Tag Archives: babies

The Lighter Side

The 7 Stages of My 2-Year-Old in a Restaurant

Taking a child to a restaurant is a challenge. We need more child friendly restaurants! There are some children who are perfect. I just wish mine was like that. Of course, I?m the one with an excitable and impatient 2-year-old who isn?t interested in listening to mammy. What does that get me in a restaurant? These 7 stages!

Stage #1: Excited

It’s a trip out and the first emotion has to be excitement. My 2-year-old wants to know where we?re going, what we?re doing, and who we?ll meet. Depending on the restaurant, she’s excited about meeting the staff who will have colouring books and balloons at the ready. Even a place we?ve been to before is exciting, because something tends to change.

Stage #2: Curious

What’s that black mark on the floor? Why is that woman over there eating an ice cream? What’s going on behind the door that says ‘staff only? (not like we can read the words)? These are all questions my 2-year-old likely asks inside her own head. She wants to be everywhere at once, and isn?t going to settle for anything.

Stage #3: Impatient

Food is ordered and now it’s time to wait for it to come. Of course, once the food is ordered, the 2-year-old expects it to be on the table right away. We can just take the picture off the menu, right? This leads to the impatient stage. We want food right now and we will scream until it comes.

Stage #4: Placated

That is until the drinks come. Now they?re here, we?re a little more placated. We?re happy to have a few mouthfuls and go back to the colouring book we were given earlier. Or we?ve found a toy in mummy’s bag or realised we can flick juice all over big brother. It’s fun for a while, until?

Stage #5: Frustrated

We need food again! The juice isn?t enough and we?ve just remembered that we were expecting our chicken fingers and fries. To make matters worse, big brother has his spaghetti and daddy has his burger. We just don?t understand why some food is already here and ours isn?t. There are tears, while mummy and daddy try to explain food will be here within the minute.

Stage #6: Happy

Finally, food is here and we?re able to finish a meal in sort-of-peace. Of course, there is some throwing of food on the floor and trying to feed others the soggy fries that we have. But there is happiness because we have a full tummy. And dessert followed the chicken fingers, which means ice cream is all over us and in our ?treat tummy.?

Stage #7: Sleepy

The final stage is definitely one of the other Dwarves from Snow White. Not that we?re fed and our tummies (because there are three, don?t ya know) are full, it’s time for sleep. But we can?t get to sleep in the high chair we?re in and we refuse to colour while mummy or daddy pay the bill. So, that means crying again and fighting with the high chair restraints until we?re out and able to escape to the car. Once there, we crash.

Yes, these are the stages of my 2-year-old in a restaurant. Like Ireland, which is able to get all four seasons in a day, we get every single emotion in the space of a couple of hours. But we wouldn?t have it any other way as parents, right?

Breastfeeding

Extended Breastfeeding

If you continue breastfeeding past the first year of your baby’s life, it is considered extended breastfeeding. That’s not to say there is anything unusual or even that different about continuing after your baby’s first birthday! Many, many women continue to feed. It’s the norm in other countries to continue until your child is 4 or 5. It is up to you how long you breastfeed your child; only you know what’s best for yourself and your little one.

While some women continue to feed until their baby weans naturally, some women are daunted by the idea of continuing to feed. Some Mothers worry about the reaction of others. Others are concerned about introducing solids to a baby who is still breastfeeding. For others, those new teeth are a concern! Whatever your concerns, your doctor or other health professional will be able to give you good advice on the benefits to you and your child when you choose to extend the length of time you breastfeed for. Be led by your baby and yourself. Try not to let the opinions of others to influence something so important. Many people simply do not understand the benefits of extended breastfeeding. Being able to explain these will usually be enough to satisfy the curiosity of those around you.

The Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

The benefits of extended breastfeeding are the same as the benefits of breastfeeding in general in that your baby is receiving the best food, tailor made for him. Your milk is always there, at the right temperature, when it is needed. Your breast milk will continue to provide your child with better immunity and nutrition. As your baby grows, your milk supplies what your child needs.

There is research that shows extended breastfeeding also benefits the Mother. Your risk of certain cancers including ovarian and breast cancer, as well as your risk of heart disease, hypertension (raised blood pressure) and diabetes are all reduced. So as well as providing a boost to your baby’s long-term and short-term health, the health of the Mother is also improved in a very real way.

Teeth!

Many women feel daunted by the idea of breastfeeding a baby with teeth. Your baby may have some or all of his teeth before you are ready to stop breastfeeding, and it is natural to worry. If your latch is correct, your baby’s teeth will be tucked away. So while they are feeding, you wont be in contact with them. The only time you need to be concerned about them is when your baby is latching on and when they leave the breast. From the very beginning you need to teach your baby not to use their teeth on the breast. To do this, simply use your finger to break contact and remove your baby from the breast any time they bite. They will soon learn that biting = no milk, and this will stop.

Weaning While Extended Breastfeeding

You can introduce your baby to solids and still offer them breast milk. Combining the two is a great way to ensure your baby’s nutritional needs are being met. Your baby may decide they are no longer interested in breastfeeding when they have solids, or they may embrace this combination. It is important that you are led by your baby. If they no longer seem interested in breast milk then they are naturally weaning away from the breast. Otherwise, it is entirely up to you when you want to stop breastfeeding your child.

For further information, visit breastfeeding.ie