NOTE: The information contained in this section does not replace the care of a health professional. If you are in any doubt about the health or well being of your child seek professional assistance.

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Question: Dr suggested to replace three feeds a day with just plain water!

"Hi Leanne, by mistake I sent Alex my querie, so I hope I'm not causing any inconveniences. My daughter just came back from her GP and was told her baby, born on 12.July is overweight, weighing 7kg. He suggested to replace three feeds a day with just plain water and I am horrified at that suggestion. Would it be not more sensible to feed her half strength formula or even have a blood test made to make sure the baby is healthy and that her weight gain is not caused due to any other problem? The baby is also breast fed and only 'wants' one bottle of formula a day. She does not receive any solids yet. I would so much appreciate a reply from you.
Thank you, Evelin "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Evelin,
No you are in the right spot, no problem at all!!!

Well if I am not wrong, an almost five month old baby (girl) at 7kg is right on the 50th percentile.

I am reading between the lines here but is sounds like baby has made a jump up percentiles?  When babies jump 2 or more graded percentiles this can ring bells, but if baby is still in the mid range it seems fine.  Also if baby has started on complimentary formula recently it could easily account for changes in weight.  To be honest I would encourage your daughter to have a second opinion, no disrespect to her GP, but in such cases it is often really reassuring to have two opinions.

Diplomacy says I can't over-rule what has been said, obviously I don't have all the facts.  But just on a personal level I agree with you that the measures sound a little unclear.

I hope you can see where I am going with this, definitely have another look at this before making these changes.

Hope that helps, I will have the lovely ladies at Huggies get this reply to as soon as I have finished it, given how important it is when making changes the nutritional intake of a baby.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: At 8 months do you still need to follow the 4 day rule?

"hello leanne,
when i started solids i introduced one fruit and vegetable at a time. Now that are 8 months do you still need to follow the 4 day rule? I would like to offer them meals like spag bol but they haven't had tomato,onions or garlic.Would it be safe to try a family recipe with ingredients that they haven't had yet?I've introduced dairy with plain yog and would like to offer some cheese,can i try different types without following the 4 day rule like cream cheese one day and ricotta the next.I just feel blown away with all the information regarding what foods to give at what stage. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
I hear you, it seems so simple when you first start out and then wham.. All these questions arise.

Yes it is likely that you will get to a point where the rule of one new food at a time gets blown out of the water.  If you have a bub who seems not to react to foods, then likely it will be fine.  It can though still be a good idea to keep the rule for the top allergy forming foods going.  See excerpt from Huggies tip sheet on allergies below:

What are the main culprits?
According to the Better Health Channel in Victoria, the following foods in order (from most common to least) may cause problems:

1. Eggs
2. Peanuts
3. Milk
4. Other nuts
5. Sesame
6. Fish
7. Grains such as rye, wheat, oats
8. Soy
9. Molluscs, such as oysters, mussels, clam, squid and octopus
10. Crustaceans, such as lobster, prawn, crab, shrimp
11. Fruit such as berries
12. Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, white potato
13. Mustard

 Over 75% of allergies are caused by three major foods (not in any order):

1. Eggs
2. Peanuts
3. Milk

 Once you have cheese 'under your belt' it should be fine generally.  I have some tip sheets on solids on Huggies if you wanted a read the links are:
Solids 
Which foods when and fridge chart

Hope that helps.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: He can't seem to get the hang of one mouthful at a time when self feeding

"Hi
My son is 12 months old and has been on solids since he was 5 months old. He eats a variety of foods but can't seem to get the hang of one mouthful at a time when self feeding. If I give him a soldier of toast he pushes the whole stick into his mouth at once and sometimes gags on it. If I give him a piece of toast (mouthful size) he is fine and happily chews and swallows before asking for another piece. At what age will he learn to bite, chew and swallow one mouthful of food at a time? I would love to give him sticks of food, but am scared that he will choke on things due to this 'shoving' of food into his mouth.
Thank you. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
Yes 'stuffing' is quite common, I have two who did a similar thing.  In most cases it doesn't pose a problem (they often gag when food touches the throat, but it doesn't really cause choking which is from objects completely blocking the wind pip) and resolves it self as they become more understanding of self-feeding.

Baby needs to develop the muscles in his mouth to be able to move food about and prepare it for swallowing, of course this happens with practice.  Even as you say 'bite, chew, swallow' you can see that there are quite a few skills involved.

If you find by about 18 months that things haven't improve you could consider talking to a paediatric speech pathologist to check his oral locomotion and so on.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: Can we start her with some tassie atlantic salmon, cooked rather than tinned?

