I’ve got some exciting news to share! Over the past couple of weeks, something remarkable has happened in our household. Baby Bean, or should I say, our newly crowned Little Bean, has taken her first steps into the world of adult food. While her palate may not be entirely focused on fruits and veggies just yet, I couldn’t be happier with this fantastic development.
Discovering the Power of the Fork
One of the turning points in this culinary journey was when we introduced her to a fork. Little Bean became utterly captivated by it and insisted on using it for every meal. With an adorable determination, she would pick up her food, declare “stab it,” and then happily indulge. Our menu now includes a wide variety of items, from pizza to pancakes, with varying degrees of enthusiasm from our little food explorer.
A Visit from the Speech Therapist
Today, we had an appointment with our ever-supportive Speech Therapist, who has been an incredible source of guidance throughout this journey. To my delight, she was not only impressed by Little Bean’s newfound enthusiasm for food but also pleasantly surprised by her progress in speech. It seems like our baby is growing up before our eyes, and we’re embracing this new phase by officially introducing her as “Little Bean” on the blog.
A Parent’s Perspective
I used to read posts like this from other parents and wonder if my daughter would ever eat properly. Well, here we are – still a long way from “proper” eating, but further along than I ever imagined. Little Bean is gradually becoming more open to trying new things, and she’s even starting to understand when I encourage her to at least give new foods a chance. If she decides she doesn’t like something, I respect her choice and don’t push it further. Some items have become favourites, while others have temporarily dropped off her menu. But don’t worry; I’ll reintroduce them in a few months.
Tips for Parents with Picky Eaters
If you’re dealing with a fussy eater like we were, here are some tips from our experience:
- You’re not alone – many parents have been through this.
- Stay calm during meals; they won’t starve themselves.
- Avoid force-feeding; it’s counterproductive.
- Stick to one meal; don’t make multiple dishes.
- Understand your child’s need for praise and adjust accordingly.
- Encourage social eating whenever possible.
- Seek professional help when needed; speech and eating are connected.
- Rule out physical issues with the help of paediatricians and dieticians.
- Consider messy play for tactile-sensitive children.
- Never give up, and don’t blame yourself; they’re making their own choices.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – Little Bean’s exciting culinary adventure and her remarkable progress. I hope our journey offers hope and inspiration to other parents dealing with picky eaters. Remember, every child is unique, and they will find their own way when the time is right. Until next time, happy eating and parenting!
Congrats on the progress. Our little son sees a speech therapist as well.
Thank you, I really am very proud of how far she has come along. How are you doing with your little man? Fingers crossed it all works out for you too x
I noticed yesterday her speech has come on fantastically! Bless ya, you’ll be all sorted soon in time for the next one lol!!! xx
Well I’m hoping so, though no doubt the next one will come with a whole new set of challenges! Watch this space . . . .
I would definitely give it a go, I got referred to mine through the Health Visitor and I think it took about 6 weeks for an appointment to come through. My lady was lovely and a great source of comfort and assistance. I have heard that boys tend to be slower at starting to talk and he maybe just doesn’t have anything that he wants to say at the moment. My Mum took me to the Docs when I was 2 and a half because I wasn’t talking and they wondered if I was deaf. Turned out I was absolutely fine I just didn’t have anything I particularly wanted to say. I hope they are able to help you – do let me know how things go x
Hi, I’m not too sure to be absolutely honest with you but I did a quick search on the net and found this if it helps?
Technically, your undergraduate degree can be in any field, but for certification as a speech-language pathologist, you need at least a Master’s degree with a prescribed range of courses in the speech sciences.
Certification requires at least 75 semester hours, with at least 36 at the graduate level. Unless you have take some basic speech science courses as an undergraduate, you may have to take all 75 semester hours at the graduate level; some of them will be prerequisite to your qualifying for admission to the Master’s program.
The following link explains the standards for certification in speech-language pathology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
http://www.asha.org/about/membership-certification/handbooks/slp/slp_standards.htm#Std_I
The next link shows graduate programs in speech-language pathology in the U.S. (and worldwide). Investigate the programs that interest you so that you can plan your undergraduate degree as preparation for the graduate program. Faculty at the colleges and universities that have programs in speech-language pathology will usually be happy to help you.
http://www.gradschools.com/programs/speech_pathology.html
This is such an interesting post to read, I have a SN’s son who can’t eat (due to disabilities, we have then had our daughter who I know can eat as she has off my plate but wont eat feed, only mush, it is bothering me so much, I feel like a failure, I see all these blogs with 8mth olds eating corn on the cob. Can I ask what age was Little Bean when she turned this corner x
This was around 18months although we have had many trials and tribulations since – the Speech Therapist was so lovely and a great source of support. I would never have considered a ST could help with eating issues if it wasn’t for the Health Visitors so it might be worth speaking with yours to see if they can help 🙂 Good luck x