Let Your Baby Get Messy!
During many initial consultations with families, I ask the question, "What does she do when you give her the spoon?"..
How to Offer Bite-Size Table Foods to Your Baby
The transition to table foods can be very scary for parents of older infants. One of the most common questions we get is, "How big should the pieces be?". The guideline we use is to try to offer cube-shaped pieces the size of the tip of your pinky finger. Parents typically start with minuscule pieces of food, which does not really encourage any kind of chewing as the baby cannot really feel where the pieces are in her mouth or move them appropriately.
listen to your instincts
Crying, not sleeping, screaming during feedings, pushing away, spitting up... sound familiar? It's hard to know what is normal, especially if this is your first baby. Many parents tell us that they have voiced concerns about feeding during appointments with their pediatrician, but they do not feel "heard". What do you do when you feel like something is just not right? Go with your gut. Whether you think there is something going on like reflux, some type of food intolerance, or even an issue
Welcome to Motherhood
I have been reminded several times in the past few weeks how HARD being a new mom is. Watching friends and clients go through the ups and downs of the newborn period, I cannot help but wonder how any of us make it through and especially those whose babies struggle. I realize the following pieces of advice and information are not all original to me and many of us have heard them before, but I think it's important to say them again. Let other moms help you. Whether it's your sister, mother-in-law
There Is No "Force" In Feeding
Respecting your baby's cues is one of the most important pieces of advice I give all parents who come in for therapy. If your 6-month-old infant closes her mouth when you present the spoon, she's telling you she's not ready, she's not hungry, or she can't manage the food you are presenting. Babies and toddlers are very smart and we need to listen to them. It is important to figure out why they are refusing as the first step in turning things around.
Responsive Feeding: An Appropriate Approach for ALL Infants and Toddlers
There are so many reasons why feeding can get off track in the first few years of life. Concerns with weight gain and growth, oral motor incoordination, medical complications such as reflux, and even parent anxiety and/or depression will influence the feeding dynamic. No matter what leads to the path of stressful mealtimes, there is one way back, and that is to learn to be a responsive feeder. In our daily practice, this is the approach we use and model for parents. Whether it is a newborn who