"Hi Leanne,
My bubs is almost 7 months old and we have started her on a wide range or veg and fruit since 5.5months. Can we start her with some tassie atlantic salmon cooked rather than tinned salmon from china or thailand eg. all the tinned ones are from Asia. Yes even John West!
Adina. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Adina,
Funny that you ask this question I was just last week doing some research on this area.  You might like to check out the Choice website link below, I found it very interesting about the sustainability of fish and where it comes from.

The facts on fish, via Choice.com.au

Anyway, yes, of course, fresh is always best!  Just ensure it is well prepared and of course the bones are removed.  Avoid the smoke varieties until after two.  Baby will benefit from fresh in many ways, texture, nutritional content and so on.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: He is in a stage of bitting my breast

"hello i have a son of 10 months and is still breastfeeding and his in a stage of bitting my breast and i want to start him with formula but he doesn't want it, at all. not even to try. please help? "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
Oh I so remember that with my first, squeal... You should have heard me. But of course like all things in childhood it passes, baby is likely to learn quickly with just a low and calm 'ugh ugh' or 'no' that its not the go.  They can also bite more if they are teething, makes sense.  You are only a matter of weeks away now from the big 12 months too.

Generally it is a matter of repetition and opportunity, in other words, offer baby a little formula before a feed, take it away if he rejects it and offer him a breastfeed, keep doing this each time until little by little he adjusts to formula.  Formula has a very different taste, texture, smell and even look from breastmilk so it is understandable why some bubs don¹t take to it straight away.  Keep to the same routine, try not to introduce any other changes and see how you go.

If you find things don¹t improve pop into see your CHN as she can advise you on the next steps.

All the best with the change.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: Any suggestions to how I can get him eating more lumpy food from a spoon?

"My 9 and half month son will only eat from a spoon runnie, mashed smooth food. If I try to feed him just mashed food he spews it back up. However he has no trouble eating his finger food (cooked carrots, fruit, meat, crackers etc). Any suggestions to how I can get him feeding from a spoon more lumpy food? Thanks, kind regards Tess "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Tess,
Hmmm, not sure what is happening here, but if baby is okay with finger foods can you run with that.  The only other thing I can think of is that the spoon is going in to far and causing him to gag and them bring his food back up?

Also look into a feeding mesh you can put pretty much all things in there and baby can chomp and feed away happily.  They are great inventions.  This may also help him with this middle stage that he seems to have jumped?  Also consider moving from mashed to finely chopped, make the transition slow so that the texture changes slowly and his mouth can adjust.  Sometimes bigger leaps can be a bit hard for them.

Still it might be worth seeing your CHN or GP with it if things don't improve.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: I am looking for some more healthy sandwich spread options

"Hi Leanne
First of all I'd like to thank you for answering my questions in the past. I have an interest in food and nutrition and really enjoy reading your answers to everyones questions.

My question today is about spreads/sandwich fillings for my DS.  He is almost 13 months old and to date he has had cream and cottage cheese, avocado, marmite, peanut butter, nutella, jam and hummas.  I am looking for some more healthy options.  I have recently found an almond butter in the supermarket and he also really likes that.  I know you have suggested some other nut spread options in the past and is there anything else you would recommend?

Thanks
Jo "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Jo,
You are very welcome, glad you find the information helpful!

I totally hear you on the issue of spreads, they can be range from the great to the ghastly (nutritionally and taste-wise).   You have done well with your list, and yes I personally love the all natural almond spreads.  I guess other spreads might include:

• Banana
• Even fetta cheese can be a good spread (though of course it has a lot of salt)
• Tinned fish or other well prepared fish with a good mayo mixed together
• Same as above with white meats, finely shredded
• Boiled egg mashed with may again (not pushing the mayo - you can
substitute it with other spreads such as cream cheese etc)
• Tahini

Hope that helps with the ideas.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: We are having a lot of trouble giving her solids

"Hello Leanne,
I am a first time mum of a 6.5 month old baby girl, who had only drunk breast milk until 1 week before 6 months. We are having a lot of trouble giving her solids and water (anything that is not breast milk).

She will not let anyone feed her a spoon, she wants to do it herself. This would be fine but she wipes off the food and then sucks on the spoon. Any food (or water) we do get her to consume she just spits.

Today I gave her a steamed carrot stick and a rusk - both she did enjoy, but I don't think she got anything more than carrot juice.

