| Battles over food often occur when parents are | | | | at his growth. Check the growth chart at his next |
| too concerned about what, how much and when | | | | visit with the doctor. Is the upward curve on the |
| their children eat. Avoid making mealtime a | | | | weight and height chart steady? If so, he's eating |
| battleground. Your baby is testing his | | | | enough.o Look at his energy level. Is he moving |
| independence. This means that he'll try to do | | | | around all day? Does he sleep well and wake |
| things his way-not yours. Relax and accept your | | | | happy? Is he interested in new things? If he's |
| baby's unusual food choices. As he matures, your | | | | active, he's eating enough.o Look at his milk intake. |
| baby will follow your lead more easily.o Don't insist | | | | Is he breastfeeding eagerly or drinking 24 to 32 |
| on eating foods in a certain order. Resist saying | | | | ounces of formula a day? If so, most of his |
| dessert is a treat for "plate cleaners" only. This | | | | nutritional needs are being met. |
| power struggle makes dessert more desirable to | | | | Using a cup |
| your 11-month-old.o Instead, serve a nutritious | | | | Weaning is a gradual process. It moves babies |
| and balanced meal. Let your baby eat it in | | | | from a bottle or breastfeeding to drinking from a |
| whatever order he chooses.o Don't restrict food | | | | cup. For bottle-fed babies, weaning to a cup |
| combination. If your baby wants to dip his toast in | | | | usually happens around a baby's first birthday. |
| pudding or mix his spinach with rice, let him. He's | | | | Now that your baby is feeding himself, it's a good |
| trying out new tastes. He's eating nutritious food. | | | | time to offer a cup with his meals. Using a cup |
| Try to respect his harmless investigation.o Don't | | | | with two handles will improve your baby's |
| force your baby to eat. For example, carrots are | | | | coordination skills. Gradually substitute a cup for |
| an important part of a baby's diet. But even a | | | | the bottle at the noon meal. Once your baby |
| healthy food like a carrot is not worth a battle. | | | | adjusts to that, do the same at the morning meal. |
| Offer him a choice of healthy foods. Follow his | | | | The evening bottle will probably be the last to go. |
| cues about when he has had enough. | | | | Your baby is used to the bedtime bottle as a |
| Eating too little? | | | | comfortable, secure ritual. Try substituting water |
| Do you think your baby is not eating enough? | | | | in the bottle for the formula. Then just offer your |
| Relax. Offer nutritious foods at regular times in a | | | | baby a cup of water before bed. If you continue |
| pleasant atmosphere. No baby will starve himself! | | | | to hold and cuddle at bedtime, weaning will go |
| To reassure yourself, check these points.o Look | | | | more smoothly. |