Is Your Child Refusing to Eat? Its Normal

Fussy eating in children is completely normal. It's a phase that we've all gone through, causing much grief to our parents. As the circle of life continues, it's now your turn to deal with kids who are picky eaters.

To prevent fussy eating and developmental problems later in life, it makes sense to address the problem early. Just make sure that your child is actually a fussy eater and not refusing meals because of fullness or a lack of appetite.

Tips To Get A Fussy Eater To Eat

1. Make Meals A Family Affair

It's not just an effective way to get your child to eat healthy and pick up eating habits from the parents, but it also helps strengthen familial bonds. Having meals together as a family keeps spirits up and a jovial atmosphere at the dining table also makes eating a more fun experience, reducing the likelihood of food tantrums.

2. Create Interest In Food

It's funny how many of us actually love food, but had little interest in it when we were kids! Cultivating an early interest however, allows you to inculcate healthier food choices in your child. You can increase interest by including your child in the cooking process, with kid safe activities like passing ingredients and allowing him to observe the preparation. 

3. Make Meals Fun

In addition to family meals, get your child to eat with other kids as well. Watching other kids enjoy their meals and seeing how their behavior is appreciated will encourage her to eat as well. Instead of using unhealthy distractions like watching the television for fun, read meal time stories and create games like food quizzes to encourage healthy eating.

4. Avoid Unhealthy Distractions

The point is to get your child to develop healthy eating habits, not to distract him with other undesirable habits. Games, toys, and cartoons are great for entertainment, but combining these activities with eating will not generate any interest in food. Eating food simply becomes the means to an end. By focusing on food instead while eating, your child will grow up to eat mindfully.

5. Treat Your Child

While you need to be firm with your child, ensuring that she eats whatever is served, you can include your child in planning a food menu for the week. Incorporate some suggestions so that your child gets to eat some foods she likes and so that she feels included in the planning. This will really help generate more interest in wider range of food.

6. Self Service

Well, we don't literally mean that your child should serve himself, but let him feed himself. Children can be messy, but you need to be patient and allow your child to interact with and handle his own food. This will create further interest in food and it also gives your child a sense of independence. Very soon, you won't have to worry about fussy eating or even spoon feeding your child.

7. Follow A Routine

Regular mealtimes are good for all of us, but this behavior is hard to cultivate later in life. Make it a point to start serving lunch and dinner at a fixed time every day, so that your child gets habituated to the pattern. If you follow the practice consistently, your child's body clock settles into the routine and those hunger pangs will start to kick in at meal time. You won't need to coax or force your child to eat food any longer.

Lastly, I can't stress enough about the uniqueness of each child. Accept your child as he is and only try to change behaviors that are a genuine cause for concern by using positive parenting techniques.