I am a mother of two kids, my elder son is 6 years old and younger daughter is a year and half old. I barely breastfed them and they two are exclusive formula children. They both are quiet good and healthy children for their age. With my son, I was a little unexperienced, so yes, we did take some time in understanding his priorities. He was never inclined towards eating, unlike my daughter, who even when she was a couple of months old, would stare at anybody who ate and made noises.
I first introduced both of them to Ragi Payasam at the age of two months. My son loved the same but somehow my daughter would catch cold if she had too much of it. For about a few months my son was on Cow’s milk and Ragi Payasam. After his Choru oonu ceremony in his 5th month, we started giving him rice. Just gave him the same boiled rice that we ate. We never cooked anything seperately for him. Either ways our curries and sabzis were less spicy, so it was apt for him. I never made any dal ka powder or any specific mashed food for both the children. Just mashed them with hand, before feeding them.
Somehow, both my children learnt to eat adult food at an early stage. I just controlled their portions and allowed them to run around a lot. I was unable to breast feed them and therefore, I had no option but to feed them solid food, which is also nutritious at a young age.
Not giving my children the typical baby food also helped me and them. It helped me in getting some more time to spend with them. The kids and I eat in the same plate, so they automatically learnt that they have to eat the same food as everyone. I also ensured, that they had their meals along with others. Of Course, I did give them small snacks in between but this also helped in ensuring that they also learnt to eat along with others.
With my daughter, as she was already interested in food, I never really had any problems. I would feed her almost everything from her 5th month. My son, even today he is a picky eater and therefore, I turned into a tricky mom. It is still a challenge to feed him but just changing the name of the food just makes him interested in the same.
One thing that I do not encourage is running behind the children with plates. Somehow, I find it as a waste of time for both the mother and the child. Instead I either put on the Television or just make them both sit on the window pane and eat while observing the surroundings. Their food time is also their story time and my most favourite question, how was their day, is also asked during the same time.
Feeding children is a challenge for every parent and so is for me. But yes, I do try and make it more innovative and intersting for my children. Do let me know, how do you feed your children and were you reliable on the baby food.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
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Healthcare as Fundamental Right – Aishwarya Sandeep