The process of Weaning Toddlers

Importance of nutritious feeding of toddlers and good health

The onset of weaning is medically recommended to be at about the age of six months as this is the age when the baby’s digestive system has grown enough to handle new foods that could be introduced. It is also the age when the baby is able to sit upright without support and this is very important in avoiding cases of chocking.

The biting and chewing ability of the toddler makes it possible for the introduction of solid and semi solid food into their diets. Food should however be given in semisolid forms at the immediate onset of weaning for ease in chewing. Give varying textures and tastes for the enhancement of the toddlers’ ability to discover more.

It is advisable not to season the toddler’s food. Using sugar, salt or honey to give added taste is quiet unnecessary, as you should mostly ensure that, the toddler is getting all the necessary nutrients for his health, from the served food itself.

Honey can initiate the growth of a food poisoning bacterium. This can lead to a condition known as botulism, because the toddler is still having a digestive system, which has not fully matured to the extent of stopping the growth of that health threatening bacteria.

When the toddler’s food is cooked together with that of other family members, set his portion aside before adding any seasoning.

Teeth development is at its peak during the weaning stage. You should avoid bottle feeders; which are also not so easy to keep hygienically, and try feeding the toddler using cups as they enhance proper teeth development as well as the development of speech muscles.

Sugary foods like cakes and biscuits should be avoided to prevent cases of tooth decay. Giving of juices to the toddler just before bed is very unhealthy as it will make fruit sugars to collect around the teeth and this could cause serious dental decay.

You can also see to your toddlers’ dental health by using a soft baby brush or some soft piece of cotton cloth to clean his teeth. Prevent discoloration by using low fluoride baby oral gels as they are not yet able to spit out toothpaste. You can do this before sleep.

Do not expose your toddler to people who have infectious diseases as their immune system is still weak and picking infections is easy. Smoking around the toddler is also bad for his health as it increases their chances of developing respiratory problems such as asthma. Their allergic proneness is also increased by the same.

How to Introduce

 -         Introduce food in small bits always about 2 solid feeds a day, ensuring that you are providing the toddler with a balanced diet; carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fats

-         Observe the toddlers reaction to different foods that you offer. Introduce new foods at duration of about 5 days.

-         Adequately serve the foods that you have discovered to be liked most by the toddler.

-         Do not serve the toddler with food when you are anxious. Relax as you feed the child.

-         Give semi solid food that is easy to digest and swallow.

-         Encourage the toddler to self feed by giving finger foods. This could enhance their enjoyment and acceptance of the food you are introducing.

-         Mix new foods with familiar ones.

-         Throw away any left over. Do not reheat

-         Help the child to bring up gad to prevent instances of vomiting after eating.

-         Serve the toddler with adequate liquids; fruit juices, milk, and water.

-         Feed the baby at regular intervals for the toddler’s digestive system to have room to properly digest the food and for effective absorption of nutrients.

-         Do not introduce food when the toddler is too hungry.

-         Never force a toddler to eat. Give them time to learn to accept the food you are introducing.

-         Ensure that the food you give to the toddler is at an appropriate temperature.

-         Do not put solid food like seeds in the feeding bottle; the baby could choke.

-         Do not step breast feeding immediately.

-         Serve the toddlers food attractively and ensure that the utensils you are using are easy to handle.

Feeding Track

Once your baby has gotten used to the new foods that you are serving him with, you can start increasing the portions you serve them with gradually, until you are able to develop a standard amount of food that gives the toddler satisfaction.

The dietary fiber content for a toddler in regard to recent recommendations is about five grams added onto the toddlers’ age. For example a three years old toddler will need about 8 grams of dietary fiber for his daily intake.

About two slices of whole meal bread would do for the toddler’s diet. This can be catered for in the various servings of whole grain products, vegetables and fruit servings throughout the day.

The essentiality of fiber in the toddlers diet is to protect him from constipation problems, while its prolonged intake all through life, lowers heart disease and cancer risks which mostly develop in adulthood.

Provide adequate calcium in the toddler’s daily meals as this is the stage in which teething takes place and calcium is a very important nutrient in the development of strong bones and teeth.

It is important to start teaching good table manners at this age, toddlers pick habits very fast and if not properly introduced to acceptable behavior at an early stage could embarrass you at someone else’s table.

Help the toddler to know when he is full so as to avoid cases of throwing up as a result of over eating.

Weaning Problems

The introduction of new food comes as a shock to the toddler’s digestive system and to his body as a whole. There are various problems that toddlers face as a result of weaning. These problems may be short lived only until the toddlers body gets use to the new foods and may be of no serious health impact to the baby. Care should be taken and professional consultation made so as not to expose the toddlers’ health in jeopardy.

Toddlers can be quiet selective and picky about what they eat by just choosing on things like color; eating fruits or foods of only one particular color, food choice; eating only carbohydrates or proteins or vitamin sources, texture; eating solids and no liquids and vise versa.

When the toddlers’ dietary provision lacks adequate iron, he may develop anemia. It can come about as a result of reduction in the toddlers’ intake of breast or formula milk leading to the deficiency of this nutrient. Ensure regular health check ups to be sure that the toddler’s blood levels are standard.

Gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pains, diarrhea and vomiting could be caused by allergic reactions in the toddler’s body after eating a particular food. You can discuss this with a doctor for advice on what foods to avoid and to be provided with all necessary information on how to counteract or avoid the reactions. All those who take care of the toddler should be informed of the toddlers’ allergic health condition to minimize on the occurrence of the problem.

The toddler maybe of the habit of gagging, especially if you force them to eat more than the can actually contain. This could happen even while breast feeding mostly if the milk flow is too fast. Ensure that the hole in the toddlers’ bottle teat is of the right size.