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Fussy Eaters

Every parent knows it is difficult to get children to eat nutritious food, whether it is a toddler who wants nothing but instant noodles or a teenager who lives on junk food and soft drinks. Children need to eat frequently to sustain their high energy levels and keep their bodies growing.

Many young children go through periods of being fussy eaters and this is a normal part of growing up. Children often want to eat certain foods at a certain time and in a certain way. Many children, especially those from 1.5-5 years of age are sometimes picky eaters. They eat what appears to an adult as a small amount of food, and yet they are well, active and growing normally.

The term “Fussy eaters” is not used for children who are breast feeding, only toddlers and children. Some babies are very fussy while feeding, while others tend to doze off after a few minutes of feeding. The mother is not sure whether or not he has had his fill. But no sooner does she put him in the cot that he is up again and crying for feed.

Cause for fussy eating

Role of parents

Tips for coping with fussy eaters

Cause of fussy Eating

It may be that while feeding he is not in a comfortable position, or his nose is blocked due to secretions or being pushed against the breast. In a bottle-fed baby, the hole in the nipple may be so small that the child tires easily.

Fussy eating habits are more acquired. An anxious mother is more likely to have an anxious fussy eater. Making meal times a battleground can worsen the situation. Often there may be no obvious reason. The child’s nervous system may not have matured enough to realize when his stomach is full. Whatever the reason, it makes the mother tense, which, in turn makes feeding even more difficult. The mother gets frustrated having to feed every half an hour, and the child remains unsatisfied and irritable.

Role of Parents

In such a situation, it is important for the mother to remain calm and comforting to the child. Shift him from one breast to the other. If he still goes to sleep, put him back in the cot very gently. If he cries soon after, try to comfort him. May be you can give him a few spoons of water to pacify him. Sometimes nothing works and you have just be patient until the child quietens down.

If a child is a fussy eater and does not appear to be healthy or growing normally, parents should take the child to a physician for assessment. A child should never be forced to eat a specific food. However, if a child is hungry and is given a choice of foods, he is more likely eat something. It is the role of parents to ensure that the foods from which a child can choose are all nutritious and appealing.

Tips to cope with fussy eating

Here is a list of things you can do to make it easier to cope with fussy eaters:

Try to find meals that the rest of the family enjoys. Include one or two items that the fussy eater avoids, they may eat the items not knowing they are there.

Try to serve smaller portions of food to your child.

Invite a friend of the child who has a large appetite. This sometimes works well.

Invite an adult that the child likes for dinner like an uncle or friend. Sometimes a child will eat for someone else without any fuss.

Do not force the child to eat.

If your child is playing with his food, quietly remove the plate with no fuss.

Make meal times enjoyable and talk about what the child is doing.

Offer drinks after a meal so that they don't ruin the appetite.

Limit snacks and drinks between meals so the child feels hungrier when it comes to meal times.

Offer new foods when you know your child is hungry and more receptive to new tastes.

Do not substitute milk for meals.

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