A mother has many worries, and food is one of those that accompany her throughout the child’s life. Concerns about nutrition arise even before birth, and naturally so. Endocrinologist and nutritionist Ioana Stavrositu says that tastes are formed from the womb, and nutrition influences both the child’s physical and cognitive development.
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu is an endocrinologist and nutritionist and works with parents and children, especially those in the diversification phase. Inspired by her own experience as a mother and her patients, she developed the Breastfeeding program – a nutritional and psychological guidance system for mothers, guidance that takes into account the health needs of both mother and baby. In the interview below, you’ll find a number of tips to help you get your kids around food.
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu will speak about diversification and child nutrition at “Solutions for a good appetite” workshop, organized on December 9, 2023 by Totul Despre Mame at Galateca. He will answer pointed questions from the participants and provide valuable information to mothers with fussy children.
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, speaker at the “Solutions for Good Appetite” Workshop
All About Moms: Why does the onset of diversification bring so much anxiety for parents?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: The diversification of food is an essential chapter in the child’s growth, but often accompanied by anxiety for parents. This concern stems from uncertainty regarding allergies, food preferences and ensuring proper nutrition. It also arises from the fear of drowning and the unknown that come with this stage. In the conference, we’ll learn how to spot your baby’s signs of readiness for solid foods, how to introduce new tastes and textures in the safest and healthiest way, and how to manage your own emotions in the process. We will discuss balancing nutritional needs with accepting the natural variety in children’s appetites and preferences.
All About Moms: How serious is it if the baby doesn’t eat as it says in the books, but still eats?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: Every child is unique and nutrition is not an exact science. It is normal for babies to have variations in appetite and preferences. If the baby eats, but does not exactly follow the recommendations in the books, it is not necessarily a cause for concern. Each child is unique and may have their own pace of development of appetite and food preferences.
It is important to monitor the child’s general health, growth and development. In the conference, we will explore the importance of tailoring to each child’s individual needs, recognizing that minor deviations from standard guidelines are often normal. We will find strategies to recognize when variations are a sign of concern and how to approach each situation with calmness and understanding while maintaining a balanced diet.
All About Moms: How can I introduce new foods to my baby’s diet without causing food stress or anxiety?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: Introducing new foods into your child’s diet can be a challenge, but also an opportunity to cultivate healthy eating habits. To introduce new foods to your child’s diet without causing stress or anxiety, take a gradual and positive approach. Present new foods alongside already familiar ones, involve the child in choosing and preparing food, avoid pressure or forcing consumption and encourage sensory exploration of food through play and curiosity, thus creating a pleasant and relaxed experience around the table.
We will discuss in the workshop practical and non-stressful techniques to make this transition, such as, as we said above, gradual exposure to new tastes and textures, respecting the child’s natural rhythm, seasonality, family habits. We will also explore how to avoid developing food anxieties by creating a positive mealtime experience and how to encourage children to explore diverse foods without pressure.
All about Moms: Can the baby crave what we eat? Is this a fair justification for those who feed their children large “people” foods from a young age?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: Children are natural observers and often want to imitate their parents’ eating habits. There is no conclusive evidence that babies develop cravings for the foods their mothers or caregivers eat. However, exposure to various flavors through breast milk can influence the baby’s taste preferences.
Introducing “grown-up” foods at too young an age is only recommended if we follow the feeding guidelines for babies, gradually adapting their diet as they grow and develop. We will look together at how this approach influences their food development and how we can use this to our advantage. We will also address the risks of introducing ‘adult’ foods prematurely, discussing the appropriate timing and ways to safely introduce these foods, as well as exceptions. We discuss tips on how to balance children’s desire to “eat like adults” with their specific nutritional needs.
Everything About Mothers: When does the child’s taste begin to form?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: Tastes are formed before birth and continue to develop during the first years of life.
Thus, the formation of taste in children begins right from intrauterine life, because the fetus is exposed to flavors through the amniotic fluid. It continues to evolve significantly during the first years of life, a crucial period for the development of food preferences. We will explore how and when this fascinating process begins, and how early experiences influence long-term food preferences. We discuss the importance of exposure to a variety of tastes and textures, and how parents can play an active role in shaping healthy and diverse eating habits.
All About Moms: What strategies can I use to teach my child to be open to new foods and explore a variety of options?
Dr. Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist and nutritionist: Encouraging your child to be open to new foods is crucial to developing a balanced diet. An effective strategy is to involve him in the food preparation process, giving him opportunities to choose and experiment with various ingredients in a pleasant and pressure-free environment.
During the conference, I will present creative and effective strategies to stimulate the child’s culinary curiosity, such as involving them in the preparation of the meal and exploring together the dishes in different shapes or textures. In addition, I will offer advice on how to manage initial rejection of certain foods and how to encourage children to taste and explore different flavors and textures, without putting pressure, but in the process laying the foundations for long-term healthy eating behaviour.
“Solutions for a good appetite” workshop
The workshop organized by Totul Despre Mame will give you the necessary tools to make friends with your child with food and will teach you how to approach the family menu regardless of its particularities. The specialists will talk to you applied and honestly about the solutions you have to address children’s nutrition and will answer your questions about your family.
Speakers at the “Solutions for good appetite” Workshop
Ioana Stavrositu is an endocrinology specialist, nutritionist and mother of a 3-year-old boy. Inspired by her own experience as a mother and her patients, she developed the Breastfeeding program – a nutritional and psychological guidance system for mothers, guidance that takes into account the health needs of both mother and baby.
Claudia Dionise is a content creator on Instagram and an actress at Teatrul Coquette. He has two small children, and the diversification was different with each of them: one very difficult, one very smooth. That’s why she wanted to share her experience with other mothers.
Ilinca Tranulis is a pediatric specialist, IBCLC lactation consultant, and mother of three successfully breastfed and diversified children. Out of the desire to help and support mothers, in 2012 she established the first breastfeeding counseling call center in Romania, 07ALAPTARE. She is the author of the course “Diversification without stress”.
THE EVENT’S AGENDA
11.00-11.30 –Welcome coffee
11.30-13.00—Ioana Stavrositu, endocrinologist, nutritionist
Mother’s nutrition during breastfeeding Diversification of the child’s diet Identifying and managing food allergies in children The role of nutrition in child development Tips for creating healthy eating habits. Practical strategies for balanced family meals
13.00 – 13:15 — Coffe break
13:15 – 14:00 – Claudia Dionise, content creator Instagram @mamamofturescu
Practical tips on how mums can get organized as they start baby diversification to save time and money
14:00 – 14:30 – Brunch
14.30-16.00—Ilinca Tranulis, pediatrician specialist, IBCLC accredited consultant
When and how do we start diversifying to ensure we have a child eager to test new tastes and textures Playful ideas to increase the child’s interest in food Introspection about our attitude towards food and table habits and how it influences the appetite of the little one
16.00-16.15 – Raffle
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Partener principal: Aqua Carpatica Kids
partner: Boiron, Republica Bio, Bio Oil
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2023-12-04 11:49:31
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