Nutrition in the First Year of Life
Birth to 4-6 Months:
The very best source of nutrition in the newborn period is breastmilk. The benefits of breastfeeding are extensive, including immune protection, ideal nutrition and growth, positive maternal health, economic advantages and more. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Department of Health and Human Services highly recommend breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition...
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Is Your Toddler A Picky Eater?
Does your child refuse to eat during the family meal? Or does he eat very little or only certain foods? If so, there’s no need to panic. Most young children are picky eaters as they enter toddlerhood (ages 1 to 3) and beyond.
Reasons for Picky Eating
Toddlers are just starting to learn about the world and everything is new. Once a child is able to walk, he will most likely be more interested in...
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Grow Your Own Baby Food
Chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers-oh my! Not only can chemicals and
pesticides used in much of the produce that is grown for grocery stores
be harmful to the environment, but to you and your child as well. A
healthier alternative is growing your own baby food. With the help of
Julie Teske, a nurse from Columbia Center that often grows her own food,
we address some of parents’ most common...
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Healthy eating for children
We all know that eating healthy is important. But did you know that is particularly true for children? The eating habits that are formed in childhood can shape their eating habits for life.
Between busy lives and picky eaters, it is easy to forget about healthy eating in favor of easier, less nutritious choices. But, with a few small adjustments, such as regular family meals, involving your...
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Feeding your baby
One of the most enjoyable, and sometimes most challenging, responsibilities of new parents is feeding your baby. Follow these 10 guidelines and you can be confident you are helping your child get a great start in life.
- Breastfeeding is ideal in most cases for at least the first six months and encouraged for the first year and beyond, if mutually desired by mother and child. It increases bonding,...
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The Doctor is In: When your toddler is a picky eater
As a pediatrician, I am frequently asked what to do about toddlers who are picky eaters. Picky eating is very common. Most children go through a phase of picky eating and some will remain finicky. So, what’s a parent supposed to do about it?
In general, it’s a parent’s job to decide what and when your child should eat; your child gets to decide if and how much to eat. That means you schedule...
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Bouncing Back: Website helps new moms plan a healthy diet
After giving birth, most women are itching to get back into their jeans. While dieting may seem like the thing to do, women must be careful about cutting calories after pregnancy. Your body needs to replenish the nutrients it lost during birth and you will need energy to keep up with your newborn.
A helpful resource to use when planning for your nutritional needs while losing the extra weight...
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Healthy eating is good for mom and her nursing baby
by Deanne Lawson, RN, IBCLC, RLC
Nursing mothers are often told to watch what they eat because their baby is getting the same foods through mom’s breast milk. Well, it’s not quite that simple. Only in extreme cases will not eating your vegetables affect the quality of your breast milk. Contrary to popular belief, there are no foods that must be eaten or avoided by the nursing mother. Like everyone else, nursing...
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Getting rid of those pregnancy pounds
Even though I had delivered hundreds of babies before having my daughter Elizabeth five years ago, and had even given birth to her big sister Margaret before her, I was still surprised I had to go home from the hospital in maternity clothes. I remember thinking, “Wow, I just had an eight-pound-nine-ounce baby. I can’t believe I can’t even pull my pants up over my thighs.” I didn't expect...
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