When I was first came across this nutritional guide at the PTPA office, I knew I wanted it. At the time, Ryder had been going through a picky-eater phase (well, he’s always been a picky eater, except he’d decided to incorporate food throwing and head banging into his arsenal of refusals). At my wit’s end, I was so happy to take the book home to evaluate, hoping it would provide me with some much needed suggestions.
And you know what? The advice was superb. With an entire chapter devoted to picky eaters, I slowly began to realize that I wasn’t necessarily doing anything wrong, nor was there anything wrong with Ryder. He was eating as much as he wanted to, and I had to re-think my perception on “quantity of food” vs. “quality.” He is a growing, happy, sometimes too energetic little boy, and he certainly knows how to regulate his own appetite. So I relaxed my sergeant approach, incorporated many of the suggestions for promoting healthy eating habits found in the book, and both Ryder and I are now friends again at meal times.
The chapter on picky eaters is just a small part of the guide. With over 700 pages focusing on breast/bottle feeding, starting solid foods and first year feeding, transition from bottles to cups, specific feeding and nutritional issues and more, the Baby & Toddler Feeding and Nutritional Health Guide will become your bible for all things that go into your child’s tummy.
The author, Dr. Maurice Levy, is a Pediatrician with 30 years of day-to-day medical experience in hospitals and a pediatric primary care office. A former Chief of Pediatrics (1994-1999) and an active staff member at North York Branson Hospital, Toronto – including multiple responsibilities on hospitalized newborns, infants and children and dealing with staff pediatricians along with a multitude of health problems to include nutrition, development and more – he wrote the guide as a one-stop reference for all parents who have questions or concerns about their baby’s nutritional health (which would be every parent, I’m sure!)
ABOUT THE GUIDE
Currently, there are no books available that provide detailed information solely on feeding and nutrition for babies, toddlers and young children. Parents raise many questions and concerns regarding their child’s feeding and nutrition, however many times, these go unanswered due to the limited amount of time or knowledge of health professionals. Unfortunately, feeding and nutrition for young babies and children is not well taught in medical schools, so often times, health professionals bear much of the parent’s guessing as well.
The common difficulties parents face in trying to find practical information about feeding and nutrition have inspired Dr. Levy to write a PRACTICAL book for parents; one that provides all the answers to daily parental concerns and provide one’s baby with THE BEST START TO LIFE!
THE BREAKDOWN
This book covers feeding and nutritional aspects right from birth until the school-aged child. It begins with issues and solutions associated with breast and/or bottle feeding (e.g. which to choose, how to breast or bottle feed properly and how much, feeding by schedule or on-demand, which bottle, nipples and formulas to use, etc), weaning and how to overcome bottle rejection. Many parents have many concerns regarding solid food introduction (when and what to introduce, how much, etc), homemade versus store-bought prepared foods, specific food refusals, picky eaters, and much more. In addition, food allergies are discussed with respect to management and replacement options to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Chapters on growth characteristics and charts are included along with failure to thrive and obesity sections to help your child develop optimally. Recommended portion sizes and activity levels appropriate for specific ages along with various fun sample menus and recipes are included for easing food acceptance.
Other topics include stool characteristics and its significance, constipation, crying and gastroesophageal reflux and its relation to feeding, along with mineral/vitamin deficiencies, vegetarians, oral health, water, pacifier and thumb sucking, hiccups, burping, and much, much more are included in this practical guide for parents!
I am so excited to have this book in preparation for Ryder’s baby brother. In reviewing the chapters, almost half of what is covered was asked by me to Ryder’s pediatrician when he was a baby. Imagine how much time and frustration I could have spared had I known about this guide! It think it should be on the bookshelf of every parent who has a baby and/or toddler.
You can purchase the book in Canada through Amazon.ca or in the US through Amazon.com. The book retails for just $29.95 (worth every penny) and is a wonderful gift or hand-me-down to other parents after you’ve reaped the benefits.
Click here to learn more about the Baby & Toddler Feeding and Nutritional Health guide.
Here’s a FABULOUS giveaway for you!
