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Supporting Feeding Conditions

Many factors impact on infants’ willingness to eat solids, and those with diet-related conditions or who have been difficult to feed early in infancy are often the more sensitive. Feeding skills may need to be re-established by returning to an earlier step in the weaning journey. The trick is not to get stuck at one particular stage, and gently and gradually continue to move progress forward. A good level gives just enough challenge to be manageable whilst also developing new skills. Conditions such as persistent reflux, breathing difficulties or cow’s milk allergy can limit an infant’s desire to eat, who learning very quickly when eating is associated with discomfort. Reassurance, through eye contact, gentle praise and encouragement provide good feedback for an infant, generating feelings of safety.

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Learning How to Eat

During the sensitive window around 6-12 months, infants are primed to learn how to feed themselves. Their natural curiosity and the desire to eat or feed themselves are helpful for feeding skill development.

When introducing solids has been difficult to establish, the limited experience slows down the early learning and can affect the normal age related development of physical feeding skills.There are many factors that impact an infants’ willingness to eat solids, eg. repeated illness, respiratory difficulties and conditions like cow’s milk allergy or reflux. Those infants who have been difficult to feed soon after birth are often the most sensitive.

Skills developed at this time, need lots of practice going forward. When solids have been difficult to establish, toddlerhood begins with a limited range of feeding skills. This is a time when their attention is more focused on exploring and play, rather than learning to eat. Those toddlers may find textured foods more difficult. This may show up as taking a long time to eat, being highly selective, challenging behaviours or making little progress with variety. For some, growth faltering is at stake.

Iron is an essential component of red blood cells and because infants are growing so rapidly, new red blood cells being made at a high rate. The weaning period is an important time for introducing iron-rich foods, establishing the tastes, smells and textures of iron-rich foods. Time is needed to develop chewing skills and learn to become familiar with and enjoy eating those foods. Rich plant and animal sources include red meat, egg yolk, apricots, cocoa, green vegetables, lentils, avocado, seed and nut butters. Vegan infants need an iron supplement.

Infants with ongoing feeding difficulties or poor feeding are more likely to experience growth faltering. Their nutritional needs for growth at this age mean they have high calorie and nutrient requirements. Attention is needed if weight drops more than two centile lines away from the usual curve. Small fluctuations in the weight centile are common during infancy because of short-term illness that affects food intake.

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Mindful Parenting

Being mindful is a skill that can be cultivated through practice, and has huge benefits for both parents and children. Mindful parenting is responsive, attentive and accepting, both towards your child and yourself. So often parents worry and become self-critical when things don’t go to plan. Feeding is an emotive issue for most parents and mindful parenting can help you to be open to your own emotions, without being taken over with their intensity. Learning how to be in the moment, with whatever is happening for yourself and for your child is being mindful. Practicing this can help to ease those tensions in family life, and can be applied to food, feeding and nutrition, as well as many other aspects parenting.”