I'm a full-time mummy

Every time you feed your kids you're teaching them something about what, when, where, why and how much to eat. But are you teaching your kids the lessons you think? If your children don't eat the way you wish they would, then the answer is probably "no."

In many cases, there is a gap between the lessons you think you're teaching and the lesson your kids are actually learning. It’s in this gap that eating problems are nurtured. "Two more bites," the mainstay of many family food interactions, is the perfect example. Parents think making their kids take two more bites of broccoli teaches kids the importance of eating vegetables. But what do children really learn?

- I have to eat veggies even if I don’t want them. This makes me dislike them even more.

- Mommy knows better than I do how much I should eat. I should always look to others for clues about portion size.

- Dessert is usually eaten on a full stomach. Feeling full isn't a sign to stop eating. It's when the good times roll!

- How much I eat is open to negotiation.

Your lessons are probably missing the mark if your kids' eating "issues" don't seem to improve—because when lessons hit home, behaviors change. Parents often complain that their kids don't eat enough at dinner. 

Here are 8 ways you may be unintentionally teaching your kids NOT to eat dinner.  You…

1) Provide cheese and crackers, or hummus and chips just before dinner.

Lesson Learned: Dinner isn't really important. I am supposed to fill up whenever I eat. Snacks are tastier than meals.

2) Let your child drink plenty of milk with dinner, especially when he's thirsty.

Lesson Learned: My parents like it when I drink milk; I can fill up on anything I want.

3) Prepare your child's favorite dinner when she refuses to even taste what you've cooked (or eats so slowly that you want to tear your hair out).

Lesson Learned: When I'm stubborn I get my way. Sometimes it takes a good fight to get the "good" food but it's worth it.

4) Give in to your child’s request for an after-dinner snack (even though last night you swore you would never do that again) because you’re afraid she’ll get hungry sometime during the night.

Lesson Learned: Why eat dinner? There's always something better later. Saying "I'm hungry" is a great procrastination technique. My parents fear my hunger, maybe I should too.

5) Put so much pressure on your child to eat that it’s a point of honor for him to resist. 

Lesson Learned: Eating is a power struggle and I usually win.

6) Negotiate the number of bites your child has to eat. Then spend the rest of the meal continually negotiating down the number of bites. Before long, the number of bites approaches zero. 

Lesson Learned: My parents think they know better than me how much I should eat. My parents don't really mean what they say. If I hold out, I get my way—eventually.

7) Tell your child he should eat something because it’s healthy, because he wants to grow up big and strong, because his big brother eats it.

Lesson Learned: I know I don't want to eat that food. My parents never even said it tastes good. I know only "bad" food tastes good.

8) Insist your child sit at the table when there’s something really, really exciting happening in the next room.

Lesson Learned: The quicker I can convince my parents that I'm not hungry the sooner I can get back to the fun.

Want your kids to start eating dinner? Start to see the world through their eyes. Then adjust the message accordingly. Try:

• Setting up Eating Zones—times when foods is available and times when food is NOT available. 

• Eliminate milk at meals and reduce milk consumption throughout the day. 

• Serve very small portions and encourage your children to let you know if they want more. 

• Neutralize dessert. Everyone gets dessert whenever it's served, regardless of how well they ate. Worried about too much dessert? Don't serve it every night. Make sure portions are small.

• Make sure there is always at least one thing on the table that you can reasonably expect your children to eat.

• Make the before-bed snack routine, not a response to begging. Never serve your child's preferred foods at this time.

• Make meals enjoyable. Stop begging, bartering, cajoling or otherwise convincing your kids to eat.

• If you want your kids to try something new, put your science cap on explore a bite-size sample together.

What do you think?

** Source

I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys!!! For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here - click on the image below to launch the video on YouTube:

THIS is the amazing moment a baby boy born still inside the amniotic sac is cut out so he can take his first breath. The tiny infant remains blissfully unaware he is no longer in the womb and can even be seen squirming and yawning from within before doctors snip him out.

 It is easy to make out the baby's dark hair and features as his face is pressed up against the wall of the sac. In the remarkable clip, medics delicately slice open the thin casing which quickly gives way to release the baby.

 
He slides out easily and immediately starts crying as he breathes in air for the very first time.

 The amniotic sac is a thin but resilient membrane which encases the baby in fluid to keep it safe during pregnancy. The moment the casing splits is often referred to as a woman's 'waters breaking'. The expectant mum will usually give birth shortly afterwards.

Babies being born still encased within the entire amniotic sac, known as an en-caul birth, are rare. It generally occurs in fewer than one in 80,000 cases.

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. Do note that sharing this does not mean I agree or disagree with it. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:

Sippy cup maker Tommee Tippee has received a string of negative complaints following a viral post that showed the cup’s hidden valve covered in mold. With parents concerned for their own child’s well-being, many began cutting open their own Tommee Tippee cups to see what was hidden beneath. Many discovered that, to their disbelief, their cups were also covered in mold.

Despite the complaints, Tommee Tippee has responded noting that “if used properly,” the cup will not mold. However, there is a catch. The Tommee Tippee cup is only designed to be used with a limited number of beverages. Here is what you need to know about the Tommee Tippee cup mold issue.

One angry father took to Facebook to detail issues he discovered while using a Tommee Tippee cup. Photos of the moldy sippy cup were first uploaded to Facebook by Marie-Pier S. L’Hostie of Montreal, a friend of father Simon O’kanada, who was using the Tommee Tippee cups for his son. O’kanada reported that his son was consistently sick, and he couldn’t figure out what was causing the illness. Therefore, he decided to open up the top of his son’s sippy cup to see if it could be the source of the issue, and what he found was horrifying. The anti-leak spout hidden inside of the top of the sippy cup was covered in mold.

** Photo credit

Initially, many parents believed that the mold was due to improper cleaning techniques. It is noted that the non-spill valve is hidden within the top of the cup, inaccessible to parents for cleaning. Many sippy cup brands have the valve exposed so that it can be removed and properly cleaned, but the Tommee Tippee cup is designed with the valve hidden behind the upper plastic of the cup, making it spill-proof. However, it seems this spill-proof quality comes at a cost to parents, as mold can easily form in the spout.

Numerous concerned parents using Tommee Tippee saw the startling post, and many decided to take one of their sippy cups and dissect it to see if any mold was present. Many were shocked when they discovered their Tommee Tippee sippy cups were also infested with mold on the hidden valve.

Tippee says that their cup is only designed to be used with water and non-pulp juices served cold. The company says that warm beverages, thick milk, and juices with pulp are not supposed to be used with the Tommee Tippee cups and that these beverages can cause the mold issues presented. Therefore, if milk, a warm beverage, or juice with pulp has been placed in the cup, it appears the only option is to toss the sippy cup or face potential mold problems.

Tommee Tippee has responded to customer concerns about the hidden valve and mold growth, noting that if the cups are “used properly,” they will not present a health hazard. However, there is a catch to the company’s statement. Tommee If you read the comments on the Tommee Tippee statement, you will note that many parents are not buying the company’s response, claiming they have mold despite only using the cups with water as suggested. Despite the complaints and the continual stream of moldy photos, the company says that the cups are safe to use with the limited beverages noted. However, Tommee Tippee says they are in the process of creating a transparent valve that will allow parents to see the inside workings of the cup so that they will know if mold is growing.

Quickly go check your child's sippy cups and water bottles!!

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.