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Making food easy to eat

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Ellyn Satter
Older Baby / Almost Toddler
Older Baby / Almost Toddler (9-12 Months)
Making food easy to eat

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Toddler eating a pastry, looking curious.

Your child is ready to learn to eat most of the foods you eat.

What meal do you have often?

What meal do you have when you want something special?

How can you make those foods right for your child?

What foods can your child pick up, chew, and swallow?

Here’s how to make food right for your child:

Have food that is moist and tender.
Cut food into bite-sized pieces to make it easy to pick up, chew, and swallow.
Offer cooked vegetables. Offer soft fruits: bananas, orange slices, melon, mangos.

Change or don’t give foods that can make him choke. Cut hot dogs the long way. Take out all fish bones. Mash cooked dried beans. Cook carrots.
Offer butter, gravy, sauce, or salsa to make food taste good and slide down better.
Spicy food is okay if it isn’t too spicy.

What about eating out, ordering in, or having foods from other cultures?

Ask parents from other cultures what they feed their young children. Foods that are new to us are every-day foods for those families.
Serve him part of a meal. Even if he doesn’t eat stir-fry or quesadilla; he can still enjoy rice or refried beans.
Cut pizza into bite-sized pieces. Be careful to cool it down. Cut off the hard crust.

Give strips of hamburger or cheeseburger. Give French fries if they aren’t too hard.
Cut up fried chicken or chicken nuggets. Take barbeque off the bone and cut it up.
Cut up burritos. Cut shredded chicken or beef into short pieces across the grain.

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Side-Lying Hold

For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

You had a C-section
You want to rest while baby feeds
You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Cross-Cradle Hold

For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Your baby is premature
Your baby has a weak suck
Your baby needs help to stay latched
Your baby needs extra head support
You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Clutch or “Football” Hold

For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

You had a C-section
You have large breasts
You have flat or inverted nipples
You have a strong milk let-down
You are breastfeeding twins
Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
Your baby has reflux
You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Cradle Hold

For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Your baby needs help latching on
You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Laid-Back Hold

Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
You have a strong milk let-down
You have large breasts
You and your baby are comfortable in this position

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