Even before the wee lad was born, I felt bombarded with information about how important it was for him to get the right food. This meant that I had to eat right, when all I felt like was dry biscuits and apple juice. Then, it meant breastfeeding.
There is so much information about how breastfeeding is the best thing for your baby and how it is the only thing you should do, which I don’t doubt. But, when breastfeeding doesn’t work, you start to question yourself: maybe I don’t love my baby enough…?
What other reason can there be for not being able to feed him naturally? And, you feel guilty because you have to use formula instead. Here in Norway, there is a warning on the packages that say you need to consult a doctor before giving formula to a baby, followed by a reminder that breastfeeding is better for him.
Eventually, I gave in and accepted that I had to feed him formula. I was a lot less stressed, I started to enjoy being a mother even more, and my wee lad was happy and sleeping a lot better, so all seemed well! (Looking back ,I wish I had stopped breastfeeding earlier, as it was both mentally and physically exhausting: breastfeeding, preparing formula, feeding the baby a bottle, pumping, drinking herbal tea, and then starting from the top again!)
So after we got over that hurdle and everything settled into a nice routine (and everyone was sleeping through the night!), I couldn’t imagine that the next step would be almost as challenging.
First, we had to decide when to start with solids. We started with thin porridge at 4 months (Norwegian nutritionists recommend exclusively breastfeeding until the baby is 6 months, but if he gets formula, you are allowed to start solids earlier). He ate well, all types of porridge and slowly, different types of food as well and eventually bread.
The wee lad was never interested in putting things into his mouth, never toys or anything, so we worried if he would be able to feed himself (I know, I am a worrier), but it came naturally. He also started holding his own bottle (another thing I worried about). So, everything is going well! Well, apart from the fact that he refuses to take dinner on a spoon…
He will take porridge and yogurt from a spoon, but he only eats dinner with his fingers, so we feed him lots of vegetables and chicken and other things without sauce. Anyway, we thought he was doing great. Then, we went to the doctor for the routine, 1-year check up.
They told us that it was very important that he starts using a spoon himself. But, he just wasn’t interested, and I am not keen on the idea of having spaghetti Bolognese all over my white walls.
So, we kept letting him eat with his fingers, and then suddenly, the other day, he picked up a spoon and tried (unsuccessfully) to put yogurt on it and put it into his mouth! (I know, he is a genius). So again, everything is on track, he is eating well, and I do have hope that he will be able to master the use of cutlery at some point in the future.
And now this.
I don’t know about other places in the world, but here in Norway there suddenly is a lot of focus on the connection between food and brain development (A recent study by Bristol University). So here I am, happy that the wee lad is eating, and now I have to worry about his brain development as well!?
So far, I have been trying to use common sense. I have stayed away from books and websites that give good advice as it stresses me out… But, I have now gone through several articles to ease my mind and concluded that the wee lad gets a fairly okay diet: he gets brown bread (which is a staple in the Norwegian diet), liver pate (full of iron), apple juice (sure that must be good for something), milk and yogurt (lots of goodness), fruit, veggies, chicken, a bit of fish and some red meat.
Sometimes the food is homemade, sometimes it is not; and I refuse to feel guilty about that! 🙂
How easy is it to give your children the right food, and is so-called “junk food” ever allowed in your house? Any hints and tricks would be appreciated!
This is an original World Moms Blog post by Asta Burrows in Oslo, Norway. Asta can be found on her Facebook Page or on Twitter @AstaBurrows.
The photograph for this post is attributed to the author.
My advice on getting kids to eat healthy is to be a good role model. If they see you eating it, chances are they will want to try a bite…or two…or three. My big girl is still picky but little girl will eat ANYTHING! In my opinion, it also has to do a lot with personality. Big girl used a spoon/fork quickly b/c she doesn’t like the way food (or much else including finger paint) feels on her fingers – she is highly sensory. But little girl would often get caught eating yogurt and oatmeal with her fingers. Thankfully she wants to imitate her big sister so her spoon & fork are now preferred. And just remember, they will figure out how to use utensils…by the time they go to college…or so my pediatrician always ensures me! ha! ha! 🙂
Good to know that he’ll be sorted out before going to college! 🙂 He actually had some fish yesterday! But today he spat it out – I guess he doesn’t always fancy the same thing, just like his mother!
I keep introducing new foods or foods prepared in different ways at least once a week. And if at first they don’t like it, I don’t give up and always try again another day. Variety is the spice of life 🙂
As for the utensils/no utensils….I am not stressing about that with my little one…besides, aren’t you supposed to eat some Indian foods with your hands? 😉 They’ll get it eventually, as long as they are eating nutritious food (whether it’s homemade or store/restaurant bought), that’s all that’s important, isn’t it?
