Is your baby picky about food?
If your child loves mashed carrots one day but pushes them away the
next, or if you find yourself begging your little one for food, you're not
alone. Between 20% and 50% of children are described by their parents as picky
eaters.
Why do children become picky eaters? What are the signs? And what can
you do about it?
Picky Eaters: Understanding the signs
The symptoms of a picky eater may seem pretty obvious: your child may
push away or turn away from the spoon. They may close their mouths when you try
to feed them, spit out food, and get irritated or tired while eating.
However, these signals do not necessarily mean that your child is acting
up. They can also be a sign that your little one is simply full, distracted, or
not feeling well.
A child may seem difficult for dozens of reasons. They may have an
immature digestive system that will heal over time. They may have teeth, an
infection, a food allergy, or they may simply not be ready for solid foods yet.
As long as growth and weight gain are normal and the child achieves
their goals, there is usually no reason to worry about a cranky child who
prefers a restricted diet. But if you're concerned about feeding problems with
babies, talk to your pediatrician before trying the following tips.
Tips to help tame the picky eater
- Never force feed. If your baby turns
away from the spoon, he is clearly telling you that he has had enough. Trust
that your child will eat what he needs. If you force your child to eat despite
these signs, your child may begin to associate eating with stress and
discomfort.
- Try different textures. Even babies have
food preferences. Some people like wet food, while others prefer food that is
eaten with their hands. Some may want to eat half a dozen mini meals, while
others may prefer liquids to solids for a while. Make sure you don't feed your
child "junk food" to force him to eat. Give them healthy options and
they'll develop their palate.
- Transform the tempo. Some children want
to eat quickly, others slowly. Maybe you are frustrating your baby with the
wrong feeding rhythm? There is only one way to find out: try to slow down the
next pitch or increase the pace.
- Minimize distractions. Put food at the
center of meals. Turn off the TV, put away toys and books, and help your little
one focus on one thing: food.
- Keep a reasonable duration of
meals. It's tempting to let the picky eater take their time eating. Although
the meal time should not be rushed, do not allow it to last more than 20-30
minutes.
- Make meal time with your family. Try to eat together
as a family so that the child adopts your habits. And try to stick to a
schedule so your child doesn't get frustrated that time at the park is suddenly
over for lunch.
- Let the child touch his food. You probably won't
eat food you've never seen before without looking at it first. Your baby is the
same, so let your little one taste the new food before offering it.
- Follow your child's schedule. Most babies begin
complementary foods between 4 and 6 months of age, but some may start
complementary foods a little earlier, others later. As with crawling, walking,
potty training, and just about any other milestone in babies, there is no
perfect timing.
- Let your child participate. At about 9 months
of age, many babies try to feed on their own. While your picky eater is likely
to make a mess with your food spoon, it's important for your child's growth and
development to let them take control.
- It is natural for babies to slow
down feeding. By the end of the first year of life, the growth of children slows
down. The same goes for their calorie needs. be patient; there are growth
spurts.
- Keep trying, slowly. Some kids may need
to try a food eight, 10, or even 15 times before they like it, so be patient
and keep returning to the rejected food over time if you don't have an allergy
problem.
- Do not hint that you are upset
or angry. React emotionally to a picky eater, and even a one-year-old child will
understand his power over you. Understand what you want your child to eat for
their own well-being, not to please you.
- Understand who is responsible for what. Feeding your baby is your job, but it's your baby's responsibility to decide what to eat and how much. Children always eat when they are hungry. As long as the child is growing and gaining weight, there is no need to worry that the child will be a picky eater.