day 542: on becoming a Grazing Toddler
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during
odin's developmental assessment in addition to being chastized for letting odin drink from and walk around with a bottle we were also gently
chided when it was discovered that we let odin eat meals while not in his
highchair . the mantra seemed to be that as a parent you determine where, when and what a child will eat and they determine how much they want. and grazing away from the table is not something to be encouraged since it can lead to endless snacking and poor eating habits.
but our increasingly on-the-go toddler seems less and less interested in being constrained in his highchair and it seems like it can't be that detrimental as long as you're providing healthy eating options.
although the developmental specialist was adament about the issue, opinions are split at babycenter
on the topic and another site
encourages grazing as a healthy habit as does
dr. sears .
so, is grazing away from the table A Good Thing, or not?
Comments
Well, we would like Jack to eat in his
highchair, but often that doesn't work out.
He is starting to associate it with gagging
and barfing - something that isn't a fond
memory. hook on chair and we alternate between the two. That seems
to be helping a bit.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Darned if I know, but clearly, yr doing one
hell of a lot right. It's been awhile since
I've dropped in on little Odin and his
developmental record, but he's far and away
past what I would have expected. Go, Odin!!
And three cheers to a couple of the most
dedicated parental units I've encountered in
a long, long time. You guys are great and
so's yr kid!!
Posted 32 months ago.
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I don't think "location" makes your
kid eat more or less. They instinctively take
in the calories they need no matter what,
unless you teach them differently. Making a
child sit down until he "finishes"
his meal can lead to overeating too. The only
bad things I can see about eating while not
seated are the mess of food all over the
place, or the choking hazard if a child
running with his mouth full. I fail to see
how this effects a child nutritionally, if
you give them what you want them to eat. I
think it's best to take a middle of the road
approach, at least start out each meal seated
at the table and then improvise from there.
At least this gets him used to the idea for
eating-out purposes.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Magdalena has always determined where she
wants to eat. Recently she has decided she
enjoys sitting at the big table instead of
the high chair when someone else is sitting
there. I don't think that sitting just in
the DR is going to determine her eating
habits. I let her eat as she wishes. She
was breastfed 100% until well into her 8
month of life. I think that set her up to
know when she was hungry and when she was
not, so I just go with her cues.
Posted 32 months ago.
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As a grandmother's point of view, I like them
to eat in the highchair...unless you have a
dog to clean up all the spilled food. (and I
know you do) :-)) Those non spill cups are
great..no spills there.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Most kids are going to get the nourishment
they need in a days time, no matter what.
Our neonatologist and pediatrician still have
us on Pediasure. While expensive, it has
250+ calories, and all of the vitamins and
minerals he needs. At minimum, we know he
gets this, so he can go through the day and
eat what he wants and we don’t worry too
much. He eats a lot, too, but is still very
lean at 42 months (28 pounds, 37 inches).
Also, the neo still suggests Hagen Das ice
cream. The one downside is, it is around for
us to eat, too. He has been off the bottle
(so to speak) for 6 months. Sippy cups are
to his liking now. He is in a booster seat
full time, too.
Posted 32 months ago.
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I think that as long as Odin is a healthy and
happy boy then why make a big deal about
where he eats; or if he walks around with a
bottle. To me those are so minor is the big
picture. We have important things to teach
our children- good healthy hygiene; stranger
danger; being a nice well rounded caring
person and so much more.. So I say if you
let your toodler walk with a bottle and eat
while he's doing so then SO BE IT!!
Posted 32 months ago.
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I am doing so much wrong I can barely stand
it. How have we all made it this far?
Posted 32 months ago.
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I'll try not to disagree with my daughter, so
don't take it personally, Candy :-)
Posted 32 months ago.
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5 small meals a day is better than three
large meals. I agree with Candy that if you
are made sit at a table until everyone cleans
up there plate then it can cause over eating
in children as well as adults. Children
learn to eat what is in front of them.
Posted 32 months ago.
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Is Odin overweight? Underweight? developing
scurvy or pellagra or another
vitamin-deficiency disorder? Are his teeth
turning black and falling out? Does he use
food as a comfort?
Posted 32 months ago.
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I think it's probably more of a social thing
than a nutritional one- when he gets older,
if he goes to a sitter or something, chances
are they'll have set mealtimes. If he gets
into the habit of grazing now, it might be
hard to break it. :)
Posted 32 months ago.
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I think it's fine...but then I'm guilty of it
too, so of course I'm going to side with the
people who are misbehaving also!
Posted 32 months ago.
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I agree with the things your family said...
about children (all normal healthy people, in
fact) instinctively knowing when they need
nurishment and when they no longer need food,
about 5 small meals better than 3 large
meals, and about the problem of eating while
distracted by things that induce greater than
average cravings.
Posted 32 months ago.
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ooof. i've gotten a bit behind on commenting
what with the busy holiday season. thanks
for all your comments and suggestions ( and
nice to "see" you again, the nannish one )!
Posted 32 months ago.
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