Moderator: Dr. Paula, we are almost out of time. Before we wrap up for today, do you have any final comments for us?

Dr. Paula: Food for thought: There are so many pitfalls and potential errors to be made in raising our children that sometimes we miss the mark in the key components of parenting and that is to pay attention to our child's needs above the needs of convenience and time-saving and to make the most joy of every interaction. You will never regret the time you spent on this. And last, never mistake calories for nutrition.

Moderator: Here are some other tips from Dr. Paula's Good Nutrition Guide for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers.

Dr. Paula's Ten Commandments of Nutrition

1. Thou shall not confuse love with food.
2. Thou shall not use food to control behavior.
3. Though shall not punish or reward your child with food.
4. Thou shall not turn the dining-room table into a battlefield.
5. Thou shall not overreact to a picky eater.
6. Thou shall understand that children don't need as much food as you think they do.
7. Thou shall not get hung up on three meals a day.
8. Thou shall not fear fat in your infant.
9. Thou shall not create a dessert monster.
10. Thou shall not mistake calories for nutrition.

The Four Types of Eaters

Generally, your child will arrive in this world fitting more or less into one of the following categories:

• The grazer: This is particularly common style for toddlers who "munch" as they toddle about.
• The ruminator: Ruminators are children who put food in their mouths, but hardly ever swallow. (It's an hour later, and the mashed potatoes are still in there.) This child may become a picky eater.
• The barracuda: This eater rolls through the table at dinnertime -- maybe eating off of every family member's plate. This child can consume large amounts of food and may be destined to be obese.
• The stuffer: As the name implies, the child eats quickly (as if a sibling is poised to come by and steal his food) and stuffs lots of different foods into his mouth. (Stuffers often complain of stomachaches.) This child may end up being an overeater.

Moderator: Thank you Dr. Paula, and thank you members for joining us today. For more information, please read Dr. Paula's Good Nutrition Guide for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Answers to Parent's Most Common Questions Plus Help for Coping with Fussy Eaters, as well as Dr. Paula's House Calls to Your Newborn.

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