Tricks To Make Your Kid Eat..

End the Power Struggle

"Picky habits start when children test their limits, around age 2," Shu says. "Parents don't like rejection. They hear 'no' once or twice, they don't go back to that food."

But many preschoolers need to be offered new foods several times before they taste them. Serving a new food among five or six familiar choices can take the pressure off, says Boston pediatric nutritionist Linda Piette, RD, author of Just Two More Bites!

Trouble Eating

Some kids may still be mastering how to chew and swallow. Some may be inexperienced chewers.

"Many prefer meltable, crunchy carbohydrates because they're easy to eat and have a single texture," says pediatric psychologist Kay Toomey, PhD, of Greenwood Village, Colo.

Show your child what to do. "Banging a carrot on the table and talking about how hard it is teaches that the teeth will need to use pressure to break it apart," Toomey says, "versus yogurt, which is wet and smooth and can be just sucked down."

Not Hungry

Your child might be full from eating too many beverages or snacks.

"Kids carry around portable snack containers and boxes of juice, then they're not hungry for anything later," Shu says. 

Her advice: Serve fewer, healthier snacks. "If the child didn't finish lunch, give those leftover peas or carrots for a snack instead of pretzels or cookies."

An Emotional Reaction

If people are arguing at the table, your child may just want to get out of there. 

"Kids may try to make mealtime shorter," Shu says. "Alternately, they may try to get more attention by not eating, if they think enough attention isn't coming their way."

Rethink Your Meal Strategies

Between meals, analyze clues that may cause your child's pickiness.

Is the TV on? Adults tend to overeat when they're watching TV, but that's not true for picky children. Research shows that kids who watch television during meals can become overstimulated, making it harder for them to try new foods.

Is the whole family eating together? Children may be more likely to relax and try new flavors if everyone else is enjoying the same meal. "It makes a world of difference for our family," says Elizabeth Johnson Willard of St. Johnsbury, Vt., whose children shunned most meats, fruits, and vegetables when they were very young. "Seeing us try new foods helps encourage our children to do the same."

A child who eats alone may also sense your anxiety about their pickiness. "The parent hovers over every bite the child takes, which doesn't help," Piette says.

Are you setting a good example? Taste at least a little bit of everything that's served, and show a good attitude about it. "Kids are smart," Piette says. "They can tell by the look on your face."

Re-Do Dinner

When you introduce new foods, an offbeat tactic may help:

Let them eat cake . Don't offer dessert as a reward for eating vegetables. That sends the wrong message. If dessert is on the menu, consider serving it with the meal, instead of at the end.

Emphasize style. Entice a picky eater to try a fruit salad by arranging it into a smiley face. Christen Cooper of Pleasantville, N.Y., realized that her then-3-year-old daughter would try almost anything served on her princess tea set.  

Show interest in their interests. Did your son's favorite character eat carrots and string beans? Offer the same foods. This trick worked for Leigh Steere of Boulder, Colo., whose son tried new foods when the recipes came from a Star Wars cookbook.

Encourage food play. Little fingers poking at dinner can help kids get used to food textures, which are sometimes bigger stumbling blocks than flavors for picky eaters. "Parents should be tolerant of the messiness," Piette says. "It does help. It's a sensory thing."

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The Basics of Anaphylaxis

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction. It's a medical emergency.

Most people with allergies never experience anaphylaxis. But when it happens, it works like this:

Within minutes or hours of being exposed to your allergy trigger, your body starts a chain reaction that temporarily widens your blood vessels, which can lower your blood pressure. You may pass out. You may get hives and swelling, especially around your face and throat. You may have trouble breathing, talking, or swallowing.

What Causes Anaphylaxis?

The most common causes of anaphylaxis are:

• Foods, including peanuts and tree nuts (particularly almond, walnut, hazelnut, Brazil, and cashew nuts)
• Shellfish, especially shrimp and lobster
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Insect stings, such as those from wasps, bees, ants
• Latex
• Medications

In some cases, anaphylaxis can also be caused by exercise, usually after eating certain foods that trigger your allergy.

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7 Ways to Protect Your Child's Oral Health

When the toddler came to her office, 4 of his 16 teeth were so decayed, they required dental crowns.

Although this case may sound shocking, it's not rare, says Beverly Largent, DMD, the Paducah, Ky., dentist who cared for the child. She tells parents it's crucial to care for baby teeth. "You need to brush from the first tooth," says Largent, past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. 

In fact, tooth decay -- although largely preventable with good care -- is one of the most common chronic diseases of children ages 6 to 11 and teens ages 12 to 19. Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. By kindergarten age, more than 40% of kids have tooth decay.

Neglecting baby teeth is not the only misstep parents can make when it comes to their child's early oral health.

Here's your 7-step game plan.

Start Oral Care Early

Your child should see a dentist by the time he or she is a year old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Getting preventive care early saves money in the long run, according to a report published by the CDC. The report found that costs for dental care were nearly 40% lower over a five-year period for children who got dental care by age one compared to those who didn't go to the dentist until later.

Teach the Brush & Floss Habit

Dental visits are just part of the plan, of course. Tooth brushing is also crucial from the start.  "A lot of people think they don't have to brush baby teeth," Largent says. If your baby has even one tooth, it's time to start tooth brushing. "If there's just one tooth, you can use gauze."

