Learn to Eat. Love to Eat. | Speech therapist

Learn to Eat. Love to Eat.

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25.01.2022 In our workshops, we sometimes refer to snacks as "mini meals" as people often have perceptions about what a "snack" looks like. This article writen by Sally from Real Mom Nutrition explains the difference between snacks and treats. She shares some helpful tips on how to reduce treats in your chids diet and replace with more "meal foods" for snacks. http://www.parents.com//the-difference-between-a-snack-an/

25.01.2022 Trains Season 2, episode 15 Start your meal with some fun! A great way to transition your child from playing to the table. Pretend youre driving a train and pick up your child/ren on the way to the table. ... A sure way to bring a smile to their face! Will you give it a go? Check out our other #blueymealtimefun posts for more ideas to create happier mealtimes. See more

25.01.2022 This is at the core of our workshops.

24.01.2022 Morning snack Love: biscuits, strawberries and yoghurt Like: carrot peels Learning: carrot stickers, cold broccoli and cucumber... The twist? No spoon! Mr A was encouraged to use the food as dippers for his yoghurt. First he dipped strawberries, then carrot and then had a go with the broccoli. It was a great way to encourage touching and tasting of those less preferred foods in a fun and non threatening way.

23.01.2022 May your coffee be stronger than your toddler today folks! Our next Fussy Eating Workshop has been rescheduled to Thursday 24th September 7:30pm. Apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the date change. There are still tickets available, so if you are dreading mealtimes you may want to join us. We share simple yet effective strategies to start making mealtimes enjoyable again. No matter how strong willed your child...... www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops

23.01.2022 No. 3 of my 5 favourite feeding products for babies: Silicone open cups Drinking out of an open cup supports the development of the lips, jaw and tongue and enables your baby to learn a mature swallow pattern. Drinking from a cup rather than a bottle prevents dental decay. For years I have been recommending small cups such as medicine measuring cups, shot glasses or espresso cups to teach open cup drinking to babies from 6 months of age then along came the tiny... cup from @ezpz_aus_nz. The small size is important as it helps control how much fluid enters your baby’s mouth. A baby drinking out of an adult sized cup is the equivalent of an adult drinking out of a soup bowl. The base of the Tiny Cup is weighted to reduce spilliage. Another open cup I love is the @wean_meister Sippy Skillz. cup. It comes with handles which are the holy grail for helping children to bring the cup up to their mouth and tip it up just the right amount. The wide base is great too for reducing spilling (this is totally going to happen). Both cups are made from silicone so are soft on gums and don’t break when thrown on the floor (this is totally going to happen too). Note: This is not a sponsored post. We receive no money/gifts from the makers of these products. A link to the products is only a guide. If you have a similar product you would like us to list please contact us: [email protected] We love to support other small businesses. See more

21.01.2022 Here we go again Melbourne! Wishing all of the families in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire all the very best in your second lockdown. Including, those who have been lockdown for a while already! We feel so sad to be separated from our family and friends again. Our hearts are with those who are struggling financially, socially, physically and emotionally. Please seek help if you need it. The Beyond Blue contact phone number is 1300 22 4636. Our wor...kshops will continue over zoom. We understand there may be more little people around, interrupting you (ah-hem and us) and that you may be feeling exhausted and sick of computer screens. If you have booked into a workshop, you have 24 hours before the session to cancel. Of course the more notice we have, the better, as someone else may like your spot. We are now recording our workshop so you can watch it again or find the parts you missed over the following week. Lets hope we can get back to those awesome Melbourne playgrounds soon! For those on the frontline, thank you so much! Warning! If you see these two medical professionals pictured- AVOID! The little one tried to swab my nose with his finger instead of a stick! See more

21.01.2022 ** Messy Mealtimes: Why they are important and how to cope** Yep, you know we love it! Now we have finally written an article about it From the article:... Did you know that eating is one of the few activities in life that requires every one of our senses? Thats the reason eating a new food can be very overwhelming for both children and adults alike. Usually when we try a new food, we: - look at it; - smell it; - touch it - taste a small amount with the tip of our tongue. Research indicates that with more exposures we might have more a of taste or a bigger bite of the item offered. At any age, when your child is being introduced to a different food, sensory food exploration is critical. It is known to increase their acceptance of food. This is why messy eating is so important. https://www.learntoeat.com.au/blog/messymealtimes

