Parents often ask if their child can learn the difference between week days and weekends. This is usually asked because there is some thought that perhaps this little person could learn to sleep longer at the weekend. Unfortunately children don't learn to alter their sleeping pattern depending on the day of the week, until they are teenagers. At that time there are other forces in play.
Routines are very important to children. These are the touchstones of a child's life. Having some certainty that meal times and play times are regular events help the child to understand what the adults expect and desire of them. If we look at our own lives we have some routines which may not be recognised as such, but which make our lives easier because they add to our own understanding of the world.
Yes, children can often recognise that on one or two days of the week parents are not away at work, that there is family time, and that at the weekend the day runs along different lines. They don't know that this is Saturday and Sunday. The basis for a good sleep pattern cannot be adjusted and then readjusted in so short a time frame.
Family time can be positive for those who have difficulties with food refusal or fussiness. At weekends there is usually more time and children who have demonstrated food refusal or fussiness can be involved more in the preparation of foods. There is more time to spend exploring textures and tastes and this can be a positive re enforcement of the enjoyable and sociable aspects of food.
Simple things like teaching a child to spread butter, applestrop, or cheese on bread encourages them to explore texture and taste and encourages a level of independence. Helping to set the table at meal times, to wash the vegetables, and to see how cooking is done and how that changes the food being cooked ,can help develop an interest and make it more acceptable to try a new taste or even experience a familiar one.
If you would like support and advice regarding sleep or fussy eating,
Contact us on;- info@dream-angus.com
Showing posts with label fussy eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fussy eating. Show all posts
Friday, 21 February 2014
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Successful Mealtimes with Toddlers .
Toddlers often go through a phase of food refusal. Busy children will often happily drink milk or a smoothie rather than sit down to chew and swallow food. Drinks fill a tummy quickly and leaves more time for the important things, like playing with friends and toys.
Most toddlers have good and bad days. Days when they will eat well, or refuse foods they have previously accepted. Some toddlers are more difficult around food than others and this is a problem that concerns parents when they are trying to follow healthy eating advice.
Toddlers learn by copying adults and other children. Encouraging the family to eat together can be an important way of learning about new foods. Successful management of toddler eating behaviours require a number of skills that parents may need to learn. It is significant that many faddy toddlers eat better in nursery or day care where staff may be more skilled at mealtime management.
Recognizing that a child is satisfied.
Toddlers are saying that they don't want any more food when they;-
- Say no
- Keep their mouth shut when food is offered.
- Turn their head away from the spoon.
- Push away a plate, spoon, or bowl containing food.
- Hold food in their mouth but refuse to swallow.
- Gag or retch .
- Cry Shout or scream
Six to eight drinks per day is usually enough for a toddler. If they have had too many calories from milk or sweetened drinks they may not be hungry. Feeding in bottles should be phased out by 12 months and an average drink alongside a meal should be about 120mls in a cup or beaker.
If you have concerns about your child's eating contact us;-
info@dream-angus.com
Sunday, 28 April 2013
The Faddy Eater
As children grow and become more independent they can change from being a happy contended baby, to becoming quite fussy about what they will and will not eat.
As parents, we see feeding and nurturing our children as basic parenting, so when a child becomes difficult to feed, or fussy about their diet, it often makes parents feel that they are failing in their duty of care and raises concerns about weight loss.
Children become “fussy” about eating for a rich variety of reasons;-
The most common medical reasons for refusing food are Constipation and Anaemia.
Fear of new foods is common in the second year of life. This may be a survival mechanism to prevent increasingly mobile toddlers from poisoning themselves by eating everything and anything.
Toddlers have very little control in their lives but the one thing they can control is what goes into their mouths.
As with adults, a toddlers appetite alters through the day and through the week. It is important to keep portions small enough to be manageable. At one year a toddler should be offered 3 small meals and 3 snacks plus milk.
As they grow the snacks are reduced to 2 plus milky drinks.
