The Foundational Principles of Feeding Littles
Feeding Littles is a philosophy designed to empower parents to foster a positive, intuitive relationship with food. Founded by Megan McNamee, MPH, RDN, and Judy Delaware, OTR/L, the approach combines nutritional expertise with occupational therapy knowledge. They advocate for a responsive feeding style, where caregivers provide the 'what, when, and where' of eating, while the child decides 'how much and whether' they eat. This framework, known as the Division of Responsibility, is central to their methodology and reduces mealtime pressure.
What is Responsive Feeding?
Responsive feeding is a core tenet of the Feeding Littles philosophy. It involves paying close attention to a child's hunger and fullness cues and responding to them with sensitivity. Instead of forcing a child to eat a certain amount, this method respects the child's natural ability to regulate their own intake. This helps children develop a healthy sense of body awareness and protects against future disordered eating behaviors.
Embracing the Mess with Baby-Led Weaning
Feeding Littles advocates for Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) for infants. BLW is an approach to introducing solid foods, starting around 6 months, where babies self-feed with soft strips or sticks of family food, rather than being spoon-fed purees. The emphasis is on exploration and exposure to different textures and flavors, which helps with oral motor development and may reduce picky eating later. The Feeding Littles course provides in-depth guidance on safe food preparation, differentiating between gagging and choking, and navigating allergenic foods.
Common First Foods for Baby-Led Weaning
- Soft Fruits: Ripe banana strips, avocado slices, soft-cooked pear wedges.
- Cooked Vegetables: Roasted or steamed carrot sticks, broccoli florets, sweet potato spears.
- Protein: Shredded chicken, soft-cooked fish fillets, scrambled eggs.
- Grains: Strips of toast, oatmeal loaded onto a spoon.
Tackling Toddler and Kid Picky Eating
Feeding Littles recognizes that picky eating is a normal developmental phase. Their approach focuses on a low-stress, positive mealtime environment.
Strategies to manage picky eating include:
- Repeated Exposure: It can take 10 or more tries for a child to accept a new food. Parents are encouraged to keep offering a variety of foods without pressure.
- Involving Kids: Letting children help with meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking can increase their interest in new foods.
- Serving Family-Style: Presenting food in serving dishes at the table allows kids to serve themselves and feel more in control.
- Plate Presentation: Making food visually appealing, such as cutting sandwiches into fun shapes or arranging foods in a colorful way, can pique a child's curiosity.
The Infant Course vs. The Toddler & Kid Course
Feeding Littles offers online courses tailored to specific age groups.
| Feature | Infant Course (5-12 months) | Toddler & Kid Course (12 months+) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Introduction to solids via baby-led weaning or responsive spoon-feeding. | Managing picky eating, mindful mealtimes, and addressing nutritional concerns. |
| Key Topics Covered | Readiness cues, gagging vs. choking, allergen introduction, first foods, utensil use, milk feeds. | Picky eating strategies, meal/snack routines, intuitive eating, handling mealtime behaviors, dealing with sugar and snacks. |
| Methodology | Video-based lessons, handouts, and troubleshooting sections for parents navigating the start of solids. | Video lessons, handouts, and access to a private community for ongoing support and advice. |
| Underlying Principle | Building foundational skills for self-feeding and positive food exploration. | Shifting the family's approach to feeding to create a sustainable, positive relationship with food. |
Conclusion: A Flexible, Trust-Based Approach
Feeding Littles fosters a healthy relationship with food and reduces parental anxiety around mealtimes. It moves away from rigid rules and the pressure to achieve a 'clean plate' and towards a more flexible, joyful, and child-led experience. By respecting a child's autonomy and modeling healthy eating behaviors, parents are equipped to raise intuitive eaters who can enjoy a wide variety of foods. For further reading on the responsive feeding model, visit the Ellyn Satter Institute website.
