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Your child will eat vegetables if you do.

Do you enjoy vegetables?

Did your parents eat vegetables?

What did your parents do to make you eat them?

How did it make you feel?

Do you want your child to feel that way?

Vegetables are good for you. But making yourself or your child eat them is not good. That might work now, but later on you will both stop eating them. Instead, learn to enjoy vegetables. Your child will do the same. Keep in mind that you and your child don’t have to eat every vegetable!

green-veg

Here is how to learn to enjoy vegetables:

  • Sneak up on new foods like your child does. She looks but doesn’t taste, tastes but doesn’t swallow. Give yourself time. Like a new song, new food grows on you.
  • Include new vegetables in meals again and again. It takes 10 to 20 tries to learn to eat a new food. Or more. Lots more. Have peas, beans, and corn sometimes, and have carrots or broccoli other times.
  • Don’t get pushy. Everybody learns better when they can decide to eat or not.
  • Make vegetables taste good. Dress them up with butter, cream, oil, bacon, fatback, white sauce, cheese sauce, herbs and spices, or brown sugar. Put vegetables in soups and stews.
  • Cook vegetables the way you like them. Some people like them cooked until they are just barely soft. Others like them cooked until they are mushy.
  • Don’t trick your child by sneaking vegetables into other food. Your child will catch on and not trust you. If vegetables are there, tell her.
  • Know that some vegetables are harder to learn to enjoy. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and some greens taste strong. Many people say they taste bitter. Tone them down with butter, salt, or sauces.

© Ellyn Satter

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position