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How Can One Motivate A Child To Eat Well?
hello doctor,
i would like to ask you about toddler meal time! i have a one and a half year old baby girl who is extreemly fussy during meal time, she would push my hand away and spill food from the spoon, this is very frustrating to me, i usually sing and play with her during her meal to encourage her eating..it works but with alotta effort. sometimes i have my whole family dancing and being silly for her so she will eat! please help by givving advice on how to teach her to eat without the carnival we have to make for her and not be a fussy eater. thank you
i would like to ask you about toddler meal time! i have a one and a half year old baby girl who is extreemly fussy during meal time, she would push my hand away and spill food from the spoon, this is very frustrating to me, i usually sing and play with her during her meal to encourage her eating..it works but with alotta effort. sometimes i have my whole family dancing and being silly for her so she will eat! please help by givving advice on how to teach her to eat without the carnival we have to make for her and not be a fussy eater. thank you
Fri, 1 Aug 2014
Hi, thanks for asking.
I can understand your concerns and frustrations.
In my opinion you should stop singing playing or doing any thing silly to make her eat. Just offer her food at the regular meal times( which is five times a day in this age group) and try to feed her for fifteen minutes. Then remove the plate irrespective of how much she has eaten. Do not force her to eat or entertain her. Then again offer her food at the next meal time. Let her appetite guide her food intake Which varies from day to day in this age. Children should be able to relate the feeding experience with hunger satiety and not entertainment or fear.
Also try giving her finger food as children of this age like to self feed. Let her make mess. Children like to explore food before eating.
I hope I have helped you.
Thank you.
Dr. Meera Kotecha
Developmental and Behavioural paediatrician
I can understand your concerns and frustrations.
In my opinion you should stop singing playing or doing any thing silly to make her eat. Just offer her food at the regular meal times( which is five times a day in this age group) and try to feed her for fifteen minutes. Then remove the plate irrespective of how much she has eaten. Do not force her to eat or entertain her. Then again offer her food at the next meal time. Let her appetite guide her food intake Which varies from day to day in this age. Children should be able to relate the feeding experience with hunger satiety and not entertainment or fear.
Also try giving her finger food as children of this age like to self feed. Let her make mess. Children like to explore food before eating.
I hope I have helped you.
Thank you.
Dr. Meera Kotecha
Developmental and Behavioural paediatrician
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