Children's Eating Development

Gerber’s Progression (Birth, Sitter, Crawler, Toddler, Toddler 2+)

• BirthEats/drinks breast milk and formula, needs total physical support

• Supported Sitter (3-6 Months)Sits up with help from adult

• Sitter (6-8 Months) Can sit independently without support, starts to grasp things

• Crawler (8-12 months) Crawls with stomach off floor, begins to self feed

• Toddler (1-2 years)Stands alone, begins to use utensils

• Toddler 2 + (2-4 years)Can run without falling, mastered chewing and using utensils

Get your Taste Buds Ready!

TASTE TEST TIME!!

Signs of Hunger and Fullness

Hunger:moving toward spoon with open mouth

excited arm and leg movementssmacking lips, opening mouth

putting fist in mouthReaching for food

Fussing

Fullness:falling asleep

stopping suckingslowing pace of eating

pushing or batting spoon awayclosing mouth and turning away from spoon

Breast Feeding

Breast milk or formula should remain baby’s main source of nutrition for the first year.

Feed 8-12 times a day as a new born

Doctors agree that breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your baby

Begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.

Breast Feeding to Formula• Start by replacing just one breastfeeding at the same

time each day. After a few days, replace another breastfeeding with a bottle of formula, if you desire.

• Continue this process as a progression until fully transferred to formula.

Introducing New Food

• The experience of tasting new flavors, experiencing new textures and learning hunger and fullness cues.

• A good way to introduce slowly is purees, thicker purees with real fruits and veggies, soft quick melting snacks, chewable snacks.

• As a child’s physical development increases, their need for more calories will too.

The Importance of Progression

Introduce new foods slowly! Wait at least 3 days in between new foods to

check for allergy reactions Always consult your physician if you have

questions or need help deciding when and what is appropriate to begin feeding your child

Readiness for Solids!?

• Usually begins the middle of the first year• If a child can use the “pincer” grasp to pick

up pieces of food (thumb and pointer finger)

• Ability to sit up with support• Can take and swallow food from a spoon• If the child can start using their jaw

muscles to break down and chew foods.

Eating Difficulties

Spitting up

• To help decrease the frequency of spitting up, make feedings smaller and a little more frequent.

• Burp your baby at least every three to five minutes during a feeding.

• Avoid bottle-feeding your baby when he/she is lying down and place her in an upright position immediately after she is finished.

• Avoid overfeeding.

Safety With Finger Foods• Be there. Always stay close by

when your baby is eating

• Make sure your baby doesn’t bite off more than he/she can chew. Cut her food into small pieces rather than giving her a large piece.

• No dining in cars. Avoid giving your baby finger food in the car.

Toddler Tasty TimeVariety is beginning to pick up

Portions are age appropriate and food are healthy choices

Switch slowly to Cow’s Milk- WHOLE (2%), they NEED the fat for proper development!

http://www.gerber.com/allstages/nutrition_and_feeding/toddler_video.aspx