How To Handle Picky Eaters
HANDLING PICKY EATERS
Children who are picky eaters reject foods often or eat the same foods everytime. These set of babies usually display an unwillingness to try new foods or foods that contain even a minute amount of any food they detest.
Picky eating is a normal rite of passage. It is not uncommon among toddlers to demonstrate at some point some level of pickiness. That your baby refuses a particular food you are dishing up rarely has anything to do with the food itself. Although the knowledge of what is behind the usual refusal, can help you push through a finicky phase much faster.
SIGNS YOUR BABY/CHILD IS A PICKY EATER
The major indicator that your bundle of joy is a picky eater may be your child's reactions to mealtime. Some of these reactions are: pushing away of the spoon while you try to feed him/her, turning away of his/her head from you just to avoided being fed, closing of his/her mouth, spitting out of food, being cranky, etc.
Your baby's food sensitivities must be put into consideration when preparing meals for him/her.
CHANGE THE TEMPO: Allow your baby to eat at his/her own pace, some babies want to eat fast, others slow. To achieve this you need to study your baby, if you have being feeding him/her on a slow tempo, try to increase the pace.
REDUCE DISTRACTIONS: In as much as you try to make meal time fun time for your baby, too much of distractions can affect the feeding habit of your baby. Turn off the TV, remove toys and books, your little one should be helped to focus on one thing, which is feeding.
ENSURE MEAL LENGTH IS REASONABLE: Although it is not advisable to rush mealtime, don't let it go as much longer than necessary (20 - 30 minutes).
TOUCH, TOUCH, TOUCH: As an adult, I am sure you cannot eat a food you have never seen before without first looking it over through a thorough appraisal. Same applies to your child/baby. Let your little one have a feel of what you want to feed him/her with before you present a new food.
NEVER FORCE FEED: In this part of the world, force feeding a baby is very common. Your baby has feelings too, because he/she is human. Never force any food down your baby's throat. Force feeding will make your baby associate feeding time with tension, fear and discomfort. You wouldn't like the outcome either.
FOLLOW YOUR BABY'S UNIQUENESS: Just as with other development stages like crawling, walking, potty-training etc, there is no perfect time or a one sized fit all situation with babies. This also is particular to eating amongst babies/children. Most babies begin eating solid foods between 4 & 6 months, but some may start a little earlier and others later.
YOUR BABY SHOULD PARTICIPATE: Involve your baby in her own meal time experience, let her participate. It is believed that babies from 9 months are interested in trying to feed themselves. Don't get irritated by the mess your picky eater will make with the waving around of the spoon during meal time. This is part of her growth and development, the stress is worth it at the end of the day.
KEEP TRYING GENTLY: To get the desired result, you must be consistent in your approach, don't stop to give the child that new food, just because he/she rejected/refused it at the first attempt. Patience is needed, continue to revisit a rejected food overtime, gently and creatively. Just be sure that the refusal is not as a result of allergic concerns.
DON'T LOOSE YOUR TEMPER: Yout have to realise the fact that you wanting your baby to eat is for her own well being, not to please yourself. That your baby rejects a food, does not mean he/she rejects you. Don't be too emotional about it, this can make your little one understand his/her power over you. Yours is to feed your baby, but it's your baby's responsibility to decide what and how much to eat.
Do not brood over that picky eater, be a happy mummy. One thing that is very crucial is the growth and development of your baby. As long as your baby is growing and gaining weight and height, and you are feeding him/her healthy foods, there is little or no need to worry about a baby who is picky.
TEESHAFO FOODS is an organic baby food manufacturing company, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with its head office located at 128, Nureni Yusuf Street, Kola-Alagbado, Lagos State.
Our organic foods have been tried and tested by our customers all around the globe.
To Order or make further enquiries on our products, call: 09023526527 or send a mail to fteeshafo@gmail.com.
Children who are picky eaters reject foods often or eat the same foods everytime. These set of babies usually display an unwillingness to try new foods or foods that contain even a minute amount of any food they detest.
Picky eating is a normal rite of passage. It is not uncommon among toddlers to demonstrate at some point some level of pickiness. That your baby refuses a particular food you are dishing up rarely has anything to do with the food itself. Although the knowledge of what is behind the usual refusal, can help you push through a finicky phase much faster.
SIGNS YOUR BABY/CHILD IS A PICKY EATER
The major indicator that your bundle of joy is a picky eater may be your child's reactions to mealtime. Some of these reactions are: pushing away of the spoon while you try to feed him/her, turning away of his/her head from you just to avoided being fed, closing of his/her mouth, spitting out of food, being cranky, etc.
Your baby's food sensitivities must be put into consideration when preparing meals for him/her.
CHANGE THE TEMPO: Allow your baby to eat at his/her own pace, some babies want to eat fast, others slow. To achieve this you need to study your baby, if you have being feeding him/her on a slow tempo, try to increase the pace.
REDUCE DISTRACTIONS: In as much as you try to make meal time fun time for your baby, too much of distractions can affect the feeding habit of your baby. Turn off the TV, remove toys and books, your little one should be helped to focus on one thing, which is feeding.
ENSURE MEAL LENGTH IS REASONABLE: Although it is not advisable to rush mealtime, don't let it go as much longer than necessary (20 - 30 minutes).
TOUCH, TOUCH, TOUCH: As an adult, I am sure you cannot eat a food you have never seen before without first looking it over through a thorough appraisal. Same applies to your child/baby. Let your little one have a feel of what you want to feed him/her with before you present a new food.
NEVER FORCE FEED: In this part of the world, force feeding a baby is very common. Your baby has feelings too, because he/she is human. Never force any food down your baby's throat. Force feeding will make your baby associate feeding time with tension, fear and discomfort. You wouldn't like the outcome either.
FOLLOW YOUR BABY'S UNIQUENESS: Just as with other development stages like crawling, walking, potty-training etc, there is no perfect time or a one sized fit all situation with babies. This also is particular to eating amongst babies/children. Most babies begin eating solid foods between 4 & 6 months, but some may start a little earlier and others later.
YOUR BABY SHOULD PARTICIPATE: Involve your baby in her own meal time experience, let her participate. It is believed that babies from 9 months are interested in trying to feed themselves. Don't get irritated by the mess your picky eater will make with the waving around of the spoon during meal time. This is part of her growth and development, the stress is worth it at the end of the day.
KEEP TRYING GENTLY: To get the desired result, you must be consistent in your approach, don't stop to give the child that new food, just because he/she rejected/refused it at the first attempt. Patience is needed, continue to revisit a rejected food overtime, gently and creatively. Just be sure that the refusal is not as a result of allergic concerns.
DON'T LOOSE YOUR TEMPER: Yout have to realise the fact that you wanting your baby to eat is for her own well being, not to please yourself. That your baby rejects a food, does not mean he/she rejects you. Don't be too emotional about it, this can make your little one understand his/her power over you. Yours is to feed your baby, but it's your baby's responsibility to decide what and how much to eat.
Do not brood over that picky eater, be a happy mummy. One thing that is very crucial is the growth and development of your baby. As long as your baby is growing and gaining weight and height, and you are feeding him/her healthy foods, there is little or no need to worry about a baby who is picky.
TEESHAFO FOODS is an organic baby food manufacturing company, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with its head office located at 128, Nureni Yusuf Street, Kola-Alagbado, Lagos State.
Our organic foods have been tried and tested by our customers all around the globe.
To Order or make further enquiries on our products, call: 09023526527 or send a mail to fteeshafo@gmail.com.
Comments
Post a Comment