I believe it's very important to allow a child to regulate when and how much to eat. Unfortunately, our society has the notion that we must clean our plates and babies must drink their bottles dry or finish all the puree we're rapidly spooning into their mouths. There's no wonder that we have such a high rate of obesity and eating disorders in the United States.

Breastfeeding on demand allows a baby to listen to his internal hunger cues. If he's hungry, he eats. If he's full, he stops. There are no ounce markings on a breast, so we can't say, "There are still another 3 ounces in there - keep going!" Why would I let my son decide how much milk to drink but not how much of an apple to eat?

Ever since he was around 8 months old, Ethan has loved nothing more than to gnaw on a big piece of apple, a fresh green bean, or a broccoli mini tree. I freeze carrots, celery and broccoli to soothe his gums when he's teething. I watch him carefully, and give him the chance to explore his food and learn how to eat it. Usually he scrapes off very small pieces with his teeth, but sometimes a larger piece comes off. He rolls it around in his mouth, squeezes out all the juices and then either spits it out or swallows it. He often holds a piece of food in his mouth for a very long time.

Yes, occasionally he gags a bit, but I'm right there watching him. He has never choked on anything. The gag reflex is there for a reason. When something slippery (like a peach) gets small enough that the whole thing can fit in his mouth, I cut it up into more manageable pieces, but usually by that time he's finished with it.

We're giving Ethan the opportunity to gain and practice the skills he needs in order to feed himself safely, and he enjoys every bit of it - except when there's avocado involved.