A toddlers plate should be something like;- 1 tablespoon of meat/chicken/fish, 1 tablespoon of potato/pasta and one of vegetables. Only two tablespoons of a desert such as custard, is quite enough as part of a complete and varied diet.
At around 18 months the fussy toddler tends to become more fussy. Often there is nothing medically wrong and the child may also be “texture defensive” preferring only one texture or colour of food.
They may also be sensitive to touch, sounds and smells. Sometimes they grow out of this by the time they are 5 years old, and sometimes they need help.
Most children will not starve themselves. They will decide what they are prepared to eat and the diet they choose may be very boring. Given time they will extend their repertoire.
What can we do to support a fussy eater?
The first step is to try to understand what has caused this. Sometimes there may be no discernable reason.
Avoid
Occasionally there is a medical or a physical problem. For further help, if the food refusal is of long duration, see a Consultant Paediatrician, a Paediatric Dietician and a Speech and Language Therapist. The Speech and Language therapist will conduct a “Swallowing Assessment” which will look at oral motor function.
As parents, we see feeding and nurturing our children as basic parenting, so when a child becomes difficult to feed, or fussy about their diet, it often makes parents feel that they are failing in their duty of care and raises concerns about weight loss.
Children become “fussy” about eating for a rich variety of reasons;-
- If food has not been a comfort to them as infants, if it has been associated with pain or discomfort, then they are not particularly keen to eat.
- As they become more mobile, the world is more interesting than the boring idea of stopping an activity to eat.
- Feeling rushed at mealtimes, being constipated, feeling tired or unwell can reduce a child’s appetite.
- Being shouted at discourages eating.
- Being pressured to eat more when they have had enough, or being offered foods continually throughout the day can also reduce interest in food and feeding.
The most common medical reasons for refusing food are Constipation and Anaemia.
Fear of new foods is common in the second year of life. This may be a survival mechanism to prevent increasingly mobile toddlers from poisoning themselves by eating everything and anything.
Toddlers have very little control in their lives but the one thing they can control is what goes into their mouths.
As with adults, a toddlers appetite alters through the day and through the week. It is important to keep portions small enough to be manageable. At one year a toddler should be offered 3 small meals and 3 snacks plus milk.
As they grow the snacks are reduced to 2 plus milky drinks.
A toddlers plate should be something like;- 1 tablespoon of meat/chicken/fish, 1 tablespoon of potato/pasta and one of vegetables. Only two tablespoons of a desert such as custard, is quite enough as part of a complete and varied diet.
At around 18 months the fussy toddler tends to become more fussy. Often there is nothing medically wrong and the child may also be “texture defensive” preferring only one texture or colour of food.
They may also be sensitive to touch, sounds and smells. Sometimes they grow out of this by the time they are 5 years old, and sometimes they need help.
Most children will not starve themselves. They will decide what they are prepared to eat and the diet they choose may be very boring. Given time they will extend their repertoire.
What can we do to support a fussy eater?
The first step is to try to understand what has caused this. Sometimes there may be no discernable reason.
- If this is behavioural, and about exerting control then setting times for feeding opportunities and making these short can help. Allowing 20/30 minutes for food to be eaten or it is removed without comment.
- If this is about smell or taste, work with the child to find out what smells good/bad and use this as s cue to preparing food.
- Involve the child in preparing the food. Making a sandwich, choosing the utensils to eat with.
- Consider finger foods and allowing a texture defensive child to play with different textures with their hands. It’s a short step from there to licking fingers and tasting things.
- If you are going to offer choices then only offer a choice of two things, both of which are acceptable to you as a parent.
- Consider having friends of a similar age round, offer snacks and see how your child reacts. Some children eat better in the company of other children.
Avoid
- Following the child round trying to get them to eat.
- Insist that the toddler eat everything on the plate.
- Take away food that was refused and offer something else.
- Large drinks before a meal.
- Offer a snack soon after a meal which was not completely eaten.
- Assume that because one food was refused it will never again be eaten.
