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{grow}
rie based parent/child classes
moving beyond assumptions
infant & toddler meal trays

{infant & toddler meal trays}
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Acorn to Oak makes Infant & Toddler Meal Trays. Contact us to learn more.

Making each meal count

Children will eat when they are hungry. Our job as parents and caregivers is to allow for self regulation and autonomy. In other words, each child learns what it feels like to be hungry and to be full, and then they learn how to show or tell us that they are hungry or full. The last phase is when the child learns to still their hunger through their own actions; eating as much as they need until they are full. Through our feed back, children learn to either listen to or to ignore their body’s signals for hunger and fullness.

For example, a baby turns away after several spoonfuls of applesauce. We can either listen to their body language, and say, “oh, you are showing me that you are done” or we can ignore baby’s signals by feeding more. The first method tells baby that he or she knows when they are full, and the second methods tells baby to mistrust his own feelings of fullness, since the trusted adult does not agree.

As adults, our job is not to make the child eat; our job is to offer healthy choices. Once baby is eating several different foods, this means offering two and later, three healthy options at mealtime. By offering healthy choices and reading your child’s cues, we can make meals together fun, educational, and nurturing from infancy onwards.

1. Prepare. Before you bring your child to the table, have everything you need for each meal on a tray. Supplies can include;

- Tray
- 2 small metal spoons (demitasse size)
- Small portions of food in small clear glass bowls, with an empty bowl for serving into
- 1 damp napkin
- Beverage in pitcher
- Small glass (shot glass or small juice size)
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You can feed your young infant in your lap. When your baby can crawl and get onto a small stool on their own, they are ready for their own table and stool.

2. Present. “Show and tell” your child what is being served. Even the youngest baby will soon learn which is the cereal, which is the sweet potato, as long as you remember to tell them first.

3. Relate & educate. Ask even the youngest infant if they are ready for a bit of food. Watch their eyes, if they don’t talk yet, and then give them feedback, such as “Your’re looking at the noodles, I’ll give you some.” If you do this from the beginning, children will associate words with actions and soon learn what to expect.

4. Serve small portions at a time. If spoon feeding, hold the spoon a little higher than eye-level, to catch baby’s attention, and then bring it to the mouth. Touch the spoon to the lip, but don’t put it in. Baby should open and actively eat the food off the spoon.

5. Continue to use mealtimes as both bonding and education. Opportunities for communicating come in many forms, such as;

“Here is some pasta. It butter and salt; I know you like that”
“You’re reaching for the water, its cold.”
“You are getting up; that tells me you are done.”
“You said wah; that’s right, water!”.

6. Recap. Finish the meal with comments to show you valued the meal together. This sets the stage for family meals later on. Such as;

“You ate a lot today; rice, fish and apples.” “I like the way you tried to drink the water by yourself today”.
“You only ate noodles and you didn’t eat the peas. We will try again tomorrow.”
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FQA

Q: Why use metal spoons and glass bowls?

A: The sensory feedback from a variety of surfaces help children to orient and adjust. Metal holds heat and allows your child to gauge the food temperature accurately; glass is hard and gives feedback about where the mouth touches the surface

Q: Why not use a highchair?

A: Feeding is a readiness model. It is both physical and emotional. When a child is in our laps, we allow for nurturing. When they are ready to move to a small chair, they show us they are ready for this transition. They can also show us by moving away from the lap or chair that they are done! What a wonderful opportunity for communication, boundaries, and discipline. It is not passive, like being strapped in a chair.

High chairs seem convenient because you can face the child during feeding, but similar closeness can be achieved through lap and small table feeding. We mostly use high chairs as restraining devices to hold the child so we can have some time. This is better achieved through independent play time as part of your child’s daily routine.

Q: My child just wants cheese for each meal, what about bingeing?

A: This is normal. Just continue to offer variety, especially in the toddler years. Make sure each food you offer is healthy, then you can feel fine about temporary binge eating.

Q: What about Family Meals?

A: Family meals are fine when your child is ready. However, very young children want closeness, and then, when they start becoming more mobile, they want to move. This is not a good time for quiet civilized meals. Use the lap and and then the small table to teach boundaries, and you will know when your child is ready to join you at the table.

Q: Won’t my toddler get up from her own little table and not eat enough?

A: Maybe the first few times, but as you send clear signals that food is only served at the table, and if your child gets up, the food is removed, your child will learn that “if you sit, it means you want to eat, and if you get up, that tells me you are done”.

Q: What about if my child throws food or dishes?

A: As in the previous answer, if your child throws food or dishes, this tells you that your child is not interested in eating anymore, and can be removed from the table or lap.

Q: What about Grazing? My toddler asks for snacks and then walks around with them, eating small amounts all day.

A: This is more about boundaries than about food needs. A toddler is ready to learn that food is served at certain times, in certain places.

Q: How long can we use a sippy cup?

A: You don’t have to use a sippy cup at all! Babies are able to transition from bottle or breast right to tiny cups or glasses.

Q: My toddler will only eat if we bribe her with dessert!

A: If you offer only healthy choices, serve small portions, and present these choices at the same time, you can avoid the dessert battle!