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!