There is not a lot more frustrating in this world than a fussy eater. Oh hang on, make that a toddler who is a fussy eater. Stubborn and unrelenting, the fussy eating mini human will resist all attempts by the parent or caregiver, with no concern whatsoever for their growling tummy or nutritional requirements, to feed them foods that they have decided they do like or will not eat at this particular moment on this particular day. Forget the fact that they ate broccoli by the bucket load yesterday, the fussy eating toddler will resist every urge to down those green trees today until you reach breaking point and either send them to bed hungry (with a belly full of your own guilt), wind up wearing more of the broccoli than you swore you actually prepared, or feeding them fish fingers and tomato sauce for the 9th night in a row.
If the child you care for is a fussy eater, you are not alone. According to a new Australian survey, 85% of parents and carers of young children aged 2-12 are frustrated with picky eating and worried that their child is not getting essential nutrients for optimum health.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics national health survey, only 5.4% of children aged two-to-18 years are eating the recommended 5 serves of vegetables a day, the number one food group on the top of the fussy eaters NO list. Only 1/20 children across the nation is meeting the requirements for both fruit and vegetables, having less than what is recommended by health professionals for good health for their age group, however the survey also shows that one-in-four children aged 5-17 years are currently overweight or obese. As most Nannies are responsible for the nutritional wellbeing of the children (and sometimes the whole family) in their care, measures need to be taken to cope with this fussy eating phase and help children adopt healthy habits and eating patterns for later in life.
Lead by example
Kids should see their caregivers make healthy food choices and, more importantly, that they enjoy them. There is no point in trying to get your child to eat Brussel Sprouts if you can’t stand them, so choose colourful, delicious options that everyone enjoys.
Get Them Involved
Kids love to cook and getting them into the kitchen and preparing their own food is a proven method to follow through to trying new things. If they can see how it is purchased, prepped and cooked, they are more likely to want to devour the end product.
Be Sneaky
If you’ve tried everything to get your fussy eater to gobble up the good stuff to no avail, try hiding it in their favourite dishes. Spaghetti bolognaise is pretty popular in most homes and can hide a myriad of vegetables in its sauce without changing the flavour. Adding berries or even vegetables to smoothies not only adds great colour and fun, but can boost vitamin content significantly.
Teaching kids to eat whole vegetables and fruits is best (nobody wants to battle with a teenager that won’t eat broccoli unless it’s hidden in a lasagne), so this approach is suggested as a temporary measure to ensure your little ones are getting the nutrients they need to grow.
Have Realistic Expectations and Sing Your Praise LOUD!
Start by asking your child to smell and lick a piece of food, and work up to trying a mouthful over time. Praise your child for any small effort to try a new food and don’t push it if they try the food and still don’t like it - some people just don’t LIKE cabbage.
Make Mealtime Fun
The dinner table can get a little stressful and a lot of the time, being fussy with food is merely a cry for attention and reaction. Giving fussy eating lots of attention can sometime encourage the behaviour so just ignore it as much as you can. Set a limit for meal time to not exceed 30 mins (anything that goes on much longer than this is rarely fun!) and remove all distractions (ie TV, devices etc) so mealtimes are clearly defined as time to sit, talk and eat. Sometimes toddlers are too distracted to sit at the family table for a meal and it can be beneficial to have a little quiet time before meals so they can calm down before eating.
Don't Reward With The Dodgy!
One habit that is not a good one to adopt is rewarding making good nutritional choices with sugar-laden desserts and processed foods. “If you eat your dinner, you can have ice cream!” or “yes you can smother that cauliflower with tomato sauce - as long as you eat it!”. Whilst it can be extremely effective for some families, most toddlers will simply still refuse the food, lick the sauce off or cry even louder at the thought of missing out on their sweet ‘treat’. Stand your ground and follow through - a temper tantrum-filled dinner accompanied by a sugar high and crash does not make for a peaceful evening for you!
