Our Guided Solutions
Infant Feeding Issues
It can be hard to understand why your baby stops feeding.
Infant Feeding Issues
Early feeding success is dependent on the establishment of four things:
Feeding is a relationship, a strong two-way connection; the baby contributing as much as the mother to the experience.
- SELF-REGULATORY PROCESSES
- The ability of the baby to be stable enough to feed
- Awake and alert, breathing easily, calm, able to suck.
- CARETAKER RESPONSIVENESS
- Able to read baby’s signals, calming and gentle approach.
- Confidence in ability to feed and nurture the baby
- INFANT CAPACITY TO EMIT RANGE OF SIGNALS
- Show clear signs of hunger, tiredness, strong cry, mouthing and sucking
- Respond positively as feed starts; show clear signs of wanting a break, and clearly satisfied.
- CARETAKER IDENTIFICATION AND RESPONSE
- These may be clouded by illness, depression, anxiety or not understanding hunger signals.
The babies most vulnerable to feeding difficulty, are those whose early days or weeks are a struggle to establish feeding or maintain good weight gain. For them, feeding may have felt out of their control, especially if on nasogastric feeds, when hunger is either not noticed or is ‘magically’ fixed by a tube feeding. Similarly, babies with many orally aversive events in the early days or months may be less than fully comfortable with feeding.
The baby may not ‘remember’ this but rather recognises the emotions associated, either negatively or positively with feeding.
This lays down a possible pathway for the baby’s reaction to future upsetting feeding experiences. However a variety of other situations and events can then lead to fussy feeding or an aversion to oral stimulation and feeding.
$10
The Transition to Solids
Some babies have a difficult start with other feeding and may be reluctant and suspicious of anything new.
The Transition to Solids
Most babies take to solids with no trouble!
However, some babies who have had a difficult start with other feeding may be reluctant and suspicious of anything new. A child could be called a fussy eater if he refuses to try a new food at least half of the time. As well, fussing over feeding is a ‘normal’ toddler behaviour, so it is no surprise that food issues are a source of stress for parents.
Eight out of 10 Australian parents are concerned about their child’s eating habits. One-third of parents worry that their child isn’t eating enough (Better Health Channel). For the babies who are still taking only just enough milk, they may welcome solids as an entirely new approach to eating and enjoy it.
Similarly, you may feel eating solids is a new developmental stage that has no history of worry, and you can feel very positive about starting. Babies who are struggling with the transition to solids, may have had a background of concern.
$10
The Clingy Infant and Toddler
The Clingy Infant
It is natural for a child to want to be with his mother and a pleasure that that love is so trusting.
But what to do when he/she seems to never be happy unless you are carrying him?
Attachment is not a one off event like applying glue, but rather the development of the loving relationship between the infant and its caregiver. It is an enduring emotional bond, that develops between mothers and their babies and with other close caregivers especially fathers, in the process of caring for the baby’s needs.
It is characterised by the tendency to seek and maintain contact with the mother or other attachment figure especially when under periods of stress. Attachment is a lifelong bond and we have the same attachment style as adults that we had as babies.
$10
Playful Mealtimes
Putting some enjoyment back into family meal times.
Playful Meal Times
Toddlers go through stages of food refusal.
Neophobia (fear of new things/food) is common at this age, and it can take more than 10
exposures to a food before it is accepted, so if they don’t like it, just try offering the food again
another day.
Toddlers often like a food one week and dislike it the next. It is usually just a fad and easier to go
along with than fight it. They often have so many fads that in the end, they have quite a varied
diet anyway. Just continue offering a variety of foods.
$5
Changing Fussy Feeding
Toddlers go through stages of food refusal.
Changing Fussy Feeding
It can be hard to understand why a baby stops drinking. Many things may be the trigger: illness, discomfort from the feed, (vomiting, pain, allergy) choking, intrusive care as a neonate or your increasing anxiety.
But whatever started it, it is important to stop any force feeding, persistent feeding,(over 45 minutes) or constantly offering the feed.
If your baby is at the fussy stage rather than refusing, then you can probably manage this on your own. If he is refusing some feeds or you are not confident to do this alone then organise an appointment to see me or to manage this as a phone consultation.
$5
Sleep Activity Record
Needing a simple way to record your baby's sleep and feeding.
Free