The child does not want to eat: how to be? Photo: Getty
The most common reasons for the child's refusal to eat
First of all, parents should understand thatFeeding should bring pleasure to the child, not torment. All food that the baby ate by force is poorly digested. If every lunch or breakfast is like a battle for the next spoonful eaten, then it is not long before food neurosis. You do not want the child to develop a persistent aversion to any food, do you? Therefore, before forcing him to eat, find out the reason for refusing food. What could it be:
- The child constantly spoils his appetite with candies, cookies and other sweets. Give all the tasty things only after the main course.
- Feeling unwell. If your baby is teething, has a sore throat or a fever, there's no time for lunch, and you need to think about treatment first.
- Eating neurosis.This problem appears because the child is constantly forced to eat something he does not want. Characteristic signs of neurosis: crying at the sight of food, the desire to run away and hide from parents who force him to eat, vomiting. With this problem, you should contact a doctor who can provide competent assistance.
- The child is not hungry. If he has not been out for a walk, has not spent energy on active games, or the previous feeding was very recent, perhaps he simply has not had time to get hungry.
If you have managed to figure out the reason for refusing to eat, finding a solution to the problem will not be difficult.
What if the child does not want to eat?
In all cases where the cause lies in some disease, it is better not to take independent actions and consult a pediatrician. In other cases, some simple rules will help:
- Always feed your baby at the same time, andbetween meals, do not give anything that will spoil the appetite. His body will get used to it, and you will notice that the baby sits down at the table more willingly at the appointed time.
- There should be no distractions during meals: cartoons, books and other entertainment have no place in the kitchen.
- To increase your baby's interest in food, showmiracles of serving. Use beautiful bright dishes. Cut out and create animals and fairy-tale characters from food. Decorate dishes in interesting ways. The child himself will not notice how all this beauty disappears in his stomach.
- Involve your children in choosing products in the store and in their preparation. What little one would refuse to try something that he or she cooked together with his or her mother?
Each child requires a different approach.Having studied your child's character and characteristics well, you will be able to come up with other ways to increase his appetite. And pay attention: if it seems to you that the baby eats little, but he develops well and gains weight, and at the same time is cheerful and active, then he has enough food. And perhaps the problem of poor appetite in your case does not exist at all. Read on:
