My Biggest Concern Right Now!

Feeding has been an issue between me and my kid. As he got older, he's getting more picky about his food and this is really getting into my nerves! I sometimes feel like he's just testing my reaction when he spits or plays with his food. He would often spit out his food, especially if it has a new taste or different consistency!  But he never spits his  favorites - banana, lugaw and french fries!

So i'm really thinking about the nutrition of my little guy. Most kids by one year can consume family foods of a solid consistency.

Below is the text from Unicef and WHO's Facts for Life

By 12 months:Most children are able to consume 'family foods' of a solid consistency. They can still be offered semi-solid foods, which are easier for young children to eat. Additional nutritious snacks (such as fruit, bread or bread with nut paste) can be offered once or twice per day, as desired, starting at six months. If the quality or amount of food per meal is low, or the child is no longer breastfeeding, give 1–2 cups of milk plus one or two extra meals each day.

They can still be offered semi-solid foods, which are easier for young children to eat.

I've been looking everywhere for sample menu to get a good idea of the best foods to five my toddler. Feeding him has been such a concern, especially since i work during the day, i can't monitor what he gets.  So i'm making it a point to prepare his meals for the day so the caretaker can serve him what i prepared.

Meal plan for toddlers

I contacted our FNRI (Food and Nutition Research Institute), looking for sample menu with our locally grown ingredients for toddlers.  They gave me this very informative and useful guide! Toddlers can eat basically what the rest of the family eats, just in smaller proportions.  The guide below shows how much for kids ranging from 1 to 9  years old.

[caption id="attachment_2016" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sample Menu for Kids Source: Food Nutrition and Research Institute-DOST[/caption]

When planning your child's diet, make sure you give a variety of food. Here's DOST- FNRI's guide to a balanced diet for kids! Below is a rough of about the food pyramid. Click on the type of food for corresponding amounts per serving.

Here's a rough estimate of the type and amount for food per day:

• 4 to 7 glasses of water and other beverage


• 2 to 4 1/2 serving of rice, grains, bread, noodles, pasta, etc


• 1 to 2 medium servings of fruits


• 1/2 egg


• 1 to 1 1/3 serving of fish, beans, nuts, etc


• 4 to 5 table spoons of sugars and sweets


• 6 tables spoons fats and oils

[caption id="attachment_2013" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Use this guide when planning your kid's daily diet. Source of Photo: Food and Nutrition Research Institute[/caption]

About your little one's milk

I'm still breastfeeding so how much milk he takes in is really a matter of importance to me!  According to the guide above, toddlers should  get  1  glass  (a standard glass is 8 ounces)  of whole milk daily.  I'm quite confident he's getting enough because he takes in 4 to 8 oz of EBM + 4 oz of fresh milk (this also includes chocolate-flavored milk).  Plus he also nurses during the night.

After the first year, SOLIDS should be his primary source of nutrition, so it's ok to feed him first before nursing.  If he gets his milk  before he eats, chances are he'll be too full to ingest his solids!

(Just a note to myself) Do not despair is he spits up the food you lovingly prepared!  This, too, is a phase and shall pass. Patience is a virtue! Today is the best day to develop good eating habits.

Good luck (to me) feeding the precious child!

Also worth reading:

• My teething toddler

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My Teething Toddler

At 14 months, my son only has three prominent teeth and the rest are just about to pop out!  Teething usually starts from  4 to 7 months but my baby's first teeth appeared at 11 months. The order by which his teeth are coming out is weird too! Usually, the molars appear next after the front teeth. But lo and behold, his canines came out next to his front teeth!

[caption id="attachment_3283" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is my adorable son sporting his first tooth at 11 months![/caption]

We are actually quite delighted that at long last, his teeth are coming out. These are signs that my baby is slowly becoming a big boy. If you are dealing with a teething toddler, consider these tips!

Expect low grade fever or diarrhea.

•  We’re lucky our son does not have these symptoms. A toddler's immune system is down at this point so be extra careful. This may be due to the stress on his developing body. Our pediatrician suggests avoiding  close contact with sick kids when teething so he won't catch any infection.

His behavior might change, too.

• Your toddler can be quite cranky at this time. I noticed this because he’s not his usually jolly and always smiling self.  I guess he’s irritated and bothered by the new thingies appearing in his mouth. He would often shake his head, pull his ear and touch his cheek, all these signs of teething.

He might refuse to eat!

