We often talk about ‘weanable foods’ and ‘meeting the child where they are at’ skill wise when we wean. For new eaters, the easiest way to present foods that are easy to eat and caloric are to consistently offer purees. But, the reality is that not every child is a fan of purees. This is especially tricky as kids get a bit older and begin to watch their peers and/or siblings eat ‘big kid’ foods which they want to imitate (which is great for motivation, but tricky for intake). And when you think about it, the majority of foods that adults eat are not pureed.
Changing Up How you Offer Preferred Foods
When you and your child are feeling like you are in a rut on how to offer foods, it can be difficult to pull yourself up and branch out. But, as caregivers, we can make changes to already accepted foods to help encourage kids to try new foods and encourage variety (remember, within the Division of Responsibility, ‘what to eat of what is offered’ and ‘how much’ are the child’s jobs, so our job is only to help offer foods in a way that empowers them to expand on their job when they’re ready). Here are some tips to do just that
Expanding Your Child’s Food Variety
At some point, all parents (especially toddler parents) ask themselves, ‘When is my child going to eat more than 3 foods?’ and then follow up with, “and why do all three of those foods have to be processed carbs?” So whether your child is actually a toddler or just a toddler in the terms of “eating age,” it’s important to understand what to expect as your child begins to expand the variety of foods they eat.
Two Types of Pressured Eating – and Why We Should Avoid Them
Growth Expectations: When to Expect Weight Gain Post-Tube-Wean
Weight gain, or the lack thereof, is often the reason that children are put on feeding tubes. And though parents learn to accept a small bit of loss during the weaning process, often the question remains as to when they might see their child begin to gain again post-wean. So let’s see if we might understand what to expect by looking at how orally-eating children typically gain weight.