Many mothers face problems with their baby's refusal to eat or having to be coaxed to eat. While each child’s personality is different, it makes meal-times easier for both child and parent if you can interest the baby in the food, rather than having to force her to eat. Try these feeding tips for babies to help you get through times when your baby fusses with his foodFeed when hungry
Feed your baby only when he is hungry. Don't always follow the clock and give food only at certain hours. They might get hungry earlier or not be hungry at that time. Take cues from the baby and give food when he shows signs of hunger.
Avoid food when sleepy
When babies are sleepy they get more whiny. Trying to get food inside them at such times will be a great challenge. Also, when they are sleepy the body's metabolism slows down and food is not digested well by their body.
Don't expect complete discipline
Don't expect your baby to stay completely silent or stationery during meal times. They will be fidgety and will get bored of eating too. You will need to distract them. You could give him toys or even small finger foods for him to eat by himself. Also, when you find him eating well don't forget to reward him, perhaps with a bedtime story. Even very young children can make the connection between good behaviour and rewards.
Don't force feed
Make meal times fun times for the child. If they see anger or anxiety in your face, it will worry them too. Never forcibly open your child's mouth to feed him. It will increase his stress which in turn will increase the production of gastric juice thus causing stomach cramps. If there are some foods the taste of which he doesn't like, then remove it from his diet for some time and instead introduce an alternative.
Feed outdoors
Feeding a baby need not always meansitting on a chair. You can pack a picnic basket and take the food outdoors as well. It could be in your garden, terrace, in a park. The change of scene and the fresh air will distract him and increase his appetite too.
Eat together
As the baby grows older, slowly begin to teach him how to eat on his own. For this he needs to see adults eating too. Hence make dinner a family time where everyone sits together to eat. As the child watches, she learns too.
Ready for solids
To eat solid food, a baby needs to be able to sit upright and have good control over his head and neck movement. When you see that he is trying to grab food from the table during dinner time then it clearly shows that he's interested in solids. However, solids don't form his entire diet; so do continue giving him breast milk or formula feed. The best way to feed him is to place him on your lap or in a strapped infant seat. Mix the food with a little breast milk for familiarity of taste and hold the feeding spoon near his lips. You might have to wait a little before he takes the first spoon. However, most definitely avoid putting any solids into his feeding bottles.
Give finger food
Keep plates of finger foods in front of the child. This way, they will slowly learn to pick up food themselves. Small pieces of carrot, rice crispies, pasta or small squares of toast are good options. But avoid things that the baby can choke on like green peas.
Introduce the spoon and the bowl
When the baby begins to eat finger foods fairly well, introduce a feeding spoon, mugs and plates to her. There is bound to be a mess, so do protect your expensive table covers and carpets. Also buy bibs & burps online by the plenty to protect his clothes. While you feed her from one bowl, let he ruse another bowl and spoon to eat by herself. Stick the child's bowl with a sucker so that it sticks to the table and put only a little food into it.
Feeding a child will require a lot of patience from you. So take a deep breath, have fun, Buy baby feeding accessories to make it easier and keep your expectations realistic!
Make meal times fun times for the child. If they see anger or anxiety in your face, it will worry them too. Never forcibly open your child's mouth to feed him. It will increase his stress which in turn will increase the production of gastric juice thus causing stomach cramps. If there are some foods the taste of which he doesn't like, then remove it from his diet for some time and instead introduce an alternative.
Feed outdoors
Feeding a baby need not always meansitting on a chair. You can pack a picnic basket and take the food outdoors as well. It could be in your garden, terrace, in a park. The change of scene and the fresh air will distract him and increase his appetite too.
Eat together
As the baby grows older, slowly begin to teach him how to eat on his own. For this he needs to see adults eating too. Hence make dinner a family time where everyone sits together to eat. As the child watches, she learns too.
Ready for solids
To eat solid food, a baby needs to be able to sit upright and have good control over his head and neck movement. When you see that he is trying to grab food from the table during dinner time then it clearly shows that he's interested in solids. However, solids don't form his entire diet; so do continue giving him breast milk or formula feed. The best way to feed him is to place him on your lap or in a strapped infant seat. Mix the food with a little breast milk for familiarity of taste and hold the feeding spoon near his lips. You might have to wait a little before he takes the first spoon. However, most definitely avoid putting any solids into his feeding bottles.
Give finger food
Keep plates of finger foods in front of the child. This way, they will slowly learn to pick up food themselves. Small pieces of carrot, rice crispies, pasta or small squares of toast are good options. But avoid things that the baby can choke on like green peas.
Introduce the spoon and the bowl
When the baby begins to eat finger foods fairly well, introduce a feeding spoon, mugs and plates to her. There is bound to be a mess, so do protect your expensive table covers and carpets. Also buy bibs & burps online by the plenty to protect his clothes. While you feed her from one bowl, let he ruse another bowl and spoon to eat by herself. Stick the child's bowl with a sucker so that it sticks to the table and put only a little food into it.
Feeding a child will require a lot of patience from you. So take a deep breath, have fun, Buy baby feeding accessories to make it easier and keep your expectations realistic!
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