ACTION AND REACTION

Dear readers.

Our new series, ‘Infant Nutrition,’ is in its third week, and your interest is growing exponentially. We believe that, with the contributions of our valued readers, we are raising awareness on this topic that closely concerns our children, the guarantee of our future.

During this time, we observed that dozens of questions, particularly from expectant and new parents, shared a common theme. Let’s address the most important ones one by one.

As you know, some children prefer to live on just a few types of food. This is a cause for concern for many parents. But first, we need to find out where this desire comes from. The first thing babies usually taste is breast milk, which is surprisingly sweet (much sweeter than cow’s milk). After that, babies are weaned and begin to consume more pureed versions of fruits like carrots, apples, bananas, and pears. These are also quite sweet foods. So, while your baby inevitably develops a fondness for sugar, they also become accustomed to the foods you eat, first through amniotic fluid and then through breastfeeding, during the womb and the first few months of life.

So, through breastfeeding, your baby tastes everything you eat. Babies who are given solid food after weaning accept new tastes much more easily if they have already experienced them in the womb or through breastfeeding after birth. Therefore, the key is to offer them as many different tastes as possible during the breastfeeding period. If you offer these tastes at regular intervals, you will help your baby not forget the tastes of foods and to gravitate towards the right foods. But be prepared for this: as your baby grows, they will still reduce the variety of foods they eat to a certain point. However, you can easily overcome this problem with different and fun ways of presenting them.

WEEKLY AWARENESS NOTE
All children may have foods they don’t like, but don’t worry, there are alternatives for everything. If the foods you offer generally contain healthy nutrients, then don’t worry. Convince them that food is fun to explore. Stick-shaped foods help them develop hand control and give them back the independence they so desperately want. Even if your baby is really fussy, the idea of ​​feeding themselves might seem great to them. Don’t be forceful with your children when they have feeding difficulties. In this case, you will inevitably face a rejecting and stubborn attitude in return. Action begets reaction. This is why many parents complain that their children have a poor appetite.

Actually, no child wants to go hungry. Remember that. There are no children without appetite, only children who have lost their appetite.

Uğur Uğural