Restricting access to palatable foods affects children's behavioral response, food selection, and intake. A recent article in the Journal of the Dietetics Association summarizes some tips for working with teens, based on observations of Mary Story, PhD RD and lactation consultants, Mary Zentis and Janet Washington. For the latter, be sure to screen for food availability problems. Teach teens to make healthful food choices in a variety of settings, including fast food restaurants and at breakfast, snacks, and quick-fix dinners. Use teen mentors to teach breast-feeding skills.
Teens accept advice more readily from peers than adults.
Reassure teens that their bodies are capable of producing milk unique to the baby's needs and that even a little breast-feeding is better than none at all. Avoid being judgmental. Target teens for extra support in the hospital because many are undecided about breast-feeding right up to the day of delivery. Trissler RJ. 1999.