• A toddler with a few teeth may be a bit harder to feed! His three teeth is his handicap! While some kids his age are learning how to chew and grind their food into small pieces, my son still has a hard time swallowing.  Make sure to give small, manageable pieces. Slice his food into cheweable pieces but always be on guard against choking.  I would still boil and mash hard foods like apples, peas or carrot because he can’t chew that much yet.  Give additional water to aid him is gulping down his food. We're trying to balance giving him infant cereals or giving him "real" foods.

Introduce oral hygiene at this time.

• This is easier said than done! I'm actually having a hard time cleaning his mouth and teeth.  He would clamp his mouth closed when i try to wipe his teeth with cotton or cloth.  When cleaning becomes a struggle, stop and try again next time. His gums are quite sensitive at this stage or may be painful too.  Don't force cleaning because he might develop fear about this and refuse tooth brushing altogether.  Take your time and just offer more water to rinse his mouth.

Biting during nursing sessions 

• A teething toddler is harder to breastfeed because he may bite. We discourage biting by asking him firmly to stop.  My baby seems to understand that biting hurts mommy so he must not continue. At times i would cringe in pain because of his bite, but i avoid letting him see my reaction. I think he sometimes finds it funny when i cringe in pain so he repeatedly bites!  So better to avoid making outbursts or react outright, even if it hurts so much.  Some kids do have a nursing strike at this stage, but not my son.  He would nurse to sleep for hours and he would wake out once my nipples get detouch from his mouth. So this mommy is also losing sleep as the baby is gaining more teeth.

Have fun dealing with your teething toddler!

Also worth reading: 

• Toddler feeding issues

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SAVE or SPLURGE? A New Mom’s Guide to Saving

Among my top goals for 2013 is to SAVE! Looking back at 2012,  I'm really shocked at how much we earned as a couple and where all that earnings went. Most of it went to our mad rush to the malls to buy clothes, toys and other baby stuff!

Over a period of one year, we’ve had some big purchases. Much later,  I’ve realized some items are worth splurging on, while some we could have definitely save on.

I think most new moms feel the need to BUY IT ALL for the baby.  But for families with a tight budget, being informed will help save a lot of bucks! This post is for those who want some info before buying such products.

Baby Food

[caption id="attachment_1574" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Instead of serving infant cereals, try preparing baby food made from local fruits and crops.[/caption]

• You may want to SAVE on baby food by making your own.


• Make home made foods for baby!  Each small jar of baby food can cost about P50.00. This amount can be costly, especially if you have an avid eater. Plus, serving homemade foods may help prevent a baby from becoming a picky eater.


• You can take some root crops, veggies and fruits from the family grocery. Just simmer and puree. Click here for some baby food recipes.

Breast Pump

[caption id="attachment_1575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Expressing milk at work will be easier with a reliable breast pump.[/caption]

• SPLURGE on a good breast pump if you’re working and you intend to pump at work. A reliable breast pump will be your breastfeeding best friend!  A double electric pump will cut your pumping time in half.  Sure, you have to spend much more than a manual pump, but in the long run, your investment will pay off.


• Read this post on how to save on other breastfeeding supplies.

Nursing  Clothes

• Save on nursing clothes by using a plain shawl as cover up. I seldom bought breastfeeding blouses. I just used blouses with v necklines and those with front openings.


• One or two nursing bras will help you nurse in comfort. Before buying a nursing bra, keep in mind that your breasts will go back to their original size 3 to 6 months after giving birth.

Baby Walker

[caption id="attachment_1578" align="aligncenter" width="233"] Invest in a sturdy baby walker, your baby's safety depends on it.
(Source of Photo:cpsc.gov)[/caption]

• SPLURGE!  Using a baby walker seems to be a norm in most Filipino household when training baby to walk.  Splurge on this one because cheap baby walkers lack safety features. Read this post on what to look for when buying a walker.

Baby Clothes

[caption id="attachment_1576" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Unless you have enough bucks for a fashionista baby, you may want to save on baby clothes! (Source of Photo: nyc.gov)[/caption]

• You can definitely SAVE on baby clothes!  Avoid buying too many tie side shirts and pajamas – the kind that weeks-old babies use.  I got by with just 5 to 7 sets of these. Babies grow, at a much faster pace than  we think.


• It might be a good idea to choose the next bigger size when buying clothes for your little one. This way, baby can wear them longer!