Dr. Maurice Levy has generously offered one Listen to Lena! reader the chance to win a Baby & Toddler Feeding and Nutritional Health guide! To enter, simply take a look at the Table of Contents, and tell us which chapter(s) would be of help to you! I’ll draw for a winner on Sunday.
Thanks to Dr. Levy for sponsoring the giveaway, and good luck everybody!
Picky Eaters chapter. I have a picky eater and this chapter would be most useful
Section 4 on starting solids since we'll be doing that in a month and I would love to learn more on how to introduce it properly!
With a 2.5 year old and a baby on the way, this whole book would be a lifesaver! The Picky Eaters chapter I'd look at first, but would love to have a resource for breastfeeding info in the next few months too!
With a 7 month old who is just starting this book would be a life saver. Thanks
The section on starting solids and feeding during the first year would be most useful to me right now. My daughter is 9 months old and is refusing to be spoon fed, as well as presenting some challenging behaviours at mealtimes.
I think this book is an all-round must have – especially the Picky Eaters chapter, and for me, I had problems breastfeeding, so the chapter on latching, breastfeeding,etc would be so helpful!
Wow -this book looks pretty awesome!I would like to read the chapter on Weaning and when the proper time is. My daughter is almost 10 months old and originally I had planned on BF a year, but I would like to continue past that.
The Store Bought and Homemade Baby Food chapter would be the first chapter I read…always looking for new homemade recipes for my self feeding 10 month old!
So many chapters would be useful but section 4 and 5 stand out since I am trying to find ways to feed my fussy baby who is refusing to be spoon fed!
Fruit, fruit juice, cups and eggs would all be great. There was much more too. I am always concerned that my 15 mnth old is eating right
I sooooo need the chapter on picky eaters . . . and I must say, your description of Ryder's picky phase complete with food throwing and head banging sounds EXACTLY like Liam right now!!!!!!!
I want to read every section right now! However, section 7 has grabbed my attention as I have a 9 month old who is a super eater and has never had any issues with the breast nor bottle and loves every food I put in front of her, but continues to be "below average" when it comes to her weight. As such, Section 7 – Normal and Abnormal Growth Patterns is where I would flip to first!
I would have to say the chapter on weaning would be most useful to me right now but I want to read the whole book right now.
Definitely Section 4!
I need to read the picky eaters chapter too! Dinner time is a struggle with my 2 year old!
Wow, this book looks amazing. I'm interested in reading Section 4 since Leah is one month into trying solids and wow, it sure is a trial of time and patience. I would also love to learn about cup use since Leah is 7 months old and still not taking the bottle.
This book sounds great!! I would love to read up on Section 1-Introduction to Breastfeeding…and I am sure all the other chapters will come in handy as time goes along.
I would read Sections 1 and 3 nowBut the the entire book sounds great!
My toddler went from eating everything to picking apart his food looking for hidden veggies… I would love this book!
We are just starting solids, and having a book on baby & toddler nutrition would be a great help to ensure a balance diet!
The chapters "Starting Solid Foods & First Year Feedings" would be very helpful to me since my baby has just started solid food today!
The chapter on Picky Eaters is my first go-to for my 2.5yr old, but the breastfeeding section is most useful for my newborn!
What a great resource! The picky eaters chapter would be a great read as my 2 year old is pretty picky. Also the breastfeeding chapters would be a great refresher since I am pregnant with my second child. Thanks!
I have a toddler, this chaper would be good for us:Toddlers: Principles in Feeding & Related Aspectskristinamehak@yahoo.ca
Finger Foods for Babies and Toddlers. My baby is just starting and I am running out of ideas!charice2007@yahoo.com
kolleenhancock@yahoo.com Starving for new and healthier ways to feed my little one and the one on the way!
This book is such a comprehensive guide, I can't imagine not using it all the time. While all the chapters look helpful, right now I am quite interested in the Vegetarian Babies & Toddlers section, as we have decided to keep our son vegetarian for the first few years and want to ensure we maintain a well-balanced diet.