Occasionally there is a medical or a physical problem. For further help, if the food refusal is of long duration, see a Consultant Paediatrician, a Paediatric Dietician and a Speech and Language Therapist. The Speech and Language therapist will conduct a “Swallowing Assessment” which will look at oral motor function.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Feeding a Toddler
As children move from a purely milk diet, whether this is breast or formula, they are growing very quickly and are usually very active, so they need plenty of energy and nutrients.Between the ages of 2 to 5 years children should be gradually moving to eating with the family, and this means eating the same foods as the family.
Every day toddlers should have the following sorts of foods.
Iron is found in many vegetables and pulses such as beans lentils and chickpeas, in dried fruit such as apricots, raisins and sultanas and in some breakfast cereals.
Absorbing iron from vegetable sources is more difficult than absorbing iron from meat so ensure your toddler has some foods containing iron every day. A food or drink which is high in vitamin C given at the same time as vegetables or iron containing foods will help make the absorption of iron easier.
Avoid giving young children tea or coffee especially at meal times as this reduces iron absorption.
Semi skimmed milk can be given from 2 years of age but fully skimmed milk is unsuitable for children under 5 years of age.
Vitamin drops are a useful addition to the diet of under 5's as this ensures, despite any fussy food behaviour, that the child gets enough of the important protective vitamins to encourage bone growth and immune system support.
Small portions on small plates are less daunting. Children can always ask for more but can be discouraged if they are expected to eat large amounts. Plan for three main meals per day and two snacks.
If you want to know more about toddler diet, if you need support with your toddlers eating habits,
Contact us at;-info@dreamangus.com
Every day toddlers should have the following sorts of foods.
- Milk and dairy foods which will provide protein, vitamins, minerals and calories.
- Meat, fish, eggs, peas,beans, lentils and tofu. Boys need up to 4 portions of oily fish per week, mackerel,sardines, or salmon. Girls should have no more than 2 portions of oily fish per week.
- Bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, potatoes, sweet potatoes,which will provide fibre as well as calories, vitamins and minerals.
- Fruit and vegetables for vitamin C and other protective vitamins.
- A vitamin D supplement for healthy bone and good immune response.
Iron is found in many vegetables and pulses such as beans lentils and chickpeas, in dried fruit such as apricots, raisins and sultanas and in some breakfast cereals.
Absorbing iron from vegetable sources is more difficult than absorbing iron from meat so ensure your toddler has some foods containing iron every day. A food or drink which is high in vitamin C given at the same time as vegetables or iron containing foods will help make the absorption of iron easier.
Avoid giving young children tea or coffee especially at meal times as this reduces iron absorption.
Semi skimmed milk can be given from 2 years of age but fully skimmed milk is unsuitable for children under 5 years of age.
Vitamin drops are a useful addition to the diet of under 5's as this ensures, despite any fussy food behaviour, that the child gets enough of the important protective vitamins to encourage bone growth and immune system support.
Small portions on small plates are less daunting. Children can always ask for more but can be discouraged if they are expected to eat large amounts. Plan for three main meals per day and two snacks.
If you want to know more about toddler diet, if you need support with your toddlers eating habits,
Contact us at;-info@dreamangus.com
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Children's growth and development.
From birth children are weighed and a note made of their OFC (head circumference) and length. Health professionals chart these measurements on a chart known as a "centiles chart". This allows an accurate following of the child's growth. Some weight loss is expected immediately after delivery but babies generally regain their birth weight by about 2 weeks.
If you look at a centiles chart, there is usually one in your child's personal health record, you will see that the graph has nine curves. Starting at -04th and rising to the 99.6th.
If you lined up 100 children of the same age, in height/length order you would find that, if your child is following the 25th percentile, your child would be number 25 in the row with 75 children taller.
Until a child is 2 years old the weight and length of the child are noted. From the child's second birthday the measurements change to a standing height measurement.
There is no exact measurement at which a child's measurement is abnormal, but, only one child in one thousand will follow the curve at 0.4th.
