by Mary Caliendo

Created on: April 21, 2009

Welcoming the new toddler into the big world; this can be a rewarding but often challenging time in a new parent' life. There is no real book out there to tell a new parent the next step into the world of foods. And toddlers are starting to take a bit of charge too! Remember the funny little face that was made as you took a spoon-full of the baby's green peas, or how about the ground meat? I remember the "sour" pout as my child did not fully enjoy the last mouthful of squash, and the whole-body shutter as the baby swallowed down the mixed vegetables.

In today's supermarkets there is an abundance of vegetables one can buy. Making good and healthy food choices is the next likely step into this new frontier. Depending on the family and the family's ethnicity, one can also purchase fruits and vegetables geared toward their likes or perhaps even religion too. Next, it also depends on the toddler himself, this will also be an easy way to proceed as well. Because children mature at different levels, or perhaps they may not have all of their teeth, or for whatever reason you may have, always start foods that are not extra chewy, or are hard to chew vegetables like celery for now.

Our new toddlers are on a road of discovery, and are ennamered with themselves and their own hands. They have now figured that hands are very useful to pick up anything and everything, so always start with the introduction of foods that the toddler can actually hold in his hand. They delight and are proud of themselves when doing even the most mudane of things.

We praise our toddler as he can pick up the tiny soft peas and put them into their mouth. Introduction of foods that your new toddler can actually see; they love colors! Bright orange as with carrots for example; a toddler will pick up the carrot piece quickly and examine. Then our toddler will put this into his mouth, often times spitting out the carrot piece. Here's where mom and dad, babysitter, or grandfolks come into play; you play! Huh? Yes, you have your own carrot and you show your toddler that mommy of daddy just ate one, and say oh so yummy! Do this a couple of times for your baby to see. As your toddler is watching you he or she is studying deeply your face. The toddler is seeing how well you liked your carrot and perhaps your toddler will follow. Toddlers love to explore and our faces are one place they start.

Do not give up, keep on time and time again to introduce with each meal. Food preparers need to heed a few cautious

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