Episode 63 - Feeding in the first year

I am so excited about this week’s episode of Sense by Meg Faure. I’m joined by regular first-time mum, Cassidy, who’s recently celebrated her little boy Max’s first birthday. Cass has joined up regularly to talk about life with a new baby. Also joining us today is well-known paediatric dietician, Kath Megaw, who’s an esteemed colleague and dear friend. Kath is a leading professional in nutrition and particularly infant and child nutrition. She joins Cass and I today to answer some of Cass’s biggest questions around feeding and weaning. We start by looking back at Cass’s breastfeeding experience. She talks about the pressure and fear that many new mothers feel regarding exclusive breastfeeding. Kath emphasises the importance of being flexible when faced with unexpected circumstances, as was the case when Max was born with an infection and had to be taken to the NICU shortly after birth. She asks Kath about reintroducing breastfeeding even if the start didn’t go to plan. We also all touch on the fact that while breastfeeding is beneficial, it's important for mothers to prioritise their well-being and explore alternative feeding options if necessary. Kath reassures mothers that it's possible to maintain milk supply through expressing and supplementing with formula, if needed, without compromising the overall breastfeeding journey. The discussion highlights the importance of finding a feeding approach that works for both the mother and the baby, considering individual circumstances and challenges. We then move onto talk about some of the changes Cass had to make when it seemed as though Max was getting too distracted to breastfeed and started to lose weight as a result. Kath acknowledges that breastfeeding can be challenging for babies who seek stimulation and that using a bottle with expressed milk can help during more active periods. Next up is a discussion about weaning. Cass shares her approach to weaning, her expectations, and her learnings over the last year. Kath shares some insightful, science-based tips to help moms know what are good first foods. She talks about how weaning is influenced by the anatomy and development of their mouth. Kath also explains that babies have a natural inclination towards sweet flavours early on. But that genetic predispositions can also play a role in taste preferences. She emphasises the importance of introducing a variety of foods to expose babies to different flavours and ensure a balanced experience. This leads us onto to the Weaning Sense method of mixing sweet and savoury flavours to introduce variety and help children transition to different tastes. Kath recommends incorporating sweet fruits in savoury meals to enhance palatability and aid digestion of protein. This also avoids creating a hierarchy of food and instead mixing up the concept, allowing children to end with something sweet regardless of what they've eaten before. Cass is also concerned about the amount of eggs Max consumes but Kath explains that the health implications of eggs have been refuted, and that eggs are a valuable source of protein and easy to incorporate into a toddler's diet. She also answers Cass’s question about reducing Max’s milk intake now that he’s a toddler and whether whole milk or organic milk is best. Kath is a big proponent of organic and hormone-free animal products, such as chicken, poultry, eggs, and milk. She says that when transitioning to cow's milk, hormone-free and full-fat options are preferred. Max is also teething, and Cass wants to know whether chewy or soft foods are best. Kath explains that during teething, softer foods like purees and yogurt can provide comfort and relieve gum itchiness. Chewy foods may not offer much nutrition during this stage. Overall, the conversation highlights the challenges of breastfeeding distractions, the option of using expressed milk, and the significance of variety in introducing solid foods during the weaning process. This is a must if you’ve got common questions about your baby’s feeding and weaning journey from infancy to toddlerhood.