First Time Parents Guide if Feeding Problems Develop on Baby

Preventing feeding problems is much easier than correcting them. When, despite parent's good intentions, feeding problems do develop, there should be an analysis of the causes. Then parents should agree on and firmly adhere to a course of action.

What is feeding problem? It's when a child fails to eat as his parents expect him to. Whether these expectations are right or wrong the results is the same - tensions which create unhappy family situation.

Most feeding problems fall into two classes. One is the child's not eating enough, or what the parents think is "enough." The other is the child's not eating specific foods the parents would like accepted. Usually these are "good for you" foods such as milk, meat and vegetables. It's well for these parents to remember a child's appetite is a good guide to how much he should eat and there is no one food which a child must eat.

Few feeding problems develop in the first year. Growth is rapid, foods needs are high and babies' appetites are good. Parents are satisfied with the volume they eat. It's in the second and third year's, when growth rate, food needs and intake diminish, that trouble is more likely to occur.

Everybody likes attention. A toddler is likely to get it, the first few times he eats less than usual. Whether it's mild coaxing or forced feeding, the child knows he's being noticed. Pretty soon he knows that refusing food is an attention-getter. It can even be more fun than eating. The remedy is to be alert to ignore the lowered intake.Most toddlers go through a normal stage of saying "no" to everything, even when they don't mean it. If it happens to attract attention, saying "no" at mealtime can get to be quite a game and a habit. It should be ignored like any other play for attention.

Some youngsters use refusal of food as a bargaining device in obtaining certain desires. It's most unwise ever to bribe a child to eat. Families should always maintain the attitude that eating is a privilege, not a favor.

Babies are great imitator and quickly follow the example of a parent or older brother or sister. When they eat at the family table family member can help by being willing to set good examples. Only favorable attitudes, by word or gesture, should be expressed toward food. Too much discussion, even of the favorable type, is unwise.

Mealtime surroundings should be clean, bright and cheerful and the atmosphere a happy one. There should be no unnecessary distractions which draw a child's attention from eating. Decorations, conversation or activity should not be overdone. A desire to play can be a strong distraction for toddlers.Sometimes firm policies have to be made or its control.

Wise parents use every opportunity to develop and maintain a toddler's interest in food. Even though it's slow and untidy, self feeding should be encouraged. Protect the floor with newspaper and put the baby on his own. The food may often miss its target but baby's interest will be maintained through his sense of accomplishment. Toward the end of the meal, when the baby tires, he'll usually appreciate help with the last few spoonfuls.

Mealtime discipline, such as stress on table manners, can deter a toddler's interest in food. Training of this type is more effective in the later pre-school period when there's better muscular coordination. In the meantime, some progress might be made through imitation of good examples set by older family members.

Dawdling at mealtime is a common problem. Like refusal off food, it can easily become an attention-getter and is therefore ignored. Allowance should be made for a small child's lack of skill. But if a meal stretches beyond a reasonable period, it's well to remove thee food calmly and without comment.

Ending a meal for dawdling or outright refusal of food should be done in the most matter-of-fact way and without discussion or argument. The success of this procedure depends on the parents' calm firmness in withholding all additional food until the next regular meal. This is a hard thing for parents to do even when common sense and scientific evidence indicate a few hours of hunger can't hurt a child. Young children simply don't starve themselves.

This discussion shows most feeding problems to be psychological in origin and nature. Occasionally the blame may rest in the diet itself. Diets too high in fat, sweets or starch appetite is poor, the interval between meal might be increased. Sometimes feeding smaller portions helps. Seeing too much food can blunt appetite.

Sufficient fresh air, exercise and sleep are other factors known to have a favorable influence on appetite. In today's casual living, most youngsters get enough of these but they are worth checking if appetite is poor.

Tips for New Parents on Your Baby’s First Year Diet

Your baby's first year diet should be prescribed by a doctor. But you, as parents, have the day in, day out responsibility of carrying out these directions. The job is larger than simply buying and feeding certain foods. It includes making every mealtime a happy time.