I'm not sure how to get her to take the spoon, if I should keep trying farex & puree friut/veg or let her have more finger foods etc?
Danielle. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Danielle,
It is reasonably common that some bubs while being interested in what you put to your mouth (remembering that 'the mouth' to a baby is their whole world, if it goes in your mouth it must be interesting) are still not sold on solids.  Keep on as you are, offering food but letting it go if it is rejected, you still have time.

Sometimes bubs skip the whole mushy food stage (who can blame them) and go to finger foods, that's where a feeding mesh can be really helpful.  Your bub may as she gets a little older be okay with some finger foods (say some slithers of banana or avo)?   Once these bubs get going they can really make up for lost time so batten down the hatches and watch your food bill.

If you find that things just don't improve you might pop back to your CHN or PG or another option is a speech pathologist, they are great with all things oral, and can often pick up little issue with oral development that affect feeding. The other people to consider is Tresillian, they also assist with feeding issues (if you are in NZ plunket may do also).

Give it a little more time, let baby hold the spoon and you dip it into the food, try also having a spoon yourself so you are both using one, and try too a feeding mesh so she can have an alternative way of getting solids going.  Lastly, things like teething can affect a baby's eating, generally though if you gently persist without any fuss they will come around.

I hope that helps.
All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: Occasionally his nappy contains alot of black sesame seed-like substance?

"Hi Leanne,
My baby is just over 1 years old so I started to change his formula milk to 1-3 years supplement, same brand. Since starting on this formula he has gone from opening his bowels once a day to 3-4 times a day, some quite runny in texture, and a few times it contains alot of black sesame seed-like substance, what is this? He's taking formula milk about 4 times a day 220ml each feed. Is the formula not right for him, should I try gold formula, should he feeding less, should I introduce full cream milk?

He loves solids and eats just about everything I give him. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
Yes, even subtle changes can upset little tummies.  I have to confess the black dots in baby's motions are a little concerning, so I think making a change that stops this is a very good idea.

You may like to go back to the original formula just as a start, really just a very temporary stop-gap.  In the meantime you could review his need for formula.  In most cases bubs from 12 months who are eating a full, healthy and varied diet and are otherwise well don't really need formula.  Can choose to offer them a little cows' milk after meals, or calcium-enriched milk alternatives, or if if they are eating other calcium-rich foods such as cheese and yoghurt they don't need it.

It sounds like you have a fabulous eater, you could by the sounds of it slowly wean him from his usual formula (reducing it down slowly), either onto another milk (but as an additional food not a meal, that is offered after foods) or just wean him off onto a good diet with water and calcium-rich foods.

Hope that make sense.  I have a tip sheet on Huggies on weaning and cows' milk, it explains how much milk toddlers need in order to reach their daily serving and RDI of calcium.  The link is:
Milk Intake

I hope that helps, but if you are still concerned pop into see your CHN.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: Do you think it's teething that has quashed his appetite?

"Hi Leanne
My son is close to 7 months and since he was about 5 months old he has eaten pureed veg and fruit really well until this last week where he is completely off solids.  He did do this a while back and the only thing I can think of is it happens when he's teething.  He still has his normal quota of formula but refuses any food at all.  He's got his lower teeth through now and I think his upper teeth are starting to come through - do you think it's teething that has quashed his appetite? Do you have any suggestions to help get him back on solids as I'm concerned he won't be getting the appropriate vitamins.
Thanks
Lucy "

Leanne Answers:

Hi Lucy,
Yes sounds to me that 'mums intuition' is on the ball.  It is common with bubs that tender gums can alter their feeding and as you know when they settle down they return to their usual eating habits.    Keep offering at the usual times, babies are in fact very good at self-regulation, he may even feed a little more liquid wise.

Keep working on the textures and you could even look at a feeding mesh so baby can use it for teething as well as food, they are a great invention.

If things don't improve pop into see your CHN.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: He doesn't have any teeth, what should I be feeding him?

"Hi Leanne
My little boy is 1 year old, and doesn't have any teeth..what should i be feeding him at meal times? "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
You are likely to find that even without teeth your toddler will be very able with all foods.  Offer him all the usual foods, for example the foods that the whole family enjoys and if there is something that upsets his gums he will likely show you.  Keep in mind that textures are important for their oral development, jaw development and even speech so keep his diet as you would expect for a 1 year old, barring any minor difficulties with foods he indicates.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: Should I be giving him more?  When should I introduce another feed?