So there, I do hope you get some insights before spending!

ALSO WORTH READING:

• SAVE or SPLURGE? A New Mom’s Guide to Saving (PART 2) 

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On Being Paranoid about Baby's Weight

Yes, lately i've been bothered by Baby's weight gain (and weight loss).  Suffice to say that he's not nearly as chubby as most babies his age.  Hindi talaga siya puede pang diaper commercial kasi medyo payat ang hitsura nya! Add to that that he lost some weight during his bout with pneumonia. He's been bouncing up and down from 8.7 kilos from his 8th to 10th month!

The husband drove me even more paranoid as he said he would like to ask the pediatrician to recommend formula milk because he noticed that P is drinking less breast milk lately. He went on saying that baby looked thinner now if you look at his pictures as a newborn. Even his clothe size proves that he's not on the chubby side.

[caption id="attachment_1444" align="aligncenter" width="225"] He really looked thinner after he got sick![/caption]

On growth charts

But i was soon appeased after our checkup. The doctor plotted baby's weight for his height and weight for his age on the growth chart.  She assured as that although baby seemed to be in the low percentile based on the weight for age and weight for height charts, it's still within the normal limits and we need not panic.

She emphasized that growth charts tend to be biased  for babies born full term. My son was born 2-3 weeks short of his expected birthday. Hence, growth charts in the the usual baby books supplied in clinics may not be a good tool to use.

It's also good to check if the growth charts in your baby book are based on the WHO standard. WHO recently revised their growth charts to make breastfeeding a norm or the main basis of measuring the baby's growth.  There's a big possibility that the growth charts in the baby book are based on privately funded studies of formula milk companies, who also supply these baby books that most pediatricians use. Thankfully, we're using WHO-based growth charts naman pala. Click here for boys and here for girls  if you want to check your baby book!

Birth weight vs current weight

I was just not sure how the pedia computed but she said at the rate baby's growing, he's surpassed his expected growth rate!  Given his birth weight, at 10 months if he weighed just 7.6 kilos it was still  ok. P, being a preemie, was born underweight, just 2.1 kilos.  In the Philippines,  babies with birth weights less than 2.5 kilos have low birth weight.

[caption id="attachment_1414" align="aligncenter" width="300"] How primitive is this scale to weigh a baby?!
Source of Photo:www.loc.gov[/caption]

Average weight gain for breastfed babies

According to Kellymom, for 6-12 month olds weekly weight gain ranging from 57 to 113 grams is acceptable. Click here for more of Kellymom's discussion on weight.

There's also a study by the US CDC showing that directly breastfed babies gain less weight than bottle fed counterparts. This is largely because directly breastfed babies eat on their own demand and liking, rather than on cue (usually by the feeder) , as in the case of bottle fed babies.

Feeding issues

Unlike other babies who seem to be hungry all the time, P seemed to be less interested in eating and more fond of playing and exploring things around him.  That's why it's very important that he'll be (force)fed on time and with the enough amount.

I'm lucky my MIL is an eager feeder so i can be at peace while at work knowing that my baby does not go hungry. Read this for more tips on feeding older babies.

It's in the genes!

Note that genes will play a key factor in baby's  growth.  So there's a very big chance that if his parents are on the skinny side, the baby will grow to be thin as well.

To summarize, the pedia reassured as that baby's weight is ok. As long as baby seems happy and active and is fed regularly with nutritious foods and milk, then we need not fret.

Hopefully he'll be heavier on our next checkup!

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Feeding Older Babies

Breast milk should be baby's primary source of nutrition until his first year. But offering him a variety of solids is necessary once he reach 6 months.

But i'm gonna make a confession. Baby was fed with Cerelac on the 4th month by the MIL. I was really irked by this, well siguro she meant no harm naman. She was just as excited rearing baby as my husband and i were, i guess. But just the same, i really did not want feed him with solids that early. This is because most breastfeeding advocates recommend delaying solids .

Complementary foods are important to prepare baby for "real food". He won't be spoon fed for the rest of his life, so adding solids gradually will train him for the real stuff.

At first i was kinda sad because my breasts isn't his lone nutrition anymore. But  what can i do? Syempre kailangan naman nyang mag-move on at mag-upgrade to real food diba? Bilang pampalubag-loob, i made it a point to personally prepare his food. I also feed him every chance i get.

