ReginaW
Wed, Apr-09-08, 10:40
:rolleyes: This should be titled how to make a kid fat in the future....based on number 2 being first in line for solids.
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Feeding your baby
What you feed your child now will influence his or her future eating habits
In a nation of ballooning waistbands and skyrocketing diabetes rates, healthy eating can't start soon enough.
And it begins with babies.
Faced with childhood obesity rates reaching epidemic proportions, researchers have started looking into the diets of those as young as infants -- trying to determine just where the problem begins.
According to at least one study, it appears that even some infants are already showing signs of an unhealthy diet.
A 2002 survey called the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study analyzed the diets of more than 3,000 infants and toddlers. Among the study's findings:
* One-fourth to one-third of 6-month-olds ate no fruits or vegetables on a given day, contributing to less than adequate fiber intakes.
* French fries were the most commonly consumed vegetable for 15- to 24-month-olds.
* Most infants and toddlers were exceeding their caloric intake requirements by 20 to 30 percent.
"I think that adults perceive serving sizes a lot larger than they need to be, and I think that trickles down to what we feed our kids," said Gina Dowling, supervisor of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) office in Dubuque.
Dowling says that many parents who utilize WIC -- which provides families with nutrition information, among other services -- are worried that their babies aren't eating enough.
"And when they tell me what their babies are eating, it's actually plenty," Dowling said. "They don't think about how small (babies) are in comparison to us and how their requirements are much less."
Health experts say what you feed -- or don't feed -- babies could influence their eating habits later in life. Today, the TH shares their recommendations on how to cultivate a diet for your little one that protects against obesity and disease.
1. Breastfeed as long as possible.
Studies show that breastfeeding not only reduces baby's risk of diabetes, respiratory infections and sudden infant death syndrome, but it also protects against obesity later in life.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life and continue nursing until the baby is at least 12 months old as other foods are introduced.
Starting solids before the baby is 4 to 6 months old does more than add unnecessary calories. Babies younger than this are physically and developmentally not ready for solids. They can't use their tongues to push food to the back of their mouth, and most are not able to digest cereals and other starches. Starting solids too soon also could increase the risk of a food allergy.
"Solid foods provide about one-and-a-half to three times the calories of breast milk," said Dr. Kevin Mullen, a pediatrician with Medical Associates in Dubuque. "So feeding prior to 4 months of age -- when babies really don't do much but roll one way or the other on occasion -- is really providing unnecessary calories, added expenses for families and could be setting up patterns of unhealthy eating later on."
2. Next, add the grains.
Your baby will let you know when he's ready to move beyond his liquid-only diet. BabyCenter.com recommends watching for these cues:
* Your baby can sit well when supported.
* He still seems hungry after eight to 10 feedings of breast milk or formula a day.
* He seems curious about what you're eating.
When you and baby are ready to go forward with solids, start with single-grain cereals such as rice or oatmeal.
Pediatricians like starting with these foods because they're a good source of iron, have a low allergenic risk and can be mixed to varying textures depending on how much milk or water you add.
3. Bring on the fruits and veggies.
Once your baby has gotten the hang of eating cereal, you can start adding fruits and vegetables to her diet. Deciding which food group to start with is up to you, Mullen says.
"Some will say that if you start with the vegetables, you won't get kids used to that sweet taste. I don't think it matters," the pediatrician said. "I've certainly seen parents start with the fruits ... And those kids go on to vegetables just fine."
What's important is to make sure the baby is eventually eating both her fruits and her veggies.
"There are studies that will validate the concept that infants that have a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables go on to have healthier lifestyles and healthier weights later on," Mullen said.
Each time you introduce a new food, wait three to four days before starting another one to make sure your baby doesn't have an allergic reaction.
An allergy can show up through an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, gassiness or a rash.
4. Add meats at about 9 months old.
Meat adds a nice source of iron but must be given with caution.
"Obviously, they need to be shredded up pretty finely, because the biggest concern with meat is it's a choking hazard," Mullen said.
Finger foods such as crackers and toast also can be introduced at this age.
5. Follow the rules of proportion.
A little goes a long way when it comes to feeding babies. The Iowa Department of Public Health offers these daily solid guidelines:
* Six- to 9-month-old infants need only 2 to 4 tablespoons each of fruits, vegetables and protein.
* Nine- to 12-month-old infants need 4 to 8 tablespoons from each group.
"From a parent's perspective, that might not seem like very much, but that's actually all they need," Dowling said.
When in doubt, watch for cues that he's full. He'll let you know by turning his head away from the spoon, spitting out or pushing away familiar foods or becoming distracted with his surroundings.
6. Keep mealtime fun.
If your baby is refusing to eat his green beans, don't despair. There are plenty of nutritious options available. When Mullen's patients refuse to eat a particular cereal, fruit or vegetable, he typically tells the parents to take two weeks off, and try again.
"I don't know that there's anything magical about two weeks. I just want to make sure that it's not a battle every single time you sit down at the dinner table," he said. "Then, if they absolutely hate it, do something else. There are lots of options out there."
7. Practice what you preach.
The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study revealed that many babies showed signs of an unhealthy diet adopted by much of the American adult population.
Children eventually begin responding to social rather than physical cues. So, if your baby doesn't see you eating your fruits and veggies, she eventually will stop gobbling up hers, too.
"Kids' diets will truly reflect what their parents are doing," Mullen said. "And, one of the biggest risk factors for obesity is having either one or both of the parents being obese."