Even before your baby has teeth, you can gently brush the gums, using water on a soft baby toothbrush, or clean them with a soft washcloth.

Once there are additional teeth, Largent tells parents to buy infant toothbrushes that are very soft. Brushing should be done twice daily using a fluoridated toothpaste.  

Flossing should begin when two teeth touch each other. Ask your dentist to show you the right flossing techniques and schedules, Largent says.

Also ask for your dentist's advice on when to start using mouthwash. "I advise parents to wait until the child can definitely spit the mouthwash out," says Mary Hayes, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Chicago and consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. "Mouthwash is a rinse and not a beverage."

So how long until Junior can be responsible for brushing his own teeth? "[Parents] have to clean the teeth until children are able to tie their shoes or write in cursive," says Largent.

During dental visits, ask your dentist if your child's teeth need fluoride protection or a dental sealant.

And remember, the most important time to brush and floss is just before bedtime. No food or drink, except water, should be permitted until the next morning. This allows clean teeth to re-mineralize during the night, from the minerals in the saliva and toothpaste.     

Avoid "Baby Bottle Decay"

For years, pediatricians and dentists have been cautioning parents not to put an infant or older child down for a nap with a bottle of juice, formula, or milk.

Even so, says Largent, many parents don't realize this can wreak havoc with their child's oral health.

The sugary liquids in the bottle cling to baby's teeth, providing food for bacteria that live in the mouth. The bacteria produce acids that can trigger tooth decay. Left unchecked, dental disease can adversely affect a child's growth and learning, and can even affect speech.

If you must give your child a bottle to take to bed, make sure it contains only water, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

Control the Sippy Cup Habit

Bottles taken to bed aren't the only beverage problem, says Hayes. The other? "Juice given during the day as a substitute for water and milk," Hayes says.

Often, that juice is in a sippy cup. It's meant as a transition cup when a child is being weaned from a bottle and learning to use a regular cup.

Parents mistakenly think juice is a healthy day-long choice for a beverage, say Hayes and Largent. But that's not the case.

Largent says she often sees children walking around all day drinking juices and other sugary beverages from a sippy cup, and that's hazardous to dental health. "Prolonged use of a sippy cup can cause decay on the back of the front teeth," if the beverages are sugary, she says.

Juice consumption has been linked to childhood obesity and the development of tooth decay, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In its current policy statement on preventive oral health, the organization advises parents to limit the intake of 100% fruit juice to no more than four ounces a day. Sugary drinks and foods should be limited to mealtimes.

"Pediatricians I know are telling parents to use juice as a treat," Hayes says.

Ditch the Binky by 2 or 3

Pacifiers used in the first year of life may actually help prevent sudden infant death syndrome, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. They suggest using a pacifier when placing the infant to sleep but not to reinsert once baby has drifted off. Long-term use can be hazardous to dental health. Sucking too strongly on a pacifier, for instance, can affect how the top and bottom teeth line up (the "bite") or can affect the shape of the mouth.

Largent tells parents of her young patients: "Pacifiers are for infants, not for toddlers walking around with them in their mouths." She discourages long-term use of even the "orthodontically correct" pacifiers.

Largent says she prefers that pacifiers be dropped by age 2. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests getting a professional evaluation if the pacifier habit continues beyond age 3.

Beware of Mouth-Unfriendly Medicines

Many medications that children take are flavored and sugary, says Hayes. If they stick on the teeth, the risk for tooth decay goes up.

Children on medications for chronic conditions such as asthma and heart problems often have a higher decay rate, she finds.

Antibiotics and some asthma medications can cause an overgrowth of candida (yeast), which can lead to a fungal infection called oral thrush. Suspect thrush if you see creamy, curd-like patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.

"If your child is on chronic medications, ask your child's dentist how often you should brush," Hayes says. You may be advised to help your child brush as often as four times a day.

Stand Firm on Oral Hygiene

Parents often tell Hayes that their children put up a fuss when it comes time to brush, floss, and rinse, so parents relent and don’t keep up with oral care at home as they should.

Hayes strongly advises these parents to let their children know they don't have a choice about taking care of their teeth and gums.

"It has to be done," Hayes says. But she understands that children can get cranky and difficult. She suggests these tips to coax reluctant brushers and flossers to get the job done -- or if they are too young, to allow their parents to help them do it.

• Plan to help your children longer than you may think necessary. "Children don't have the fine motor skills to brush their own teeth until about age 6," says Hayes. Flossing skills don't get good until later, probably age 10.
• Schedule the brushing and flossing and rinsing, if advised, at times when your child is not overly tired. You may get more cooperation from a child who isn't fatigued.
• Get your child involved in a way that's age-appropriate. For instance, you might let a child who is age 5 or older pick his own toothpaste at the store, from options you approve. You could buy two or three different kinds of toothpaste and let the child choose which one to use each time. You may offer him a choice of toothbrushes, including kid-friendly ones that are brightly colored or decorated.
• Figure out what motivates your child. A younger child may gladly brush for a sticker, for instance, or gold stars on a chart.

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