Toilet Training

It ranks alongside that first mouthful of solid food or the first tentative step. The move out of nappies is something most parents eagerly await. But advice from the experts is that it's better not to rush the process.

Professor Frank Oberklaid, from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, and co-author of Your Child's Health says for toilet training to occur, there has to be willingness and readiness from both parent and child. And he says no matter how long the process, parents have to remain positive and full of praise while being patient when accidents do occur. He says that the less pressure toddlers feel about toilet training the better.

So just what are the signs and steps to take when moving your youngster from nappies to underwear?

The 'ready' signs may range from your child insisting on being changed as soon as his nappy is dirty, to taking more interest in the toilet habits of the family. Remember, there is no hurry and most children will be nor be ready to try until they are at least 18 months to two years of age.

To start, let your child sit on a potty or a toilet with a child seat when he is clothed to get used to how it feels. Later you can suggest he sits on it without a nappy.

Keep your expectations low and let him lead the way. The more a child is pressured the more likely he is to refuse.

Always be encouraging. Any time he does manage to use a potty or toilet he must be praised and told how well he is doing.

After one or two successful trips to the toilet do not assume your toddler is fully toilet trained. He may do well initially, then refuse to use it. The process is likely to take three to six months with many backward steps.

However, do remember that most children will be toilet trained throughout the day by the time they are aged by three to four years and through the night by the time they start school. If your child is older than this, or you feel he is not coping with toilet training seek advice from your local GP or paediatrician.

Tips:
Keep a sense of humour, not only when it comes to toilet training but parenting in general.

Toilet training is very individual for each child so let him set his own pace.

Praise and encouragement are the best strategy to get results.

Toilet training is your child's accomplishment not yours, so share in his pride but recognise it is his own achievement.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Stone Fruit Swirl

Serves : 1
Ready : 10 mins

Ingredients :
1 ripe mango
2 ripe apricots
1 ripe peach
2 tbsp yoghurt

Method:
Using a small serrated knife, peel the skinoff each piece of fruit, then cut around the stone.

Place the flesh of the fruits into a blender on high speed until combined. Pour the mix into a bowl and add the yoghurt.

Other seasonal fruits great with yoghurt: nectarine, lychee, passionfruit, tamarillo, guava, papaya, plums, and cherries.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Breakfast Puddings

Serves : 4
Prep : 5 mins

Ingredients :
2 cups thick Greek yoghurt
3 tbsp honey
finely grated zest of one orange
1/2 rockmelon, peeled, deseeded, cut into 1cm cubes
1 punnet strawberries, quartered
1 orange, juiced
1/4 cup almond, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted

Method:
In a small bowl combine the yoghurt, honey and orange zest.

In another bowl combine the melon, strawberries and orange juice.

Spoon half the fruit into four glasses. Sprinkle half the almonds and coconut over the fruit, top with half the yoghurt. Layer each glass with the fruit and yoghurt. Finish with coconut and almonds.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Poached Pears On Oven-Roasted Muesli

Serves : 4
Prep : 10 mins
Cook : 15-20 mins

Ingredients:
2 pears, peeled, halved and cored
1 stick cinnamon
12 x 4cm piece lemon peel
120g ricotta
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup oven roasted muesli
2 tbsp honey
1 punnet blueberries

Method:
Put the pears into a medium saucepan, add the cinnamon stick and lemon peel, cover with water simmer for 15-20 minutes until just soft.

In a small bowl mix together the ricotta, lemon zest and cinnamon.

Remove the pears from their cooking liquid, placing each half in a bowl. Top with the muesli, a dollop of ricotta and a drizzle of honey. Scatter over the blueberries and serve.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Brekkie Rolls

Serves : 4
Prep : 5 mins / Cook : 5 mins

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 bacon rashers, halved
4 large eggs
4 wholemeal English muffins
4 slices cheddar cheese
1 tomato, thinly sliced
1 handful baby spinach
Tomato sauce or mayonnaise, to serve

Method:
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the oil and the bacon, crack in the eggs. Reduce the heat to medium.

While the eggs are cooking split and toast the muffins.

Turn the bacon and place a slice of cheese over each egg (the heat of the egg will begin to melt the cheese). Cook the egg to your liking (slightly runny is delicious)

TO make the rolls, spread the muffin with a little tomato sauce or mayonnaise, put in slices of tomato, baby spinach, top with a slice of bacon and then the cheesy egg, finish with a muffin half.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Speedy Breakfast Smoothie

Serves : 2
Prep : 5 mins

Ingredients :
1 banana
1 cup fresh or frozen berries
125ml soy milk
1 cup thick Greek yoghurt
2 tbsp LSA (linseed, sunflower and almond meal mix)
2 tbsp honey

Method:
In a blender, combine banana, berries, soy milk, yoghurt, LSA and honey. Blend until smooth, about 20-30 seconds.

Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009

Fruity Filler

Serves : 1
Ready : 5 mins

Ingredients :
1 weetbix
1 tbsp cottage cheese
1 ripe pear peeled and mashed
2 strawberries, diced

Method:
In a bowl break up the weet-bix and pour over with a little boiled water to soften.

Add the cottage cheese, and pear and mix together.

Once cool enough for baby serve with strawberries on top.

Source : Coles Baby Club Magazine Spring 2009