21.01.2022 **Asparagus** Season 1, Episode 49 This was the first episode of Bluey that inspired some food fun in our house. We had so much fun picking up a piece of food and making it into a magic stick to turn family members into different animals! ... What animal do you think your child could be? Mine could be a Tassie devil at the moment ! #lockdown2020 #blueymealtimefun See more

20.01.2022 SO CUTE and very handy (excuse the pun)!

20.01.2022 Thanks for your question! It came just after my own babys mini food strike. My 10 month old had a few days of not eating as much as he usually does last week (hello, more teeth ) but hes making up for it this week! Its hard not to worry at the time. Babies appetites (and ours) can change day to day for many reasons such as teething, growth patterns, illness etc. ... Its a good idea to look at your babys intake over a few days/a week, rather than at one meal. At 10 months of age babies will be wanting more independence so offering finger foods and loaded spoons so they can feed themselves, can help. Always follow your babys cues for more/no more. Pushing volumes can increase stress and reduce a babys appetite leading to even more food refusal. Unfortunately, this is a common issue we see in our daily work however with the right strategies and engaging our babies in positive mealtimes we see wonderful changes. If you are concerned about your babys growth we recommend speaking to your GP/ make an appointment with a paediatric dietitian. #yucktoyum

19.01.2022 Did you know that patting your babys back when they are gagging is NOT helpful? Understanding the difference between choking and gagging is really important when introducing solids to your baby, as how you should respond to each is significantly different. Download our free Choking vs Gagging Guide to recognise the difference and understand what to do in response to gagging, which is a very normal part of learning to eat. ... https://www.learntoeat.com.au/choking-vs-gagging-download-f See more

19.01.2022 Mr T loves to copy us and drink from an open cup. Now that he is 11 months, he is asserting his independence and wants to do it on his own. This little cup with handles makes it easy for him to bring it up to his mouth. He is still learning just how far to tip the cup so it doesnt come out too fast. I put just a small amount of water in the cup to help him.... Typically, babies can start drinking from an open cup from 6 months of age. Start with a small cup, a tiny amount of water and provide hand over hand support. Well be chatting cup drinking and more at our Starting Solids Workshop next Monday. Tickets available here https://www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops

18.01.2022 Eat with your eyes Vision is our dominant sense: Some 70% of all the sensory receptors in the body are in the eyes, and nearly half of the cerebral cortex is involved in some aspect of visual processing.- Elaine Marieb and Suzanne Keller in Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Keep food fun. Arrange food on the plate in a face, a tower or flower. ... Let your child choose their favourite bowl/plate. Plus, keep portion sizes small. Too much food on the plate can visually overwhelm children and they may react by walking/running away from the table. This explains why I get sooo hungry watching Masterchef See more

18.01.2022 ** A solid investment ** We love this reflection from a workshop participant: "There is so much to learn about feeding children and it happens EVERY DAY, many times a day for the rest of our lives! I spent so much money on a birthing course and my birth was over in day. I dont know why I was questioning spending money on a feeding workshop when it will help everyday for years!?" ... We often wonder the same, but we are in it, every single day and we see the benefits not only for our own children but in our day to day work (Rachel works in a Hospital and Nicole works in private practice). We will keep trying to get the message out there that meals dont have to be hard, that you dont have to feel worried every time you feed your baby, that you can feel confident teaching your baby how to eat and enjoy food, that everyone can enjoy mealtimes. You can give your baby a brilliant start to eating with some really simple tips that we share in our Starting Solids Workshop. We have one coming up NEXT WEDNESDAY 12th August live online at 10 am. Plus its only 1.5 hours of your time for years of benefit! Tickets available www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops See more

