Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-21
FEEDING PROBLEM.


(Fron. Mrs. H. P. H., Washipgton.)
For Mrs. E. H., Washington. I
am sure your doctor is right in say
ing your children will outgrow this
stage of wanting help at meal time,
but 1 know how you feel when you
think of all the things you could do
while they feed themselves.
We had a similar problem. Our
"a -year-old saw her 5-year-old
brother asking for help and so began
to need help too (even though she
began feeding herself at IA months.
I consulted the doctor who advised
feeding them, but I worked out my
own plans to get them to do it
Themselves. 1t is above all a bid
for attention, so I simply ignored
work that wasn't essential and gave
them extra time knowing it would
be temporary. Just before q meal
we would read short story or play
a record. Then I would trot out
their favorite foods and hint OF sur
prises waiting in the kitchen. They
eat together at breakfast and lunch
at small table which can be moved
near the fireplace or out into the
yard in summer. Dinner In the
evening finds years at table with
us and ~ in the high chair. I
have pretty dishes bought especially
for them, with pictures in the center.
Straws go in milk glasses to make
it interesting. Bibs are attractive.
Breakfast suggestions: Farina or
other cooked cereal with red, green
or brown sugar and milk. French
toast with jelly, milk toast with a
face indicated by raisins. waff1es
with butter and honey and bacon
Sunday only.
Lunch: Sandwiches cut with
cookies cutters or into triangle or
ribbons, using two kinds of bread
sometimes. Ribbon sandwiches
make a building with one standing
in the center for tower. Filings
preferred are peanut butter and
Jelly, cream cheese and American
cheese. Butter, of course. In max
ing fancy shapes I eat the crusts
and trimmings, although rabbit
or chick looks well behind a fence
made of trimmings. With the sand
witches I serve cottage cheese and
fruit or soup. Soups are either the
Junior jar from the grocery or home
made. Favorites are home style
chicken with alphabet noodles and
beef bone soup with barley and
vegetables! Dessert junket, custard
or fruit. Sometimes cookies. 4
Dinner: Small servings OF what
ever we have. Chicken, beef, lamb,
veal. tongue (fresh), kidneys, fish,
etc. Ice cream is a frequent dessert
as are grown up style fruit tpeacnes,
pineapple, apricots, applesauce, etc).
Cookies and sometimes simple cakes.
1 praise them for a nice clean
plate and we speak of music we VIII
enjoy after dinner, etc. The little
one seldom asks for help now, the
big one never. When she asks she
waits until someone is ready, fire.
quently helping herself in the mean
time. I praise them also for eating
promptly and assure them 1t helps
me when they are prompt. Mama
needs to be calm and not let the
children get her goat" Recently
our son has begun to tie his own
shoes and I do not hesitate to praise
him before guests. Currently l am
waiting while sister is mastering the
art OF buttoning buttons and lacing
shoes. Was it Gesell who said,
everything is only phase?
From Mrs. D. H., East RiUerddle.)
With regard to the problem OF
Mrs. H. E. of Washington and the
feeding of her children. I have
found the best solution is to set the
meal before the child, see that he
is comfortable, have everything he
needs for the meal and then just
leave him alone. Simply act as
though he wasn't there and busya
yourself with some task even II it
takes you into another room. OF
course, to the child, you aren't tax
ing any notice of him at all, but it
will be helpful to take "peeks" at
hin without being seen, just to see
that the meal isn't being spread
around the table or high chair. Oh
what glorious times my children
have had in this manner!
If baby thinks you are fussing
over him, he will be more and more
obstinate than II he thinks you
don't really care If he eats or not.
OF course this may not work the
very first time, as he will probably
be very surprised at your attitude.
But when he realizes you are not
going to give in, then don't think
he will miss a second meal.
My four toddlers, eldest being 4,
then twins of 3 and little girl Is
months have In their short lives
presented me with plenty Of meal
problems but they all sit at the
table together now and behave very
nicely.