It's been proven, I'M officially melting. I think I just felt my baby legs melt away. What is happening to this country of ours, its so hot! I lay there in my caged abode for one, called a playpen. Usually by this time, I would have thought of a million devious ways to get myself out of the incarcerated predicament. But I've lost my will. It looks like I've just sweated it all away. Why has mother dearest decided to put clothes on me, there; is no room for decency when you feel like your eyelashes have disintegrated and are sliding down your face. 

Give me a moment whilst I disrobe dear readers, AHHHH...baby fat all wobbling for the geckos to see, I feel a tiny bit refreshed, wait did I just catch a cool breeze rather than the fan pushing the warm air in circles. There's that tinkle of a cool breeze again, blistering barnacles, it's that Big Sister of mine. The cruel, evil sister from the same mother, is waving something in my face, it's red and cool and her face is covered in slobbering, sweet goodness. It's a popsicle and she's having one without ME! Mummy dearest, walks in and I scream my anger at the unfairness of the world. My mother then turns around and goes, “oh baby, I don't think popsicles are good for little ones, maybe I'll put a few carrots sticks in the fridge and you can chew on those,”. Did she just say she was going to give me carrots sticks instead of popsicles, has the heat altered my hearing, or wait the heat has affected my poor mother's state of mind. Nope she's not right in the head, I need to get help. I need to call emergency services of some kind. The woman is going to feed me frozen carrots to beat the heat! HELP. 

Just then Dad saunters in with a tub of ice cream…ouuuu all of sudden Dad looks so attractive, never realized how tall and stately he looked, hey dad have you been working out, are those some new abs..or maybe love handles, in the glow of the ice cream under your arm they look like wicked abs, back to the ice cream tub you’re holding it looks so enticing. ‘Aww give the kid a break, let him have some ice-cream’ Dad goes, a wise man has just spoken…Mum looks on exasperatedly as I open my mouth as wide as I can for a big dollop of cookies and cream.. whooppeee we all scream for ice-cream! 

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Why are babies picky eaters? 

Eating solid food is still a new experience for your toddler. He may need time to get used to the various textures, colors, and tastes of new food. While young children crave consistency and familiarity with many things, from playtime routines to sleep habits, they're notoriously unpredictable when it comes to food – even familiar food. It's common for toddlers to vary their eating habits from day to day, and it's also common not to try new foods until you've served them numerous times. 

What are some tips for introducing new foods? 

- Structure your child's eating so that she has three regular meals a day and two healthy snacks in between meals. 

- Serve a variety of good foods for your toddler to eat at each meal. When you offer a new food, simply place it on your child's highchair tray without making a big deal about it. 

- Introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts, instead of an entire meal of unfamiliar foods. 

- Try to schedule a new food when you know your child is hungry. 

- Resist the urge to offer sugary foods in an effort to get your toddler to eat more. 

By Mayuri Jayasinghe