Through happy mealtimes your baby's physical and emotional hunger are both satisfied. Since food meets a basic need, it is one of the first means by which a newborn baby can be given security. The young nursing baby, cuddled in his mother's arms, also has the warmth and support which satisfy two other basic needs. These early mealtimes are indeed happy!

Early in your baby's development, mealtimes become more than just a means to physical comfort.The love, expressed through your voice, your smiles and gentle handling, becomes meaningful. Before long, these are as important to happy mealtimes as the food served.

A little later, your baby makes many other pleasant associations with eating. He learns to like the bright color, smooth texture and pleasant odor and flavor of certain strained foods. He begins to anticipate a meal, just by being placed in his feeding table, having a bib tied around his neck, seeing a baby picture on a package of cereal or watching the warming of a dish of strained food. He learns to enjoy the companionship of other family members.

Sometime soon, it becomes impossible to count all the things that make your baby enjoy his meals, although his pleasure is obvious. You will feel it worth much planning and effort to maintain this happy state.

YOU'RE IN CHARGE. From the first feeding you will want to see that you - not your baby - are in control of the situation. This does not have to be accomplished with a battle royal. Arguing with a tiny baby is childish and futile. Calm, gentle, pleasant and patient firmness are earmarks of maturity in parents. As expressions of your love and concern, they give your baby far more security than having his own way.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES. Your baby's grandparents probably were "raised by the book." Perhaps you were too. Fortunately, the rigid feeding schedules which characterized the first forty years of this century have been abandoned.Modern parents recognize individual differences in food needs. This is true of the amount of food needed and the frequency with it should be fed.

Most babies will set up a rhythm of eating and sleeping, in keeping with their own special needs. "Big eaters" usually space their meals farther apart, while other babies will want less food, more frequently. With a little give and take, both baby and the rest of the family can settle down to a reasonably regular schedule. A recognition of individual differences and a calm, flexible attitude toward adjustments, if indicated, are all it takes.

Airings For Your Baby

Airings are good for Baby. When he weighs 8 lbs. or more, he may be taken outdoors in the morning when the sun is shining and if it is not windy. Be sure to protect his eyes from glare. If you can't go out, Baby can have an airing indoors near an open sunny windows. After he reaches 10 lbs. or more, he may be exposed to the direct rays of the morning sun during fine weather gradually from two to twenty minutes a day.

Parenting Guide on Regurgitation and Vomiting

Regurgitation or "spitting up" is the non forceful return of a small amount of milk during or shortly after feeding. This is a common occurrence in infancy which may be due to faulty feeding technique, overfeeding or due to physical or mechanical causes primarily the swallowing of air. The nipple holes may be too small or too large causing the milk to flow too slowly or too rapidly, the bottle may be held at the wrong angle or the infant may be upset because of nervous excitement or over handling. Spitting up may be considerably reduced or even eliminated by burping Baby during and after feeding, by gentle handling and by avoiding the other possible causes. But as long as the weekly weight gain is attained there is no need to be concerned about occasional spitting up or "cheesing". This condition usually stops when the baby starts taking solid food.

Vomiting is a violent emptying of the stomach, usually with one or two strong stomach contractions. Vomiting is also a common occurrence in infancy and may be due to a great variety of causes, both minor and serious. If vomiting continues, consult your doctor.

Guide on Burping Baby

Babies tend to swallow air when they cry and also suck in air while feeding. The swallowed air makes the baby uncomfortable and may cause regurgitation or vomiting after feeding.

To relieve baby of this discomfort, burp him by holding him firmly against your shoulder with your hands securely supporting his back and head then pat or rub his back gently. Another position is to lay him on his stomach on your hand supporting his back. Some babies have to be burped halfway through their feeding, other can complete a feeding without being burped.

Should You Let Your Child Eat Junk Food

The name speaks for its self "Junk", but..if sweets or junk food aren't introduced early to a child, he wouldn't know what he's missing. Kids may be allowed some junk food if their eating habits have already stabilized. Meaning they can eat their veggies, fruits, and meats in a regular basis. But I don;t encourage giving junk food because it might be habit forming. So give everything in moderation. Lastly if you want your kids to eat healthy food, you have to model that behavior for them by choosing healthy food yourself.