I guess the not giving up is the secret – and to not get stressed, and like you say – as long as they get nutritious food I shouldn’t have to worry about where it is from, or how he eats it 🙂
Thanks for the honest post, Asta! For what it’s worth, I only breastfed my 1st son for 3 months and my second for 5 months, because it wasn’t working for me. I had to tune out all the guilt trips because in the end, I was a better me, which made me a better mom for my boys. And they are just fine. I think breastfeeding is awesome and rightfully should be taught as best for babies, but I also believe we each need to make the choice that suits our family best when in the trenches. As for meals, I always offer all the important food groups and try to be as natural and fresh as possible. But my older son is especially picky about protein. He’ll eat fresh fruit and veggies and whole grain bread/pasta, but he will only eat meat if it’s overly processed stuff (chicken nuggets, hot dogs, etc.) So I buy the least offensive varieties, since I would rather him eat some sort of protein then none at all. But I talk to him about where food comes from and how to determine what’s best for your body. Still, kids like what they like (don’t we all?) So I try to set a good example and I always offer new foods, but I also don’t make meals a battle, because I think that can be even more damaging to future food habits than giving in on sugar cereals once in awhile.
It is interesting though as I always used to think that picky kids were a product of their parents, but I am learning (from lots of people) that it isn’t necesarily like that! That takes some pressure off 🙂 I am so glad to hear your philosophy about how it is better to at least get some protein than none at all, and also about not makin gthe meals a battle – I think that is a very important point!
Good post! My baby is 2 weeks shy of 6 months and it’s definitely time for me to introduce some solid foods… starting with rice cereal. Right now she is exclusively being breastfed. I thought I would quit breastfeeding her at 6 months but now I’m not so sure. I think she’s getting enough food and is on a pretty good schedule. But she’s been hungry a little earlier the past week in the morning… so I think it’s a good time to introduce cereal at dinner time. I’m definitely a little nervous about incorporating solids into her diet! So many rules!
Your little boy should be ready for whole milk now. At least in the US they say at 1 years old they can drink that instead of formula. Sounds easier and less expensive! Have you switched him yet or are you continuing with formula?
Hi MomInTraining! We also started with rice cereal – just a couple of mouthfuls the first few days as I was quit careful, but he loved it, and soon he was on all types of cereal. I guess you just start her on porridge when you think it is the right time! If you have to get up earlier in the morning it is definetly time 😉 Yes, there are so many rules, we were a bit careful in the beginning not to introduce more than one type of food per day just in case he had a reaction or anything, but looking back I should probably have been a bit more relaxed about it all, but I found it scary in the beginning 🙂
Yes, he is on whole milk now – we started with that a couple of days before he turned one – and luckily he took to it straight away – and it made my life a lot easier, no more boiling water, then cooling down, the powder and so on and so on! Just milk morning and evening, and then watered down juice or water during the day, and he now eats whatever we are having (unless we are having fish…) 🙂
They tell us to wait 3 days before introducing a new food and to only introduce one at a time. That way if she has an allergic reaction you know what the source was. I tried giving her the rice cereal last night and it did not go over well. She just shut her mouth tightly and turned her head!
Ah yes, 3 days it was, I think we were told the same thing! Good luck with the feeding – as I was told – most kids will start to eat at some point so it’s nothing to worry about – I found it quite frustrating though as I would just have spent time mixing the porridge, and getting it to just the right temperature etc and then the “ungrateful child” didn’t eat it! 🙂 One of our problems now though is that my husband and I can’t sit down with a cake or chocolate or anything without the wee lad coming running to get some as well, but I would like for him to eat more healthy than I do, so that means that I have to change my habits (or have my cake after he has gone to bed)!
We have two awesome eaters and one who is fussy. We just present foods over and over again. Just having a taste of something enough times (different amount each child) can get them to add it to their diet. Mostly the only junk we have in the house is ice-cream and chocolate. The kids don’t ask for crisps or sweets because they know there are none in the house. We also cook a lot together, don’t mind them eating frozen veges and intend to get a vege garden going. Good luck. 🙂
Oh and we eat together at least twice a day too. 🙂
Cooking together and eating together is a great idea – I think somebody mentioned something above as well, about how mealtimes should be “happy times” and not a struggle. The only problem with not keeping crisps in the house is what am I supposed to eat? I have to change my eating habits now to be good, as he will eat what I eat! 🙂 Thanks for your comments!