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=197355
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Feeding your baby
What you feed your child now will influence his or her future eating habits
In a nation of ballooning waistbands and skyrocketing diabetes rates, healthy eating can't start soon enough.
And it begins with babies.
Faced with childhood obesity rates reaching epidemic proportions, researchers have started looking into the diets of those as young as infants -- trying to determine just where the problem begins.
According to at least one study, it appears that even some infants are already showing signs of an unhealthy diet.
A 2002 survey called the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study analyzed the diets of more than 3,000 infants and toddlers. Among the study's findings:
* One-fourth to one-third of 6-month-olds ate no fruits or vegetables on a given day, contributing to less than adequate fiber intakes.
* French fries were the most commonly consumed vegetable for 15- to 24-month-olds.
* Most infants and toddlers were exceeding their caloric intake requirements by 20 to 30 percent.
"I think that adults perceive serving sizes a lot larger than they need to be, and I think that trickles down to what we feed our kids," said Gina Dowling, supervisor of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) office in Dubuque.
Dowling says that many parents who utilize WIC -- which provides families with nutrition information, among other services -- are worried that their babies aren't eating enough.
"And when they tell me what their babies are eating, it's actually plenty," Dowling said. "They don't think about how small (babies) are in comparison to us and how their requirements are much less."
Health experts say what you feed -- or don't feed -- babies could influence their eating habits later in life. Today, the TH shares their recommendations on how to cultivate a diet for your little one that protects against obesity and disease.
1. Breastfeed as long as possible.
Studies show that breastfeeding not only reduces baby's risk of diabetes, respiratory infections and sudden infant death syndrome, but it also protects against obesity later in life.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life and continue nursing until the baby is at least 12 months old as other foods are introduced.
Starting solids before the baby is 4 to 6 months old does more than add unnecessary calories. Babies younger than this are physically and developmentally not ready for solids. They can't use their tongues to push food to the back of their mouth, and most are not able to digest cereals and other starches. Starting solids too soon also could increase the risk of a food allergy.
"Solid foods provide about one-and-a-half to three times the calories of breast milk," said Dr. Kevin Mullen, a pediatrician with Medical Associates in Dubuque. "So feeding prior to 4 months of age -- when babies really don't do much but roll one way or the other on occasion -- is really providing unnecessary calories, added expenses for families and could be setting up patterns of unhealthy eating later on."
2. Next, add the grains.
Your baby will let you know when he's ready to move beyond his liquid-only diet. BabyCenter.com recommends watching for these cues:
* Your baby can sit well when supported.
* He still seems hungry after eight to 10 feedings of breast milk or formula a day.
* He seems curious about what you're eating.
When you and baby are ready to go forward with solids, start with single-grain cereals such as rice or oatmeal.
Pediatricians like starting with these foods because they're a good source of iron, have a low allergenic risk and can be mixed to varying textures depending on how much milk or water you add.
3. Bring on the fruits and veggies.
Once your baby has gotten the hang of eating cereal, you can start adding fruits and vegetables to her diet. Deciding which food group to start with is up to you, Mullen says.
"Some will say that if you start with the vegetables, you won't get kids used to that sweet taste. I don't think it matters," the pediatrician said. "I've certainly seen parents start with the fruits ... And those kids go on to vegetables just fine."
What's important is to make sure the baby is eventually eating both her fruits and her veggies.
"There are studies that will validate the concept that infants that have a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables go on to have healthier lifestyles and healthier weights later on," Mullen said.
Each time you introduce a new food, wait three to four days before starting another one to make sure your baby doesn't have an allergic reaction.
An allergy can show up through an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, gassiness or a rash.
4. Add meats at about 9 months old.
Meat adds a nice source of iron but must be given with caution.
"Obviously, they need to be shredded up pretty finely, because the biggest concern with meat is it's a choking hazard," Mullen said.
Finger foods such as crackers and toast also can be introduced at this age.
5. Follow the rules of proportion.
A little goes a long way when it comes to feeding babies. The Iowa Department of Public Health offers these daily solid guidelines:
* Six- to 9-month-old infants need only 2 to 4 tablespoons each of fruits, vegetables and protein.
* Nine- to 12-month-old infants need 4 to 8 tablespoons from each group.
"From a parent's perspective, that might not seem like very much, but that's actually all they need," Dowling said.
When in doubt, watch for cues that he's full. He'll let you know by turning his head away from the spoon, spitting out or pushing away familiar foods or becoming distracted with his surroundings.
6. Keep mealtime fun.
If your baby is refusing to eat his green beans, don't despair. There are plenty of nutritious options available. When Mullen's patients refuse to eat a particular cereal, fruit or vegetable, he typically tells the parents to take two weeks off, and try again.
"I don't know that there's anything magical about two weeks. I just want to make sure that it's not a battle every single time you sit down at the dinner table," he said. "Then, if they absolutely hate it, do something else. There are lots of options out there."
7. Practice what you preach.
The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study revealed that many babies showed signs of an unhealthy diet adopted by much of the American adult population.
Children eventually begin responding to social rather than physical cues. So, if your baby doesn't see you eating your fruits and veggies, she eventually will stop gobbling up hers, too.
"Kids' diets will truly reflect what their parents are doing," Mullen said. "And, one of the biggest risk factors for obesity is having either one or both of the parents being obese."
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=197355