18.01.2022 **You ask. We answer** Firstly, well done for trying to keep mealtimes fun. Research tells us that when our children enjoy mealtimes they are more likely to eat a range of food. However, rather than having a toy on the tray, place food and/or a spoon. It is ideal if your babys food, utensil and your positive presence are the entertainment.... When babies are mushing the food in their fingers, they are looking, touching and smelling. Babies use this exploration of food to learn how to eat. If your baby has a toy on the table, your baby will likely explore that item, rather than the food. Your baby may be fed but they wont be learning to feed. Some ideas to help: If your baby becomes upset when they are placed in the highchair and a toy calms her, try to reduce the amount of time the toy is on the table overtime. Keep meals at a time of the day when your baby is alert and interactive. If your baby is tired, they will not want to sit in the chair for long. Ensure your babys highchair is supportive. Your baby will be happier in the highchair if they are comfortable. Make sure they have their feet supported and that your baby is not slouching down or to the side. Try sitting your baby in the highchair at other times of the day when they are happy and play games such a bubbles or singing nursery rhymes so they can begin to have a positive association with the chair. Your baby may like to play with a spoon. You might need a couple spoons on hand in case it lands on the floor. We dont want to make a game of picking them up You can continue to spoon feed your baby while they are exploring the food on their tray or playing the the spoon, however ensure you keep mealtimes positive by following your babys cues for more or finished. Your baby is responsible for how much they eat. Do you have a question about your childs eating? Ask us below

17.01.2022 Messy mealtimes. Has your baby had one today? We get that the clean up can be next level annoying, but the benefits to letting your baby and toddler get messy with their foods are huge! Make it work for you as much as possible, offer less messy snacks when you dont have time for the clean up, but try and work at least one messy meal into your babies day. Let them touch, squish and smear food as they enjoy their meal and know that you are helping them learn about their foo...d. Read more about the benefits to messy mealtimes and how to cope on our blog- https://www.learntoeat.com.au/blog/messymealtimes #messymonday See more

16.01.2022 ** FEATHERWAND ** Series 2 Episode 3 This is our second post to inspire fun at meals, Bluey style! Watch ep and try creating a featherwand tonight. Why!? Because when we inject fun at mealtimes, our kids want to be with us, at the table, rather than anywhere else and thats the first step to healthy eating ... Check out our stories and see the featherwand fun we had today. Let us know how you go #blueymealtimefun #bluey #abckids See more

15.01.2022 No. 5 of my 5 favourite feeding products: Silcone Feeders My baby started teething a week after he started solids. He wanted to be in control of what came towards his sore mouth. With some support (it’s heavy) my baby was able to munch on his Boon Pulp Feeder, soothing his gums. While doing this he was learning how to self feed and enjoy the new tastes from puree squirting from the holes. This year @bboxforkids has entered the Silicone Fresh Food Feeder onto th...e market. In the supermarkets you will also find mesh feeding bags such as the @tommeetippeeaustralia Fresh Food Feeder. Feeders are a great step towards independent eating for parents who are concerned that their child may choke on food and for baby’s that are keen to be independent but haven’t yet mastered the spoon or finger feeding. There are many other items that have helped along the way. Have I missed any of your favourites? Let us know! See more

15.01.2022 Apples are such an easy snack, but not all kids happily munch on apples. To encourage your little one to be curious about apples, here is some fun things you can try: peeling an apple to see how long you can make it.... Turn the peeled apple in to train tracks or roads. grate crazy hair for a food portrait Thinly slice the apple and encourage your child to use small cookie cutters to make fun shapes. use a fork to pierce patterns and pictures in the skin of the apple. (this is a good one to do when kids arent ready to to touch the inside of the apple, but can work on desensitizing to the smell with this activity) using cut up apple shapes as stamps for painting (either with paint or other food such as yoghurt) Encourage your child to wash the apples when you are packing away the groceries. cut up apple pieces and put them in water and incorporate apples into some water play fun. . #funfoodfriday

