Feeding Baby: How Much Is Enough?

Feeding an infant might seem like a daunting task, especially if you're a first-time parent, but there's really no mystery to it. In fact, it can be a wonderful, fulfilling experience for both parent and baby when approached the right way.

Recent research shows that infants are born with an instinct, referred to as their appestat, which sends a "stop eating" signal to the part of the brain that controls appetite. Trusting this inborn sense about how much food will satisfy baby's appetite lays the foundation for good eating habits for the rest of his life.

To heed your baby's appestat, pay close attention to when he signals he's full. Here are clues to look for:

1. A newborn spits out nipple or falls asleep

2. At six to twelve months look for these following signals:

Your baby turns his/her head away to regulate pace or end feeding
Your baby refuses to open his/her mouth
Your baby spits out his/her food or stores food in his/her mouth

3. At one to two years old:

Your baby shakes his/her head no
Your baby puts his/her hand over his/her mouth and pushes away the hand that offers food
Your baby uses simple words like "No," "Don't," or "Away"
Finally, your baby pushes away or throws plate, cup, or spoon

4. At two to three years old:

Your baby combines words, "All done" or "Get down"
Your baby pushes away plate
Your baby tries to remove his/her bib

Infants and toddlers who are allowed to follow their hunger and satiety cues, eating only as much as their bodies need for good health, will develop habits of moderation that should last a lifetime; however, as important as it is to let the child judge how much food he wants, it can be one of the most difficult things for a parent to do.

If a child's natural appestat breaks down because he is frequently encouraged to eat when he is full, feeding problems can develop and determining when and how much to eat may become a battle between parent and child. Remember that many parents tend to give infants and toddlers larger portions than necessary-and then expect them to finish all the food on their plates. Always start with small portions, then let your little one show you - in his very own way - if he wants more.

How to make a yummy apple-pear puree for baby at six months old:

Seckel pears are delicious, miniature-sized pears that are in season between August and January. Given their size, they're ideal for making baby food purees, and because they are naturally sweet, babies love them! Pears are also a rich source of nutrients.

Ingredients needed for apple pear puree:

1. 1 ripe Seckel pear or 1?2 pear of another variety
2. 1?4 cup (60 g) unsweetened applesauce
3. 1?4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened apple juice

Stove top method for apple pear puree:

First, peel, core, and chop the pear. Put the pear into a small saucepan with the applesauce and cook covered on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until mixture is soft. Allow mixture to cool slightly, then add to blender with juice and whip into a smooth puree.

This recipe, covered tightly, will last for 2 days in the refrigerator.

Each serving of apple pear puree contains: 28.4 calories; 0.0 g total fat; 0.0 grams saturated fat; 0.0 mg cholesterol; 1.0 mg sodium; 7.4 g carbohydrates; 0.9 g dietary fiber; 0.1 g protein; 6.1 mg calcium; 0.1 mg iron; 9.5 IU vitamin A; and 3.7 mg vitamin C.

Tina Ruggiero, M.S., R.D., L.D., slices, dices, mixes and chops her way to tasty recipes, mouthwatering editorial copy and TV segments that leave viewers begging for seconds. She's the nutritionist and mixologist that corporations, communications agencies and the media crave.

For the past 17 years, Tina has traveled the world to offer her services as a nutrition expert, spokesperson, recipe developer, corporate consultant and media relations specialist. She has been quoted in national media, appeared on syndicated television and radio programs and worked with some of the biggest names in the food and beverage industry.