There are so many sections in this book that would be helpful. Especially sections 4 and 5. Also, I am due in July with my second boy, so the first couple sections would be very useful too. Megan P. mjmello23@hotmail.com
This book would be soooo helpful! Feeding my son is one of the areas I really struggle with on a daily basis. What to feed, how much, when and more. I feel like it is such an important part of raising my child but yet I don't seem to be able to figure it out!
Insufficient (low) milk supply. I'm having issues with this since I returned to work. Just reading the table of contents makes me want this book!
I am interested in this. I am particular interested in section 3 as I will need to Wean in a couple months in order to return to work. Also section 4 is always useful as my daughter sometimes likes her solids and other times doesn't eat them at all. Any help is always appreciated.
The section on nighttime feeding would be of interest to me. My 6 month old still eats 3 times over her 12 hour sleep period! Profession advice on weaning night feeds would be great.
Wow What a book. I wish I had this when my son was first born. The stress and pressure in reguard to breastfeding can be overwhelming, especially as a first time mom. I would have loved to have been able to read the chapters about bottle feeding and insufficient milk supply.
Wow, I can't pick just one chapter. I have a 3 year old, so toddler nutrition info and picky eating would be helpful, but the most helpful for me will be Breastfeeding in Public and Weaning, since I have a 6 week old. In about 5 months, I'll want the chapter on Favorite 1st solids!
Sounds like a great book.. I have 4 kids and would love this book. I have a 9 year old that is very picky and a 11 month old too and I like to avoid have 2 picky eaters so I'd love to read this book.
Choosing just one chapter… virtually impossible. This book looks like it could become my bible re: nutrition. Right now, I would have to pick the chapter on Nighttime Feedings.
I would be most interested in the Vegetarian Babies & Toddlers section, because my daughter eats a mostly vegetarian diet.
I like section 4, about starting solid foods. We're just starting these, and I have lots of questions!
I am definitely interested in Section 4 – Meat & Alternatives. I always have a hard time figuring out what to feed my 13-month old.Section 8: Specific Feeding & Nutrition Issues also looks interesting!
picky eaters chapter
We're close to starting solids, so this section 4 would be amazing to peak through!
Picky eaters would be great! My 16 month old twins only like crunchy finger foods!
the finger food chapter would be fabulous for more inspiration on a variety of options!
Breastfeeding/biting, food allergies, Meat and alternatives, drinking enough and constipation. Sounds like a wonderful guide!
I'd like to read the chapter on water, fluids and drinks…my daughter never drinks enough!
The specific food refusals section would be great for me. We have just recently started feeding our 6.5 month old son solids and it's really funny to us to see what he likes and what he doesn't like so much. I would like to see what is said about this in the book.
Definately Section 4, starting solids! My daughter has been having a hard time wanting to eat solids!
Great review. The sections "biting the breast" and "weaning" would be of definite interest at this point in my baby's life.
Sounds like a great book!
I have struggled with what to feed my son (14 months) and ensure he gets a healthy and varied diet. I'd love to trade in the hours of Google searching for the Baby & Toddler Nutritional Health Book!The chapter that would help me most is the Vegetarian Babies & Toddlers as my little guy is a Vegetarian and there isn't a lot of resources out there for little ones that do not eat meat!
homemade baby food would be a great chapter. I have a great eater. so far so good!
The Food Groups: Making Sense of Portion Size& Activity Level – Making sense of portion size!! My little guy never wants to stop eating and I never know if I am giving him enough!!
The Food Groups: Making Sense of Portion Size& Activity Level – My little guy is a bottomless pit. This section would help me to feel better about the amounts of food we give him!
The breastfeeding/biting section and the cow's milk section are of interest right now for sure.motorroeder@shaw.ca
the Failure to Thrive chapter interests me! My child is smaller then his peers.
I'm very interested in the sample menus, and section on finger foods: what to avoid, red flags. This sounds like the stage we're at right now with our 8.5 mos old daughter. :)
I hate to beg, but PLEASE pick me!! :) My 19 mo. old has been diagnosed with failure to thrive and we are struggling to help him gain weight. I'm frustrated and confused. And I could really use this book, I would love to see the sections on F2T and portion size & activity levels. And the growth chart info too!