Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs there is. The physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, the is “breast best?” question, the worry of nutrition and what foods to give during weaning & beyond can be incredibly overwhelming.

Experts are linking the First 1000 days of a child’s life (from pregnancy until 2nd birthday) with their future health and development. The care and nutrition given during this time is being hailed as the most critical point to set positive examples, establish healthy attitudes and provide the building blocks for stronger immune systems. Have you seen the latest article on the BBC about this?

I found pregnancy really tough. Finding the balance between combating sickness and eating well was a challenge.“Healthy” meals made my stomach turn, I just couldn’t face eating anything that wasn’t sweet and/or partially fried. Speaking to many friends, families and customers, this seems to be quite common. Many women worry about what they eat during pregnancy. Will having a day of just giving into their cravings be detrimental to their child’s wellbeing?

For me and many others weaning was an exciting time, but for some it can be a bit daunting. For everyone, a First Aid course is a must. Having the reassurance that you and all caregivers will know what to do in an emergency is priceless.

Some people say food before one is “just for fun”. This isn’t strictly true. Yes, the weaning journey should be fun, it should be an adventure, but all food given must have a purpose.

Trying to give a toddler vegetables can be, at times, incredibly futile. Studies have shown that, what we eat as children, the flavours and textures we’re exposed to influences our future eating habits. It is being reported that 80% of kids and 96% of teenagers are not eating enough vegetables. These are pretty scary statistics.

So, no pressure for the First 1000 days then? As a Mum who speaks to parents and health professionals daily, I wanted to share my Top 5 tips for pregnancy, weaning and beyond.

Pregnancy

1. Eat little and often. This can help combat any sickness. I found my morning (all day) sickness was particularly bad at points in the day when I had gone the longest between meals.
2. Cravings are ok. Don’t fret about the donut you ate today. Pay attention to the foods you are eating over a day/week period. Try to avoid high fat, salt and sugary foods, but if you need that pick me up then go ahead and have it.
3. Batch Cook. If/when you have the energy stock up the freezer with well balanced meals. If you are suffering from morning sickness pay attention to the foods that you have been able to stomach. Focus on making meals with these ingredients. It’s important to note though, that you may be ok with it today, but tomorrow can be a  different story.
4. Take your vitamins. There were days where I could not eat anything. Even water made me nauseous. But knowing that I was still taking my vitamins, relieved some of the stress that I was not providing nourishment through food.  
5. Rest. Sounds simple right? Until you throw in life. Rest is so important for you and the baby. I found during my second pregnancy rest during the day was not an option, there was just too much to do. So I set a bedtime routine. Every night I made sure I was in bed by a certain time. During the third trimester sleep eluded me, but at least I was resting. Well sort of.

Weaning

1. Are they ready? Make sure your child is displaying the signs they are ready for solids. They should be 6 months+, sitting up unaided & supporting their head, showing an interest in food around them, have some level of hand-eye coordination. Now, I say some because my 3 year old still misses his mouth and he’s way beyond weaning.
2. Baby Led Weaning vs Spoon Fed. Whatever method you choose, it should be your decision. There are many studies that suggest BLW babies are more adventurous foodies. I weaned my first using a spoon and my second using BLW. They both eat very well and are mostly willing to try anything. Having experience with both, I would vote BLW everytime. Remember your child has their own mind and ideas. They might decide how they wish to be fed. You cannot force them to eat from a spoon if they want to use their hands and vice versa.
3. High Iron foods. Make sure to include iron rich foods into their diet immediately. Iron for weaning babies and toddlers is so important.
4. Keep trying. It is reported that it can take up to 10 exposures to a food before a child knows if they like it or not. Don’t disregard something because it is thrown on the floor 6 times. Keep at it, they could surprise you. Introduce as many flavours as often as you can. We don’t like to eat bland food, so why would children. Be mindful of salt content, flavour doesn’t come from salt, so be adventurous.
5. Trust your child. They will tell you when they are ready to drop milk feeds and when they are full. Babies unlike adults have the ability to know when they are full and will stop eating. Like adults, they have different appetites on different days.  Look up responsive feeding for more details.
6. BONUS TIP: Accept it’s going to get messy. Invest in floor mats, all over bibs and bowls with suction cups.

Beyond. Feeding Toddlers

1. Fussy Stage. Every single toddler will go through a fussy stage, you can’t avoid it. They can love something at lunch and refuse to eat it at dinner. Keep serving it to them, but do not put pressure on them to eat it. Forcing foods on children, can lead them to develop negative associations with those foods.
2. Routines. Food routines are so important. Toddlers go through growth spurts that gives them an ability to continuously eat. They also love snacks, I mean who doesn’t. If you set boundaries for food times from the beginning they know when to expect their next meal/snack.
3. There are no bad foods. Avoid labelling a particular food/meal as bad. It’s like with anything, the moment you are told you can’t have something, you immediately want it.  Allowing“unhealthy” meals/snacks in a child’s diet removes the stigma surrounding them. You know what it’s like, the moment you are told not to eat something, that’s all you want.
4. Be bold with meal choices. Food should be an adventure, make it fun. Introduce a variety of colours, textures and tastes. If a child has refused something, try changing the way it is served. You’d be surprised by how cutting something differently can provoke a completely different reaction.
5. Eat together when possible. Family mealtimes and including children in the preparation of their food is a great way to get them to eat a more varied diet.

Hopefully you’ll find these tips useful. I’ve learned a lot during my time as a Mum and working with child nutritionists for Logan’s Plate. Just remember to trust your instincts, don’t be afraid, and enjoy it. This is your time and your child. You’ll be fine.