Weight gain is not the only important measurement, children can gain weight but not be thriving. When a child's weight crosses two percentile lines, for example a child who at birth and the first few months measured along the 50th percentile and then this falls to the 9th percentile, a referral should be made to a Consultant Paediatrician. Further investigation will determine if there is any underlying health problem which requires treatment.
Children do not always follow a centile line exactly an it is not unusual for a child to lose a little weight due to illness but will usually return to the initial centile after two or three weeks. If the charted measurements fall between one percentile curve and another, (e.g.between the 75th and 50th, or, 50th and 25th) that is not a cause for concern.
Children aged 2 weeks to 6 months should be measured and weighed once a month.
Once every two months at age 6-12 months.
Over age 12 months one measurement every three months is enough unless there are concerns about the child's eating or other health issue.
Children born before their due date should be charted on a "preterm" percentile chart, or, if they were born with a particularly low birth weight then the appropriate chart should be used.
When a child is a fussy eater these measurements can be an important indicator of whether this behaviour is affecting their growth and development. Some children have a limited diet but continue to grow and to follow the centile as they always have. Others may have a falling growth pattern. Where growth is failing and weight is rising but not to meet the anticipated pattern, further investigations are necessary.
Simple things like frequent coughs and colds, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and gastric reflux can have a negative effect on children's growth. It is always important to recognise these and where necessary to treat them.
If you would like a UK percentile chart to plot your child's growth;-
Contact Dream-Angus at info@dreamangus.com
If you look at a centiles chart, there is usually one in your child's personal health record, you will see that the graph has nine curves. Starting at -04th and rising to the 99.6th.
If you lined up 100 children of the same age, in height/length order you would find that, if your child is following the 25th percentile, your child would be number 25 in the row with 75 children taller.
Until a child is 2 years old the weight and length of the child are noted. From the child's second birthday the measurements change to a standing height measurement.
There is no exact measurement at which a child's measurement is abnormal, but, only one child in one thousand will follow the curve at 0.4th.
Weight gain is not the only important measurement, children can gain weight but not be thriving. When a child's weight crosses two percentile lines, for example a child who at birth and the first few months measured along the 50th percentile and then this falls to the 9th percentile, a referral should be made to a Consultant Paediatrician. Further investigation will determine if there is any underlying health problem which requires treatment.
Children do not always follow a centile line exactly an it is not unusual for a child to lose a little weight due to illness but will usually return to the initial centile after two or three weeks. If the charted measurements fall between one percentile curve and another, (e.g.between the 75th and 50th, or, 50th and 25th) that is not a cause for concern.
Children aged 2 weeks to 6 months should be measured and weighed once a month.
Once every two months at age 6-12 months.
Over age 12 months one measurement every three months is enough unless there are concerns about the child's eating or other health issue.
Children born before their due date should be charted on a "preterm" percentile chart, or, if they were born with a particularly low birth weight then the appropriate chart should be used.
When a child is a fussy eater these measurements can be an important indicator of whether this behaviour is affecting their growth and development. Some children have a limited diet but continue to grow and to follow the centile as they always have. Others may have a falling growth pattern. Where growth is failing and weight is rising but not to meet the anticipated pattern, further investigations are necessary.
Simple things like frequent coughs and colds, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and gastric reflux can have a negative effect on children's growth. It is always important to recognise these and where necessary to treat them.
If you would like a UK percentile chart to plot your child's growth;-
Contact Dream-Angus at info@dreamangus.com
Friday, 10 April 2009
Toddler Issues
Poor Eating/Food Refusal
Many young children go through a phase of faddish eating when they limit the foods they are prepared to eat. This is rarely longlasting and if the child is growing appropriately it is unlikely that this is significant.
Often parents expectations of their child's weight gain and food requirements are unrealistic.
