Page 43 - Today's Dietitian (February 2020)

for what is presented to eat and the manner in which it is pre- them develop a positive attitude toward food. 12,17
sented. Children are responsible for how much they eat, and Toddlers, as they become more autonomous, push bound-
14
even whether they eat.” The child’s role in the feeding rela- aries. This is a normal part of development but shouldn’t be
tionship remains fairly static from infanthood to adolescence, indulged. Instead, the role of parents or caregivers is to create
while the parents’ or caregivers’ role changes to match the a structured schedule, routine, and environment for meals and
developmental stage of the child. snacks, which should be followed as closely as possible. 14,15 Par-
In the newborn stage, infants are learning about the world ents or caregivers continue to choose the foods to be provided,
and their direct caregivers and developing trust. Their primary and the toddler decides whether and how much to eat. 14-16 As
objective is to have their needs met. The parents’ or caregiv- appetite and intake vary widely during this period of develop-
ers’ role is to meet the needs of young infants by learning their ment, the toddler’s choices should be respected unless there
cues and responding to them. 9,14,15 This includes feeding infants are concerning signs noted, including suboptimal weight gain.
when they’re hungry but respecting cues that they’re full and As mentioned previously, preschool and school-age
not pushing the breast or bottle. 12,14 This can be difficult for children are much more independent and involved in
parents who bottle-feed their infants and feel they have to feed deciding when and whether to eat and may eat out of the
a specific volume of formula on a schedule, as the intake of house more, particularly with friends. 14,15 They should be
infants may vary slightly. encouraged to try new foods and explore different cuisines.
In later infancy (roughly 5 to 12 months of age), the par- Whenever possible, fights at the table about eating should
ent’s role is to select the food to offer and progress through be avoided. 14-17 At the same time, parents or caregivers
textures based on the cues and capacity of the child. Some should continue to offer consistent and healthful meals, and,
children may progress to soft solids very quickly, preferring sometimes, snacks. The older the children, the more capable
them to puréed foods; others may be a bit more cautious and they are of choosing and preparing snacks and even getting
require more patience and time. If infants trust their food pro- involved in meal planning and preparation. The role of
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viders, they will be more willing to try new foods or textures. parents or caregivers remains the same for adolescents, who
The parent’s or caregiver’s understanding of the difference are almost completely independent when it comes to snack
between gagging and choking and responding appropriately choices and even preparation of some meals.
also can help foster a safe, trusting environment in which the Understanding the developmental stages children go
infant can develop new feeding skills. 16,17 Allowing infants through in relation to food and eating is important for parents
to play with food and get messy can be very helpful for feed- and dietitians, as they easily can pick up on red flags that may
ing development, as the tactile nature of this activity can help indicate an emerging feeding disorder.

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FEBRUARY 2020 • WWW.TODAYSDIETITIAN.COM 43