Making Choices

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By Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.

"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."

Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists

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At this age, your toddler should be allowed to make as many decisions as she reasonably can — including what she wants to eat. Offer her nutritious foods, and let her take it from there. She doesn't need mushy foods any more. In fact, if you give her foods with some texture to chew and swallow, her oral skills will improve, and her tastes will broaden.

A toddler's appetite and growth tend to level off in the second year, so your child won't need as much as she used to. Let her choose her own food from what the whole family is eating, but skip any added salt.

Still wondering what your child should be eating? Get tips and suggestions.

Helpful Hint: Try to relax at mealtime. Avoid remarks like "Look at your big sister; she loves her vegetables." Putting pressure on your child is sure to turn her off and may even lead to eating problems. Your toddler will eat when she is hungry. Make meals a casual, social time to help your child learn good eating habits. Just don't expect her to linger with the rest of you — a few minutes of her company is the most you can expect.

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Making Choices

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