On average a child gains about 6kg (15lbs) in the first year of life. Over the following second, third and fourth year the average weight gain is only 2kg (5lbs) The rapid growth and constant increases in the demand for food does not continue as it did in the first year. It is important to discover what the child is actually eating. Taking a detailed food diary can be very revealing. Most children will take enough food to sustain their growth and energy expenditure and this is apparent when the diary is reviewed.
Many children prefer drinking to eating and will readily fill themselves up with drinks. It can be helpful to avoid offering drinks an hour before mealtimes and offer a drink, in a cup, after a meal. Three cups of milk a day plus some on cereal is ample.
A cup of milk and a packet of crisps mid morning will stop most toddlers eating lunch. It would be better to offer a cup of juice and a plain biscuit or half a banana.
No healthy child offered appropriate food at mealtimes will starve. Battles over meals should be avoided, mealtimes should be happy social occasions where there are minimal distractions.
Many young children go through a phase of faddish eating when they limit the foods they are prepared to eat. This is rarely longlasting and if the child is growing appropriately it is unlikely that this is significant.
Often parents expectations of their child's weight gain and food requirements are unrealistic.
On average a child gains about 6kg (15lbs) in the first year of life. Over the following second, third and fourth year the average weight gain is only 2kg (5lbs) The rapid growth and constant increases in the demand for food does not continue as it did in the first year. It is important to discover what the child is actually eating. Taking a detailed food diary can be very revealing. Most children will take enough food to sustain their growth and energy expenditure and this is apparent when the diary is reviewed.
Many children prefer drinking to eating and will readily fill themselves up with drinks. It can be helpful to avoid offering drinks an hour before mealtimes and offer a drink, in a cup, after a meal. Three cups of milk a day plus some on cereal is ample.
A cup of milk and a packet of crisps mid morning will stop most toddlers eating lunch. It would be better to offer a cup of juice and a plain biscuit or half a banana.
No healthy child offered appropriate food at mealtimes will starve. Battles over meals should be avoided, mealtimes should be happy social occasions where there are minimal distractions.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Fussy eating.
The term "fussy eater", for diagnostic reasons, can really only be applied to children over 6 years of age. Until this stage in development the child is still learning about foods and textures. This does not mean that concerns, arising from eating behaviour before this, are invalid.
Children who have had reflux or colic lasting most of their infancy are not going to find the process of eating and being satisfied, at all comforting and may refuse foods for that reason.
Mealtimes can be the one time the child feels that they can have any control over their day and for that reason may take all the control that they can.
In general, no child will starve themselves. If you are concerned about your child's eating pattern then making a note of what and how much food they eat over a two week period is much more helpful than looking at amounts taken over a day. Children's appettites change over a day and over a week dependant on growth spurts, levels of activity, feelings of "wellness" and other factors. You may find that they do take in enough food over this period and are growing and gaining in height and weight although your initial perception was that your child wasn't a good eater.
If you have concerns about your child's eating habits it may be worthwhile having a proper feeding assessment done. This will give you a better idea of how to cope and, if another professional could be of assistance.
Dream-Angus.com offers exactly this service. Call for a free, no obligation consultation and then decide if you will take this further.
Children who have had reflux or colic lasting most of their infancy are not going to find the process of eating and being satisfied, at all comforting and may refuse foods for that reason.
Mealtimes can be the one time the child feels that they can have any control over their day and for that reason may take all the control that they can.
In general, no child will starve themselves. If you are concerned about your child's eating pattern then making a note of what and how much food they eat over a two week period is much more helpful than looking at amounts taken over a day. Children's appettites change over a day and over a week dependant on growth spurts, levels of activity, feelings of "wellness" and other factors. You may find that they do take in enough food over this period and are growing and gaining in height and weight although your initial perception was that your child wasn't a good eater.
If you have concerns about your child's eating habits it may be worthwhile having a proper feeding assessment done. This will give you a better idea of how to cope and, if another professional could be of assistance.
Dream-Angus.com offers exactly this service. Call for a free, no obligation consultation and then decide if you will take this further.
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