15.01.2022 Flash back to Miss W, when she was a baby who, once she started eating, accepted anything that was put in front of her! Now? We have a toddler, who has learnt the phrase "I dont like it", which she is practicing using A LOT! Is she a fussy eater? No. Is she displaying typical toddler mealtime behaviours? Yes! Does what we do and say in response make a difference to her long term relationship with eating and food? Absolutely! ... Using the tools we teach in our fussy eating workshop we are confident that we are doing everything we can to help her pass through this "fussy period" quickly and without long term negative consequences. Whether you have a fussy preschooler or a typical toddler displaying challenging mealtime behaviours, our Fussy Eating Workshop has the tools you need to help your child learn appropriate mealtime behaviour and accept a wider variety of foods. More details can be found on our website: www.learntoeat.com.au See more

13.01.2022 Public service announcement What’s your fav? Roses fan here!

12.01.2022 1/5 of my favourite feeding products for babies: A silicone breast pump At Learn to Eat. Love to Eat we usually stick to talking about starting solids and fussy eating but my silicon breast pump was so useful at the start of my baby's feeding journey, I had to start here with my favourite products. I loved that it was a breast pump that didn't require batteries, electricity or hand power to operate. Just suction it on to your breast and watch it catc...h your milk while you feed your baby on the other breast. All of that liquid gold is captured instead of soaking your breast pad. It is such a great time saver with almost no effort, leaving more time to play with kids or rest... maybe a little housework or social catch ups too Are you a fan? If so, pass share this your mum mates There are a bunch on the market including @haakaanz, @milkmate_au and @pigeonbabyau. Stay tuned for number 2 tomorrow! Note: This is not a sponsored post. We receive no money from the makers of these products. A link to the products is only a guide. If you have a similar product you would like us to list please contact us: [email protected] We love to support other small businesses. See more

12.01.2022 Starting Solids, Fussy Eating and Professional workshops are coming to you soon! Do you have your 2021 diary handy? Our Feb dates are up on our website https://www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops

11.01.2022 No. 2 of my 5 favourite feeding products for babies: Wooden footrest Supported feet, ready to eat! I tried both a material and wooden footrest to provide our baby with foot support in our Ikea highchair. Foot support gives babies motor stability so that they can eat well. I found the wooden footrest provided more stability than the material footrest and it was easier to clean. They are so easy to put on the chair for a great result. ... We love that these are now more readily on the market. Some stockists include: @grubkidsaustralia (see our Seating for Eating article for a discount) @little_baby_paws @nibbleandrest Note: This is not a sponsored post. We receive no money from the makers of these products. A link to the products is only a guide. If you have a similar product you would like us to list, please contact us: [email protected] We love to support other small businesses. See more

10.01.2022 We know that feeding your baby for the first time can make you feel all sorts of argggghhhhh . That is why we have created a guide with step by step tips for you to help your baby get a great start to eating Download your FREE guide today. Distribution by health professionals is welcome. https://www.learntoeat.com.au//aguidetoyourbabysfirstdayof

09.01.2022 What causes your childs stress behaviour at mealtimes? How can you reduce your childs stress response rather than increase it? Find out the answers at our Fussy Eating Workshop on 3rd of September 2020. wwww.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops

09.01.2022 No.4 of my 5 favourite feeding products: Feeding Smock Our feeding smock from @littlechomps has been perfect for messy meals such as spaghetti bolognaise or weetbix. The best thing is its length, covering the legs which saves pants from the wash. Messy mealtimes can be a pain, with a baby, highchair and floor to clean up but they have many benefits that support healthy eating. Any product that can make messy mealtimes easier for parents and carers, so they can... embrace them, is a win for us! Here are a couple of other bibs/smocks that provide support for messy meals: @tidy_tot @bibado Note: This is not a sponsored post. We receive no money/gifts from the makers of these products. A link to the products is only a guide. If you have a similar product you would like us to list please contact us: [email protected] We love to support other small businesses. See more

08.01.2022 Bean AND toast. Very different to beans ON toast!

07.01.2022 We love Bluey! I mean, who doesnt?! We are constantly inspired to be more playful parents by watching how Bandit and Chilli interact with their pups. Oh we have even heard of Bandit being described as a "thinking womans man crumpet"! But we digress... We are sharing some of our favourite episodes that have inspired some dinner time fun in our households. ... Give these ideas a try and let us know how you go! We will be sharing our own adventures in our stories. Better life outcomes, through happier mealtimes #blueymealtimefun

