“Confusion” breast / pacifier, it is not systematic!
What mom has not heard that if she is breastfeeding, the introduction of a bottle will inevitably lead to breast / nipple confusion which will mark the end of her breastfeeding? We’re taking a break. If we have to be absent for 1 hour for example, it is not a drama. And there is nothing to feel guilty about. “This myth of a possible breast / pacifier confusion unnecessarily anguishes mothers,” warns Marie Ruffier Bourdet. Until 4 to 6 weeks, it is preferable that a nursing mother stays with her baby as much as possible, for a good start of lactation, but she can be absent for a little while. Not only, the baby will not run out of milk because it is possible to offer him to drink with another container (spoon, cup…) or even a bottle. And above all, he will not necessarily refuse the breast afterwards. “Introducing a bottle too early can be problematic for a minority of babies who present an organic or functional predisposition that has an impact on sucking such as a tongue frenulum or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). By discovering the bottle which makes it easier to obtain milk compared to breastfeeding which requires more effort, they could subsequently make “a choice of preference by opting for the bottle to the detriment of the breast”, specifies -she.
Bottle-feeding is not essential
It may happen that a toddler begins to refuse the bottle or that after weaning, he no longer wants to take a bottle. “We are reassured, drinking from a bottle is not a necessary step in the development of the child, warns Marie Ruffier Bourdet. Moreover, the sucking reflex disappears between 4 and 6 years old. »How do you help a baby to still drink his milk? There are many alternatives such as, for example, straw. “A baby from 5 months old can understand how to use a straw,” she explains. There are even special straw cups that allow the straw to stay in the glass when the baby tilts the cup. Another solution: baby cups, small glasses adapted to the mouths of the little ones so that they can lap up the milk. These glasses are sometimes used in neonatal departments when babies born prematurely have not yet been able to breastfeed. There are also the 360 cups which have a lid on which you have to press to drink. “Finally, it is better to avoid the spouted cups because they force the baby to make movements contrary to what one does when one drinks like swallowing the open mouth or making an extension of the head back,” she adds.
A breastfed baby can eat chunks!
“A lot of mothers think that around 8 months, you have to stop breastfeeding before going to pieces, but that’s really wrong!” Warns Marie Ruffier Bourdet. From 6 months, a toddler is attracted to the foods his parents eat and knows how to suck and eat pieces, this is called mixed swallowing or transition swallowing.
At 2 and a half, he doesn’t necessarily know how to eat on his own
We are in a hurry for our child to eat on his own but we often ask a little too much, too soon. “In any case, at 2 and a half years old, a toddler is learning many areas, such as using his cutlery,” notes Marie Ruffier Bourdet. Eating a meal alone is a huge marathon that takes a lot of energy. And at the beginning, it is not possible to manage the whole meal alone ”. No rush then. As a reminder: it is generally, around 3 years old, that a child begins to master his cutlery well. Between 4 and 6 years old, he gradually acquires the stamina to eat the whole meal without help. Around 8 years old, he knows how to handle his knife independently. “To help him in his learning, you might as well give him good tools,” she advises. From 2 years old, it is possible to go to cutlery with an iron tip. For a good grip, the handle must be short and wide enough. “
In video: The expert’s opinion: when to give my baby pieces? Marie Ruffier, pediatric occupational therapist explains to us.
Moving to pieces, we do not wait for the appearance of teeth or a specific age
It is often thought that in order to give pieces, you have to wait until the baby has a lot of teeth. Or that it must be 8 months old. “But not at all,” says Marie Ruffier Bourdet. A baby can crush soft food with the gums because the jaw muscles are very strong. It is still better to respect a few conditions when you start to give him pieces (and this does not depend on the age but on the skills of each baby): that he is quite stable when he is seated and not only if he is is propped up with a cushion. That he can turn his head to the right and to the left without his whole body turning, that he alone carries objects and food to his mouth and of course that he is attracted by the pieces, in short, it is if he wants to come and bite into your plate. »Finally, we choose crispy-melting or soft textures so that they can be easily crushed (well-cooked vegetables, ripe fruits, pasta that can be crushed on the palate, toast like Flower Bread, etc.). The size of the pieces is also important: the pieces must be large enough to be easily gripped, that is to say to give an idea that they protrude from his hand (about the size of an adult’s little finger) .
We let him touch the food
Instinctively, a toddler will touch food, crush it between his fingers, spread it on the table, on him… In short, it is a moment of experimentation to be encouraged even if he puts it everywhere! “When he handles a food, he records a lot of information on the texture (soft, soft, hard) and this helps him understand that he must chew it for a longer or shorter time,” notes Marie Ruffier Bourdet. And, a child needs to touch a new food before tasting it. Because if he puts something in his mouth that he does not know, it can be scary.
What is an occupational therapist? She is a professional who accompanies children and parents in the baby’s occupations (change, games, mobility, meals, sleep, etc.). And it sheds light on the sensorimotor skills of the toddler in order to help parents and children on the path to harmonious development.
Classic diversification: the child can be autonomous too!
There is a sort of superiority on the child-led diversification (DME) side in terms of baby autonomy. It would be more autonomous in DME (he chooses what he puts in the mouth, in what quantity, etc.) compared to classic diversification (with purees) which is even compared to force-feeding. “This is false, specifies Marie Ruffier Bourdet, because in classic diversification, a baby can very well participate in the meal, bring the mash or compote to his mouth, touch with his fingers …” There are even specific spoons that “catch on »Food to facilitate the use by the child and which do not require complex movements of the wrist like those of the brand Num Num. And when he no longer wants to eat, he also knows very well how to signify it by closing his mouth or turning his head! Clearly, there is no wrong or right way to do it, the main thing is to respect your child and his attraction to food.
Prevention of the risk of suffocation: DME versus traditional diversification, what is the best solution?
“There is a misconception that persists that a baby who goes through mash is more likely to choke when he eats pieces. This is incorrect !, she reassures. Because whatever the type of food diversification, a baby has the skills to manage the pieces. »He will be able to spit out a piece that he cannot manage because it is too big, for example. And, there is also a reflex called “timing gag” which causes too big and not chewed enough lump to be ejected from the mouth. In any case this reflex will disappear if we give purees. But, to avoid accidents, some precautions should be taken at the beginning, such as offering sufficiently soft and tender pieces and avoiding certain foods such as sandwich bread, compact brioche or salad.
Meal tray: offering everything at the same time, a very good idea!
“He’s going to eat his dessert and won’t want the rest”, “dip his fries in his chocolate cream, that can’t be done”… “There is the culture, the myths, the habits that lead us to do things which sometimes go against the grain of what the child may experience, ”notes Marie Ruffier Bourdet. While offering the starter, the main course and the dessert at the same time is a great idea to discover foods. We do not hesitate to use a plate with compartments. This will help the child to easily see that the meal has a beginning and an end. It also allows him to quantify the length of the meal by seeing the amount of food. And of course, we don’t impose an order. He can start with dessert, return to his dish, and even dip the pasta in his yogurt! Eating is an opportunity to do lots of sensory experimentation!
We adapt the meals to the state of fatigue of our child
When a 3-4 year old child refuses to eat, you can quickly think that it is a whim. But in fact, it may take too much effort from him. “In fact, chewing skills are not mature until around 4-6 years old! And it is only at this age that eating no longer requires a maximum of energy, ”assures Marie Ruffier Bourdet. If he is tired or sick, it is better to offer him simpler textures such as soups or mashed potatoes. This is not a step backwards but a one-off solution. Likewise if he is reluctant to eat alone when he usually does. He may only need help at one point. So, we give him a little help.