements.
Beginning solids is just that, an introduction to food not a meal but a taste of things to come. It also encourages baby to develop her tongue muscles to thrust food backwards. This also helps develop the muscles for speech. For the same reason dummies should be stopped by this age as this action reinforces baby’s sucking muscles which can hamper speech and cause speech impediments such as a lisp.
By nine months a baby will be eating about one cup of solids before theirmilk feed except the morning feed.
Solids or formula are often introduced before a baby’s night sleep to help her sleep through the night. This does not guarantee sleep. Babies generally sleep longer at night (7-8 hrs) from three months old and 12 hours from seven to nine months old. There are of course exceptions to the rule when babies sleep through at an earlier age.
What to introduce first? Babies iron stores at six month are beginning to decline therefore iron enriched rice cereal is the first solid to be introduced. This can be mixed with breastmilk, cooled boiled water or formula. Cows milk should not be given to a child under 12 months. Salt, sugar or other condiments should not be added.
Starting solids may cause a baby to become constipated. If this is the case introduce a little boiled water either in a bottle or cup. If baby continues to be constipated, cut out the rice cereal for a while and introduce a little diluted prune juice or pulp. Re-introduce the rice cereal when things have improved.
Six months is a good time to familiarize your baby with a cup especially if you plan to wean soon. This may be formula or cooled boiled water. If your are wanting to introduce formula putting it into her solids will help her to adjust to the taste. I suggest introducing a cup with a spout that has a valve to stop the liquid pouring out. To begin with remove the valve so the liquid will pour out when the cup is tiped up. You will need to control the flow to begin with but once baby knows there is something in it that is worth drinking, return the valve. Eventually she will realises she will need to suck to obtain the liquid.
By 12 months baby should be off bottles and drinking soly from a cup. Spout or straw are acceptable.
Tips: Don’t rush to start your baby on solids. Starting before 4 months and after six month may cause problems.
Remember: Always intorduce children to a new food slowly. Give at leaset 5 days between intoducing each new food. It is recommended to offer one small serve at the beginning of the day just incase there is a reaction to the food giving you time to seek medical assistance.
Also see our article on The Solids Controversy by Professor Karen Simmer PHD FRACP. Professor of Newborn Medicine, University of Western Australia.
If you would like more information on this and other similar topics our E-books are packed full of practical parenting tips. Down load an E-Book specifically related to your child's age group through Publications at Our Shop.
How Cradle 2 Kindy Can Help
Cradle 2 Kindy provide professional parenting coaches to assist you in the task of introducing your child to solids and ideas for a balanced diet.
Call now and book your personal Cradle 2 Kindy coach on 1300 786 101
Disclaimer: Article on our website are for education
purposes only. Please consult with your doctor to make sure this
information is right for your child.
All articles on this website have a copyright. The use of any
material must have permission from Cradle 2 Kindy Parenting Solutions.
I started using bumbo seat when my daughter was about 4 months until having a little chat with my daughter's doctor. Bumbo seat will actually discourage a child from wanting to sit up on their own. Also, even if used on the floor, if your child is very
active, they can tilt over and hurt themselves. Instead of using the bumbo seat, try offering them to just chill out on the floor with a soft blanket. Give them tummy time. Throw some soft toys on the floor and leave them to play on their tummy. If child is
way too young, like younger than 5 months. Alway supervise while they are on their tummy.
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