Top parenting stories this week
Encouraging Your Child to Eat a Variety of Foods
How to expand your child's taste buds and encourage them to try new foods.
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Taste Buds
- Allow your child to experience and identify each of the four unique tastes that make up flavor.
- Include a variety of tastes at each meal.
- Follow the one bite rule: Your child must try everything once.
- The earlier you introduce your child to new tastes, the better chance you have of keeping a “sweet tooth” from overpowering other taste buds.
s your child a picky eater? Here are a few tips that can help you expand his taste buds and encourage him to enjoy more food flavors. To view the full story click here.
Your Top Five Food Questions Answered
Worried about when to start solids or how to prevent allergies? We have the answers.
by: Sydney Loney
Busting Baby Food Myths
- Studies show waiting to expose infants to allergenic foods may not reduce their risk of developing an allergy.
- Starting solids earlier than six months could be harmful to your baby, whose body may not be ready to break down the food.
- When it comes to fruit and vegetables, there’s no right or wrong way to start.
- Gagging is a natural part of learning how to eat and most babies gag at some point as they try more textured foods.
hen it comes to what to feed babies and when, a lot of parents worry about doing the wrong thing. “It’s not an intuitive process,” says Dr. Jeremey Friedman, chief of Paediatric Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Here are his answers to five of the most common questions about babies and food. To view the full story click here.
Homemade Baby Food On-the-Go
Here’s how to make baby food from scratch, even when you’re traveling or dining out.
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Baby Food On-the-Go
- Buy an insulated lunch bag or canvas tote with reusable ice packs.
- Select food cubes for your baby’s meal(s) and place them in the plastic containers of your travel tote just prior to departure.
- Frozen baby food cubes will stay cold in an insulated bag with a freezer pack for up to 12 hours.
- Frozen food cubes take 3 to 4 hours to thaw in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 hours to thaw at room temperature.
aking baby food is healthy and economical. At home, it’s easy; but traveling or dining out doesn’t mean you need to resort to pre-made, jarred food. Just follow our tips for making baby food to enjoy on the go. To view the full story click here.
Is Your Baby Gaining Enough Weight?
How to tell if your baby is eating enough and what to do if she’s gaining too much, or too little, weight.
by: Dr. JJ Levenstein
Healthy Baby Weight Gain
- Most babies lose two to three ounces of weight in the first 24 hours.
- Your newborn is getting enough to eat if she has frequent bowel movements and is content for two to three hours after feeding.
- Your baby may be hungrier and need to eat more during growth spurts (usually around three, six and nine weeks of age).
- Babies typically double their birth weight by five months of age and triple their birth weight by 12 months of age.
- If your baby is not gaining enough, talk to your doctor about ways to increase your milk supply, such as drinking fenugreek tea, or about supplementing with formula.
abies come in all shapes and sizes, but parents often worry that their infants aren’t gaining enough weight. Here’s how to tell whether your baby is eating enough–and what to do if you’re worried about her weight gain. To view the full story click here.
Making Your Own Baby Food
It's easier than you think. Here's what you need to get started.
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Homemade Baby Food
- Making your own baby food with fresh fruit and veggies preserves color and taste.
- Processed baby food is developed for the mass market and can be limited in variety.
- The average baby in the U.S. consumes about 600 jars of baby food a year, which can cost up to $600 compared to the lower cost of preparing food at home.
- It's easier than you think–and because you can freeze it in single servings, you only need to make food once or twice a week. See recipes below.
ntroducing solid foods is an important step in your baby's development. While there is nothing wrong with feeding your infant jarred baby food, many parents don't realize that making baby food at home can be easy and less expensive. Other benefits include: To view the full story click here.
