[blparent] Spoon feeding concerns

[Jo Elizabeth Pinto]

Thanks, Carla.  Mealtime has definitely gotten interesting.  Sarah is eating 
again after having been sick, but she enjoys tossing food overboard, so it's 
hard to know exactly how much of anything she's getting.  As you say, it 
will all work itself out in the end.  I'll look for one of those mats as 
soon as I can.

Jo Elizabeth

"Don't throw away the old bucket until you know whether the new one holds 
water."--Swedish proverb
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karla Hudson" <HudsonKC at msu.edu>
To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 12:44 PM
Subject: [blparent] Spoon feeding concerns


> Hi Jo Elizabeth,
>
> I can tell you that both sighted and blind parents go through the high 
> chair
> mess.  However, very frustrating when you can not see where the mess is
> going.  I know this from experience with my two children who worked me 
> over
> during this stage as well.  I do not like sticky messes and hated stained
> clothing on my children.  You do not want this to become a huge battle as
> you mentioned.  One suggestion I might have is to give her a spoon to hold
> while you have your own for feeding.  She can do some feeding herself 
> while
> you jump in as well.  I also suggest giving her small portions than you
> normally give her in order to reduce the mess.  You might consider giving
> her a little bowl of yogurt while you have your own to feed her from at 
> the
> table.  Also, things that stick to the spoon are helpful such as cottage
> cheese as it is thicker than yogurt.  Also, when your at home just strip 
> her
> clothing off for less staining and mess.
>
> Both my children went through a stage where they enjoyed watching food 
> drop
> from their high chair.  What a mess!  I purchased a "splat mat" from
> babycenter.com.  The best one I could find there was a bit expensive but
> worth it for cleaning up.  I still have it under my sons chair at age 
> three
> just to catch crumbs.  When I am cleaning the kitchen I just pick-up the 
> mat
> take it outside and sweep it off plus you can wash it in the washing
> machine.  What a find!
>
> I refrained from giving my kids really saucy stuff which some might think
> limited their food choices and tastes.  Oh well, I was in college before I
> liked spaghetti sauce myself.  My daughter likes a dab of sauce now and
> again on her pasta.  Some cooked pasta with shredded cheese can make a 
> great
> lunch for a toddler to practice eating on their own.
>
> The fingers for kids are a really great tool with the right foods.  I also
> found target had some really nice spoons with short handles and large 
> round
> ends that seemed to work well for my kids.  I do not recall the brand.
>
> Others may criticize you for letting her eat two many finger foods.  I 
> guess
> I gave up worrying about it all when I became a more confident parent of
> two.  My kids learned to use a spoon eventually and life moved on.
>
> Good luck and I hope this helps.  Try to make meal time fun.  I know it is
> challenging some days and that is what naps are for so mom can have a 
> break.
> As for the relatives that might critique you.  Well, some day when your
> child is grown you can look back and say that you raised your child
> independent of anyone doing it for you.  My husband and I are both blind 
> and
> we do not have any relatives jumping in here.  We do it together and make 
> it
> work.  I know you can do it as well.
>
> Karla
>
>
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