Supernanny Book Review #6
The next chapter in Supernanny : How to Get the Best from Your Children is all about Eating. This is a fairly long chapter, covering both the basics of eating development as well as Supernanny’s tricks of the trade.
First, development. If you’ve been visiting the pediatrician regularly - and if your child’s pediatrician is any good - then you’ll likely know this stuff already. I also remember getting a thousand and one reminders in the mail from formula and diaper companies. (Nice of them to look out for you, eh?) A few highlights:
- Breast milk or formula only for the first four months.
- No cow’s milk for the first year.
- Avoid common allergy foods, like nuts, eggs, berries and shellfish for as long as possible. The later you introduce these foods, the less likely a child is to develop an allergy.
Moving onto the eating problems we find that Supernanny’s advice isn’t surprising. The first line of defense is to avoid problems before they start. With a 2-1/2 year old I needed to be reminded that the toddler’s appetite is as stable as plutonium. How much and what are subject to the whims of the moment. The keys, as a parent, are:
- Offer nutritious food. No sense setting yourself up for failure by stuffing your kids full of snacks and then wondering why they don’t eat their dinner.
- Stay cool. Kids are people, too, and their tastes change. What they lack are the tools to communicate these changes. You as a parent need to keep your head when your angel is losing his.
- Trust you child’s appetite; they won’t starve themselves. Growth comes in spurts, and a child’s appetite will adjust appropriately.
Remember: Small kids are like small cars. Their engines run hot and they have small fuel tanks. Be prepared to offer (nutritious!) snacks between mealtimes, in order to keep their energy and blood sugar levels on the level. Big meals with big gaps are a recipe for a period of hyperactivity followed by whiny discontent.
Beyond the issue of food, Supernanny talks manners. Start with praise and encouragement.; use the naughty step if necessary. Consistency - from start to finish, meal after meal - will eventually pay off. Children are bound to test the boundaries. It’s up to us as parents to make them reasonable and firm.
Next: Social Skills
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Tags: abc, books, eating, food, meals, supernanny, tvRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Super Nanny
3 opinions for Supernanny Book Review #6
Karen
Sep 27, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Doctors are starting to recommend that you wait until the age of 3 or 4 to introduce peanut butter. This is because of the deaths from introducing it too early. With my little girl, the common rule was wait until 1 year old, so I waited until she was 2 (because of our family’s allergy history). My son is 1 and I’m actually thinking about giving it to him. He’s had allergy testing due to his asthma problems and peanut butter was a negative allergen.
Cory
Sep 27, 2006 at 1:39 pm
We were given the wait as long as possible guidance with the peanut butter, but it’s such a staple in our house I’ve never made it much past one year.
But you bring up a good caution: food allergies can be severe enough to cause death. If I had any reason to suspect a family history of allergy with a particular food, I would wait. A little taste for you or me is a lot for a baby, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Karen
Sep 27, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Peanut butter is definitely a dangerous one. Our pediatrician told us that some counties are outlawing peanut butter in preschools and daycares.
Here’s a good tip for all you moms:
Only introduce a new food during the day and make sure it’s during a time that your child will be awake for a bit. I never introduce new foods at night. There’s always that chance that the child could have a reaction while they’re sleeping and you may not know it until it’s too late. Plus, during the day it is easier to get medical care, if needed.
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