Acknowledgements - gapitc

Self-help skills
Activities and Strategies
for Development
Heads Up!
Gently cradle your baby in the crook of your arm to prepare for feeding.
Call his name quietly to get his attention and turn his face gently toward you.
Hold up the bottle to his mouth or place the breast near his face.
As your baby feeds, gently rub his cheek to create warm, loving contact as part
of the feeding/nursing routine.
Over time, watch as your infant turns his head toward the bottle or breast when
he is ready for feeding and cuddle time.
Slippery When Peeled
At mealtime, secure your infant in a highchair with a clean tray.
Place a bib around the baby’s neck to catch all of the food that misses the mouth.
Take an unpeeled softened banana and place it on the highchair tray.
Invite her to touch the smooth peel. Say,“This is a banana. It is a good fruit.”
Hold it to her nose so that she can smell the mild scent.
Say,“The sweet fruit is inside the peel. Let’s pull back the banana peel and get
some of the fruit.”
Show your infant how you take each side of the peel and pull it back.
Pinch off a small piece of banana and place it on the tray.
Encourage your baby to pick up the small piece and place it in her mouth to
taste.
Ask your child,“Do you like the sweet taste of banana?”
If your child communicates that she likes the taste, pinch off several more small
pieces for her to enjoy with her fingers.
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