07.01.2022 Whether your baby is just starting out on their solids journey or you have started and you are wondering where to next?, we can guide you through this stage of your babys development. With over a decade of experience helping families with feeding difficulties, we know how to get your baby off to the best start to lifelong healthy eating and avoid fussiness and food refusal. As Speech Pathologists, we have an in depth understanding of safe swallowing... and we can help you feel confident that you are doing all you can to avoid your baby choking while developing those important oral-motor skills. To find out more head to our website www.learntoeat.com.au (link in bio) and book into a workshop today or pass on our details to your friends. Private workshops are also available. #learntoeatworkshopdates See more

07.01.2022 #funfoodfriday

07.01.2022 From our new article: Did you know the way your child (of any age) sits in the highchair has an impact on how your child eats and enjoys food? A child who is leaning to the side or sliding down in their highchair will spend a lot of energy keeping upright and may become too tired to eat. They may hold onto the table or tray to stay upright which restricts the use of their hands to explore food or use cutlery. Poor posture also has an impact on the ora...l motor skills, making chewing and swallowing difficult. In this article we discuss how to provide foot and back support and the best position of your child's tray or table to enable a more positive eating experience. https://www.learntoeat.com.au//setformealtimesuccesshighch #happiermealtimes #learntoeatlovetoeat #supportiveseating #highchairs #startingsolids #fussyeating

07.01.2022 I would win #FridayFunny https://www.facebook.com/276620012351729/posts/4548491725164515/?extid=IPbaFcEqtllLn2gV&d=n

06.01.2022 At the start of our Fussy Eating Workshop we ask parents to introduce themselves and tell us the challenges they are having at mealtimes. Like lifting a pressure valve, parents share their issues to nods around the room: Refusing to come to the table, only eating with the t.v. on, throwing food, tantrums and there is always one exasperated parent; why does my child eat everything at childcare but they refuse the same food at home!? While we acknowledge not every child w...ill do this, it is a common phenomenon that has parents questioning their cooking skills. No matter how much they try to replicate the food (many parents begging their childcare cook for the recipe), their child refuses the same meal at home. Read our new article to find out 4 reasons your child may eat at childcare. Hint: youre a good cook Share this article with your childcare friends. https://www.learntoeat.com.au/blog/eatingatchildcare

06.01.2022 Are mealtimes with your child stressful? Want to help your child learn to eat a greater variety of foods? We are here to help! At our workshop, you will learn how to start enjoying mealtimes straight away. No more mealtime dread. You will learn simple, yet powerful strategies to help your child learn to eat a greater range of foods. No more bargaining, tears or tantrums. ... You will gain the knowledge to understand and managed common mealtime behaviours. No more threats, punishments or bribes. In 2.5 hours you will learn how to get mealtimes back on track. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and will walk away with a workshop handbook and a personalised plan for mealtime success. Workshops will be recorded and you will have access to recording for 1 week after the event, so just in case life gets in the way and you miss anything, weve got your back. Mealtime stress can end here.

06.01.2022 Wow this Starting Solids workshop has come around FAST! Come along and learn all about starting solids: - when to start; - know the difference between baby led weaning and spoon feeding methods; - how to set up a positive feeding environment that you can start now and continue through toddlerhood and beyond;... - how to teach your baby to chew and swallow; - what to do when your baby gags; - current allergy advice, plus more. You will also receive our "A Solid Start" booklet. The workshop is live and recorded so you can watch it back. $45- tickets available on our website. Please DM us if you have any questions. See more

05.01.2022 * Opportunities to explore food * Children learn about food by having many opportunities to explore it. It can be beneficial to explore food away from the table. Your child will learn about the feel, smell, look of different food without feeling any pressure to eat it. Food can also feel, smell and look different when it is whole or uncooked. Try: - Unpacking the groceries/fruit and veg box together - cooking together - gardening together or grown some herbs on the window...sill - walking through your neighbourhood looking for veggie patches or herb gardens - use food in craft activities e.g. stamping, paintbrushes - pack lunches together - create a care pack for a neighbour or friend Any other ideas? See more

