EATING PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Eating is one of the most important problems experienced in many families. The discussion that starts before the meal flares up at the table, and the child usually wins this discussion. Mom and dad give up, take the food in front of the child, replace it with another favorite dish, and so on.
Isn’t it a familiar story?
So what should be done to change this?
First of all, we need to find the answer to why children don’t eat.
May be seeking attention from parents.
He may have eaten junk food before a meal.
He may not have spent enough energy to get hungry.
May be teething.
You may have cavities in your teeth.
He may not be eating because he has gas problem after meals or because he is constipated.
He may be forced too much by his parents to eat. This does not reduce the behavior of not eating, on the contrary, it reinforces it.
If he grows up in a meticulous family, he may not be eating because he is afraid of spilling the food.
There may be someone in the family who will set a negative example for the child. If one of the parents chooses food, the child takes it as a model.
He may be punishing his parents by not eating. In situations such as sibling jealousy and school failure, children may develop counter-behavior. Not eating is one of them.
Too much food may be on the child’s plate. Children should not be expected to eat as much as we do.
Suggestions for parents:
First of all, get to know your child well, determine whether the problem is caused by the child or by you.
Try to encourage eating by giving your child the task of setting and removing the table.
Allow him to assist you in the kitchen while preparing the meal. Depending on your age, you can assign tasks such as mixing food, cutting bread, and making salads.
If it is small, have it eat with a highchair, if it is large, sit on a chair like you.
Do not chase after you with a plate in your hand. Don’t be concerned when he doesn’t eat, you eat your own food. He will surely be willing to eat after a while.
Do not prepare other things for him to eat when he does not want to eat or does not like the food. Make a statement like, ‘This is our meal for today, if you don’t you will starve’.
A child who is hungry for one or more nights will eat when he realizes that he has no other choice.
As a parent, do not use negative statements about meals in front of the child.
Try to prepare the dinner plate colorful and fancy. Eating as if playing a game will give him pleasure.
Keep the child’s portions smaller than yours. Don’t expect him to eat as much as you do.
Do not warn him with phrases such as ‘Do not pour, be careful, eat properly’ while eating. This can make him cold from eating. If it is a child who spills, lay a table cloth under his chair and shake it off when he finishes his meal.
Appreciate correct behavior during a meal.
Instead of forcing him to eat a food he doesn’t like, add a favorite dish next to that dish. Thus, it will be more comfortable to eat.
Create a certain meal plan at home. Have all family members sit down to eat at the same time each day.
Do not allow him to eat other hearty foods before a meal.
Weight is not a health indicator. To be healthy, do not feed your child more than he needs.