Here are some of my solids feeding learnings so far:

Breast milk intake

Actually one of my biggest concerns when he started taking solids was the decrease in breast milk in take. Medyo malaki din kasi ang nabawas sa daily breast milk intake nya. From 16 ounces, naging 8 to 12 ounces na lang during the period na wala ako sa bahay. I guess this is a common concern among mommies.

Here are my suggestions to help his breast milk intake up:

• Breastfeed before nursing.


• Use breast milk to dilute baby food instead of water.


• Expect the decrease in breast milk intake. It's normal but do consult your pedia if he's drinking much less.

Making a mess

At his age, baby's getting more and more curious and mobile so it's really getting hard to feed him with making a mess.  He has learned to sit so i put him on his high chair whenever he's feeding.

Have all the stuff you need nearby so you won't leave his side as you feed him. Prepare these: spoon, bib, rugs for any spills, cup with water, vitamins, if any

[caption id="attachment_1174" align="aligncenter" width="225"] My baby now reaches for any food put in front of him. We've been giving him bits and pieces of real food just for him to have a taste. I do hope he maintains his good appetite.[/caption]

My son tends to grab the spoon. According to What to Expect: The First Year, it's a sign that he wants to feed himself.  WTE suggests giving him his own spoon while feeding him. You can also give him pea-sized pieces of soft fruits and veggies, which he can grab and eat, like a finger food.

Don't rush

Carefully plan when introducing new foods. This is World Health Organization's  recommendation:

• At 6 months of age infants can eat pureed or mashed foods, thick soups and porridges.


• At 8 months most infants can also eat 'finger foods' (snacks that children can eat by themselves).


• By 12 months, most children can eat the same types of foods as the rest of the family.

Note: Try giving baby various types of food. On baby's 7th month, he skin color turned yellowish. Our pedia said this condition is called carotenemia, caused by excessive intake of yellowish and orange colored foods like carrots and squash.

Proper portions

You may be asking, how much and how often should you offer solids to baby? Aside from his regular breast milk feedings,  WHO suggests:

• 6–8 months: 2–3 spoonfuls per feeding, increasing to 1/2 of a 250-millilitre cup.  2-3 feedings per day


• 9–11 months: 1/2  of a 250-millilitre cup per feeding. 3 to 4 feedings per day


• 12 months to 23 months - 3/4 to 1 250 ml cup per feeding. 3 to 4 feedings per day plus additional snacks


• 24 months or older - at least 1 250 ml cup per feeding.  3 to 4 feedings per day plus additional snacks

Note: Number and amount of servings are  suggestions. Kapag gusto pa ni baby pagkatapos mo pakainin depende sa WHO suggestion,by all means, go!

About commercial baby food

Husband and i were hung up on giving baby only organic food. Healthy Options' Earth's Best was the only organic food we found in the malls.  Medyo mahal siya, pero since at 6 months keri pa namin.  Around P45.00 ang isang 2.5 ounce of fruit puree.  Pakonti-konti lang naman ang intake nya at 6 months, ok lang. First sweet potato, prunes and squash are P's favorite in the EB line on his first months of solids.

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I used to serve commercial baby food, since it's more convenient. But i now enjoy concocting recipes for my son. Home made baby food is cheaper too![/caption]

Pero ngayon, he's nearing 10 months na at medyo malakas na kumain.  So i got practical and learned how to make baby food at home.  I also check out different concoctions from the Earth's Best baby food line and make my own version. This site  has a lot for recipes and tips for feeding babies.

Making your own baby food is somewhat tedious. But seeing just how much you save, all the work will be worth it. It's much cheaper. Imagine a piece of fruit can make baby food for baby's entire day.

When you also make baby food from scratch, you know just what you're putting in it.  You're also guaranteed that no preservatives are added.

How about organic baby food?

Going organic on baby food is really up to you. Mayoclinic says there's no study saying that organic food are more nutritious than non organic.

I'm not using organic fruits and veggies as baby food. There's no independent office in the Philippines that certify fresh fruits or veggies are organically grown. So you really can't be sure whether it's organic or not. Plus, most pesticide,  which conscious moms avoid, stay on the skin. Hindi naman daw nanunuot sa mismong prutas or gulay. So sa aking palagay, safe din kung non-organic ang gagamitin.

Have fun feeding your baby. These months will layout the foundation to raise a happy and healthy eater.

Watch out for my post on my baby's favorite mom-made recipes!

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