03.01.2022 I want a snack! Do you hear this A LOT? How many times a day? 5, 10, 50, 100++++++? Regular snacking, also known as grazing, can increase picky eating and the frequent requests for food can be so frustrating! Here are some ideas to help:... * Keep a daily routine: at least 2-2.5 hours between snacks and meals. * Make snacks mini meals: sit down at the table and join your child for snack.Ensure food is nourishing such as half a sandwich, carrots and cheese, hummus and crackers, yoghurt and fruit or a smoothie. * Ensure your child is involved in the mealtime pack up routine e.g. putting scraps in the bin, plate in the sink. This signals to your child the end of the meal and that food will be offered again in a couple of hours. Helpful phrases: We are playing now, lunch time is after". For younger children use "first play, then lunch". You may like to use a visual schedule. The kitchen is closed, it will open when the timer goes off/after we play a game" Make a kitchen closed sign together, set the timer on your phone or oven. You can help me make dinner/lunch" Allow your child to try food as you cook. Have you found anything else that helps? See more

03.01.2022 Have you been following our #blueymealtimefun ? Spinach has become a big hit at our house since we used the Bluey "Feather-wand" episode as inspiration to have some fun with food! It started with Mr LTE and I waving spinach leaves to each other saying "heavy!" and making whatever was in our hands really heavy. Gradually the powers wore off (because, its mealtime and we have to eat!) but then Mr LTE discovered it worked again when he had spinach in his m...outh. Hello round two of mealtime fun and learning! Over coming days, we figured out that all green vegetables had heavy powers, but it wore off quickly unless you had them in your mouth. Having them in your mouth also made you immune to heavy powers. Weeks later and our "heavy" game has evolved to include a wide variety of learning foods and we have also discovered some foods have different magical powers. Once a tomato was even able to make Mr LTE sing ! For some more ideas on how to have fun with food at mealtimes, check out our latest article: https://www.learntoeat.com.au///20-ideas-for-fun-mealtimes

03.01.2022 Those of us in lockdown cant go out for dinner with our friends right now, so making family mealtimes enjoyable is more important than ever! Next week I (Nicole) will be running our Fussy Eating Workshop live online to a group of parents eager to make mealtimes more positive. I am living with my own toddler and preschooler, and while Mr A has learnt to accept things on his plate without much fuss, Miss W has just started to have some strong opinions about what g...oes on her plate! Her current favourite phrase is "I dont like it!". In the workshop next week we will be chatting about what you do and say in response to these typical toddler moments, along with strategies to overcome more significant fussy eating behaviour. Come along if you would like some help to make mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone. Tickets are available on our website www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops

03.01.2022 Mr T is cranky! The back molars are breaking through his gums causing swelling and bleeding It's really having an impact on his feeding. He can't control what's happening in his mouth, but he is determined to control what is coming towards it! He's refusing toast for breakfast at the moment, preferring soft foods however he doesn’t want to be spoon fed. Here I've popped some porridge with yoghurt on his tray. I just ensure its not too runny so he can finger feed. We also just put a little milk on his weetbix so it is soft but firm and he can feed himself. He's still perfecting spoon feeding so prefers using his hands, especially when he's feeling out of sorts. Oh and my 2021 new years resolution- Remember to film in landscape!!

02.01.2022 Would you like to enjoy mealtimes with your kids instead of dreading them? In our Fussy Eating Workshop we explore why your child may be engaging in challenging mealtime behaviours, as well as deep dive into evidence based strategies on how to overcome them. Every participate walks away with a plan for calmer and happier mealtimes, along with strategies to help their children learn to eat a wider range of foods. WIN:WIN! Our next Fussy Eating Workshop i...n on the 3rd of September at 7:30pm. Tickets available on our website. www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops #learntoeatlovetoeatworkshops See more

02.01.2022 How do you offer sweets and treats to your child? How does your child learn how to moderate their intake? This is a really interesting video on how to offer sweets and treats to children. In our house the dessert with dinner tip works so well! ... What do you think?