Substitute
For every food, there is almost always a substitute. If your child hates vegetables, offer them more fruit or legumes. If they won't eat yoghurt, encourage milk or cheese and if they dislike chewing red meat, try mince dishes, chicken, fish or baked beans. Don’t give up on foods that are disliked – keep on trying every now and then to help your kids develop their tastes, even for disliked foods.
Is There Another Reason?
Sometimes there is a deeper problem than just fussy eating. Some temporary ailments, such as teething, a sore throat, a blocked nose, or an upset tummy will inevitably affect a child’s appetite. Long term complaints, such as diarrohea, constipation, bloating, rash breakouts or mild allergic reactions and intolerances indicate a more serious reason why your child is instinctively avoiding these foods and should be investigated by a medical professional.
Remember meal times are supposed to be fun and are a great way for families and carers to connect after a busy day. Recognising fussy eating as a simple phase and keeping your cool as it passes will keep you from pulling your hair out today and help your child to make great food choices later in life.
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Having a newborn baby, especially your first, is a wonderful and exciting time, but can also be an overwhelming time, filled with new responsibilities and challenges. The first few months can leave you feeling exhausted, emotional, and very stressed with the new routine, changes to your body and your baby. Breastfeeding can be a big part of the stress during this time. But there are many ways to get help with this. A great option is to hire a Maternity Nurse to help you with breastfeeding, relieving some of the stress and creating a positive experience. So how does hiring a Maternity Nurse help with breastfeeding? How do they help? A Maternity Nurse is a postnatal specialist and carer. Their expertise covers all elements of newborns, babies, and new mothers. They particulary skilled and experienced in newborn care and in supporting, teaching and ensuring are left feeling confident in their journey as new parents. A encouraging source of knowledge. Helping so many mothers through those first amazing days, weeks and months, of the journey of being a parent, hiring a Maternity Nurse is an investment in your family , definitely worth making. They will work with you to establish a routine regarding breastfeeding and work out a way how that can fit in with you, and your baby. Having someone there to make a structured plan will help you to relax more, focus on the tasks at hand knowing that you are on the right path, and that your Maternity Nurse is making sure everything is going to plan and adjust where needs be! Breast feeding Skills Breastfeeding is a skill, and it can be extremely challenging. Not all mothers adapt naturally, and in some cases may not be able to breastfeed at all, or for as long as they initially thought. It can be painful, stressful, and very difficult to commit to. This is one of the main issues your Maternity Nurse will help you with. They can show you all of the right and most comfortable, breastfeeding skills and techniques. Rather than having to struggle through it yourself, by hiring a Maternity Nurse they will give you all the tips and tricks. They will observe and make adjustments if needed, to ensure your baby is getting enough milk throughout the process. When the time comes for your Maternity Nurse to leave, you will have established a breastfeeding routine and obtained all the skills and confidence needed to keep you and your baby happy and healthy! General Support Hiring a Maternity Nurse will give you so much more than just help with breastfeeding though! They are there to support you with anything you can think of regarding your new-born. They will teach you the essentials of childcare, help you recover from birth and give you the confidence to take care of the baby yourself. Your Maternity Nurse will often be hired for approximately 12 weeks on a 12/7 or 24/7 basis. Meaning they can also cover night shifts – so that they are always there if needed during those first crucial weeks and months! Maternity Nurses come with all the suitable training and qualifications. From how to breast and bottle feed, sleep, bathing, routine and comfort techniques etc. More highly qualified Maternity Nurses can behold advanced knowledge in complex feeding issues, gut health, and birthing and may also have osteopathic, obstetric, and psychological knowledge, such as how to deal with and support postnatal depression. How can the Australian Nanny Agency Help? Australian Nanny Agency work with families all over the world, finding the most suitable Maternity Nurses for them and for their situation. Australian Nanny Agency have a wide variety of amazing Maternity Nurses on their books ready to help you and your new family. Whether this is for a couple of days or several months, we can find the right person for you. To find out more about what options work best for you do contact us here now and we look forward to speak to you!
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