"I am a first time mum and have a 5 1/2 old month son who i have just started on solids 2 days ago. My son is still BF and feeds every 3 hours, 9 12 3 6 9 and then wakes for a feed around 12 - 2 and usually every 2 hours unitl 9am. I have given him farax around a tablespoon mixed with BM and he has finished all feeds.  Should i be giving him more?  When should i introduce another feed? "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
Solids can appear such a simple thing, then once you get started all these questions arise.

From 5-6 months when you start off with just one meal and only a few teaspoons, but quite quickly you are likely things can start moving.  You may get to to 2-3 meals and 3-5 BF's by 7 months and by 9 months most bubs are on 3 meals and two snacks a day with finger foods included and 2-3 BF's a day.  Also at 9 months you can begin to offer solid before breast.  All of this is just a rough guide because every baby is different as are all families.  The best guide is your baby, how much she will eat and when she is ready for more.  Follow her lead, babies are actually very good at self-regulation, also their growth and development are good indicators.

Try a new food every 3 or so days and offer a little more each time, baby is by far your best guide and they are all very different.  So you may have two feeds a day by 6 - 6 1/2 months.  I have some tip sheets on Huggies on starting solids and also a book, they might give you some more ideas on foods to offer at different ages, the links are:
Solids 
Which foods when and fridge chart

I hope that helps.

All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: I'm trying to wean my toddler off the breast

"I'm trying to wean my toddler off the breast. He is 14 months old and only has a morning and night feed. The problem is he will not take a bottle or cup once he realises there is milk in it. I've tried expressed milk, full cream, soy even adding milo.
How do i get him off? "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
I guess there are two things to look at, probably the easiest is the milk. It isn't all that uncommon that toddlers simply refuse to drink milk, especially compared to breastmilk it has a weird taste, smell and texture. There are thousands of children who don't drink milk and for lots of reasons and do just fine.  As long as your toddler is eating other calcium-rich foods such as cheese or yoghurt each day, and has a good diet, then he is likely to be fine.

Also I find smoothies are a great way to start, use his choice of milk, fruit and a nice natural yoghurt, they are a great treat after dinner and very healthy.

You may like to try your toddler on an alternative 'milk' such as soy, almond, rice etc.  Just ensure the brand you get is calcium-enriched.

I have a tip sheet on Huggies on weaning and cows' milk, it explains how much milk toddlers need in order to reach their daily serving and RDI of calcium.  The link is:
Milk Intake

Next is the weaning.  Before I forget, sage tea is really great for slowing your milk production and to help avoid engorgement.  There are a few ways to go with weaning, I think though the important thing is to avoid any stress on you or bub.  Below are two links to weaning information, don't forget your CHN is also a wealth of info.

Weaning tips:
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/weaning.html
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=302&id=1941

I hope that helps, all the best with the change,
Cheery oh.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne

Question: The doctor says that he is very big for this age and I need to cut down his feeds

"Hi
I'm not sure that my question in the right place. I have baby boy who is 4.5 month old and his weight 9.8 kg. He has a bottle of formula 200ml each 5 times a day. The doctor says that he is very big for this age and I need to cut down from 5 to 4 feeding times a day, but I tried and he is crying if he don't has a bottle every 3 hours. How can I manage this or I shouldn't worry and not force him. "

Leanne Answers:

Hi There,
Weight in babies is always a sticky issue to be honest.  I guess there are a few things to keep in mind.  Firstly, if you or your partner are bigger in stature then genetically it is likely your children will be higher up the percentiles.  For example I have a very dear friend who is 6'1 and her husband is 6'3, their youngest who is 18 months is off the charts and is already bigger in every way than my 2 and a half year old.  But you would expect this.  So just because baby is on the top percentile doesn't necessarily suggest a problem.  It tends to be sudden changes in growth that are more alarming, so if you son has jumped percentiles then this might necessitate a check of things.

It is somewhat easier to 'over-feed' a bub with bottle feeding, just simply because the fluid literally falls out.  Having said this it is usually offset by the bubs internal ability to self-regulate.

Also babies and children have small tummies (so limited space of sustenance) and can only store energy in their livers for about 3 hours worth of activity.  Hence they need to 'eat' every 3 hours roughly.

Another point to keep in mind that a bigger bub will require more sustenance, it is logically that a bigger body will need more energy and nutrition.

So with all of this said you may be asking, 'so what does this mean?'  I have to admit that limiting a baby's intake is not something I can comment on as it is a very big thing to do.  The best advice I can give you is to chat to a paediatric dietitian, he or she would by far one of the best sounding  boards as a second opinion.

I hope this helps. All the best.
Have a lovely Chrissy and New Years,
Leanne