01.01.2022 From our new article: Are you scouring the internet trying to find out exactly how much your baby should be eating? As concerned parents we have all been there. We worry because our child doesn’t seem to eat enough or the opposite, they keep on eating and we’re not sure they will stop!? We have gathered the latest infant feeding guidelines from the peak Australian health bodies:... The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council produces the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Infant Feeding Guidelines. These guidelines provide up-to-date advice about the amount and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing. They are based on scientific evidence and research. They state that parents need to Respond to your baby’s cues to know how much food to give them. The experts working for the Australian Department of Health believe allowing infants/children to decide themselves how much they will actually eat is so important for health and wellbeing they made it their 8th healthy eating guideline; Healthy eating guideline 8: Offer an appropriate amount of food, but allow children to decide themselves how much they will actually eat. Likewise Raising Children Network, a non-commercial website providing parenting information supported by the Australian Government, Parenting Research Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute states when introducing solids try 1-2 teaspoons of food to start with, and increase according to your baby’s appetite. What does this mean when you are face to face with a baby who doesn’t eat much? Or a baby who keeps wanting more food? Trust that your healthy baby can and will eat what they need to grow. Research indicates that children who decide how much to eat, grow well and have better health outcomes than children who were pushed to eat foods or were limited in their intake. Please seek medical help if you are worried about your baby’s growth and/or development. A team who specialises in feeding can help you follow your babies cues while helping them achieve their growth and development goals. #linkinbio #onourwebsite

01.01.2022 Hello from Rachel! I will be hosting the Starting Solids workshop online next Tuesday at 10am. This is Mr T, my 9 month old. Ive been well and truly immersed in baby feeding in the last few months (even more so than usual) ! No doubt if youve had a question about baby feeding, so have I. I really look forward to sharing our up to date, evidence based information with you. We have a maximum 10 participants in our workshop so to make sure you get yo...ur ticket head to our www.learntoeat.com.au/upcomingworkshops We are looking forward to meeting you next week See more

01.01.2022 When your baby is sitting well, they will be able to focus on their eating, rather than use all of their energy to avoid falling over! When your toddler or pre-schooler is sitting well, they will be less likely to wriggle, move and leave the table. Take a moment to reflect on your own seating. When you feel comfortable in your chair, you are able to focus on what you love about mealtimes, such as the food and the social connection. A child who is l...eaning to the side or sliding down in their highchair will spend a lot of energy keeping upright and may become too tired to eat. They may hold onto the table or tray to stay upright which restricts the use of their hands to explore food, finger feed and use cutlery. Poor posture also has an impact on oral motor skills, making chewing and swallowing more difficult. One thing you can do to help your child feel more comfortable at the table is give them foot support, just like in this video. My feet are at the end because I love foot support too! #setformealtimesuccess #seatingforeating #supportiveseating #fussyeating #startingsolids #learntoeatlovetoeat See more

01.01.2022 OK, first we need to work out why your 2 year old is having difficulty sitting still at the table. Feeding is a complex skill and there are many factors that impact it, too many to write in a single post. However, the first thing We think about when we hear a child is restless at the table, is seating. Lets go to the pub. You are catching up with friends over dinner. Do you choose to sit on the barstools or the table and chairs? Most people choose the table a...nd chairs because they are more comfortable. The chairs are more comfortable because we can put our feet flat on the ground and they usually have back support. Your child benefits from being comfortable at the table too. It helps them to stay seated for longer and to use their hands to explore food or use utensils. Look at your childs mealtime seating. Give them support under their feet and back. Make sure the table is at the right height, just between their chest and belly button. This is a game changer for children who are restless, want to leave the table early or end up slouching down on the table. If you provide your child with stable seating and they continue to have difficulty sitting still or getting up and down from the table, let us know and we will brainstorm some more ideas. At our Fussy Eating workshop we discuss many of the factors that can impact mealtimes and work out a plan to help. Our next Fussy Eating workshop is on September 3rd, 2020. Hope to see you there! Link in bio for tickets See more