Version June 2024
| Food advice |
| At meals, give your child food first. Children who drink a lot might not eat as much food. (Drinks are filling and have fewer calories.) |
| Do not give fruit juices to children under 1 year of age. After 1 year, give only 100% fruit juice and limit to 4 ounces (120 milliliters) per day. Limit all sugary or carbonated drinks. Breast milk, formula, or milk (for children older than 1 year) are best. |
| Do not worry if your child wants to eat the same food every day. It is more important that they get enough calories and protein. |
| Junk foods are not a nutritious way to encourage weight gain. Junk foods often contain a lot of calories from fat or sugar but little dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. |
| Offer foods that are easy for your child to digest. Examples include cereal, banana slices, and green beans. |
| Add margarine, mayonnaise, gravies, and grated cheese. For snacks, use cheese, pudding, bananas, or dried fruit. |
| Feeding times |
| Children need to eat often, but not all of the time. Offer something every 2 to 3 hours, to allow 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day. Avoid snacks right after an unfinished meal. |
| Children work well with schedules. If possible, try to give meals and snacks at the same time each day. |
| Allow 1 hour without food or drink (except water) before a meal so that your child gets hungry. |
| Do not make mealtime too long for your child (15 minutes is probably long enough for a toddler). |
| Feeding behavior |
| Try to relax. Mealtimes should be nice for everyone. |
| Learn how your child acts when they are hungry or full. Learn what foods they like. |
| You can choose what food to feed your child, but your child chooses how much to eat. |
| Avoid battles over eating. Do not force, bribe, threaten, or punish your child. Instead, praise them for eating well. |
| Do not punish your child by not feeding them. |
| Allow your child to feed themselves. Try very small amounts at first. Offer seconds later. Expect a mess, and be ready for easy clean-up (use bibs, newspaper under high chair, etc). |
| If your baby wants to hold the spoon, use 2 spoons. Let your baby hold 1, and use the other to feed them. |
| Feeding area |
| Try to eat together as a family or group. This way, others can model good eating behavior. |
| Limit things that take your child's attention away from eating, such as TV. |
| Make sure that your child can reach the food. (Use a high chair, booster seat, or small table.) |
آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟
