Feeding any child is a big task right? Knowing what they want to eat and getting them to eat it too, filling their tummy with healthy food is every parent’s concern. There are a few facts why some are babies more fussy eaters. The following paragraphs explain the same.

Children’s appetites are affected by their growth cycles. Even babies have changing appetites. Also, we need to understand that children have different taste preferences from grown-ups. Moreover, an interesting fact is that Life is too exciting for children sometimes, and they’re too busy exploring the world around them to spend time eating. Some children who are fussy eaters are very strong-willed when it comes to making decisions about the food they will eat.

Some children create fuss while eating, throw tantrums, are unwilling to eat and are very choosy. As it is a very hard thing for the parents and school teachers who have to feed them in school, we must know that is a temporary thing, the child will not stay a fussy eater throughout their lives and has many reasons at play as listed above for why they create fuss while eating. Some people generally have a low appetite and in such cases, they must be treated by a GP so that they can develop better and have the energy to do everyday tasks. 

It is also a very well-known and nowadays accepted fact that because of unhealthy patterns considering mental and emotional health, is also a big reason for children and even adults not eating their food or consuming more unhealthy food than healthy. This problem would require the teachers and parents to first identify, acknowledge and intervene in case there are any problems going on with the child’s mental, and emotional health and consider the reasons behind it. 

Now, let us look at a few ways to you help you get your fussy child to eat:

1.    Give them choices and involve INDEPENDENCE at play-

We can help out ourselves and our children to create fuss while eating by providing them control over how much to eat if not what. They can also independently prepare their plates. Considering if children are very young but communicate well then the choice can involve the idea of letting them decide at least when they want to eat. When they are saying ‘I don’t wish to eat now’, ‘not hungry’, it can be possible to say that ‘if not now, afterwards you will eat’. 

2.    Make a Ritual during mealtime-

A healthy ritual of washing hands, putting meals on a plate, washing utensils afterwards and a sit up together to spend time doing what the child wants to do after eating is a ritual we can practice and cleverly make the child eat.

3.    Involve them in the preparation of the meal-

It’s a creative way to get children to eat whether they are toddlers or grownups, when the child involves himself under the guidance of parents in preparing the meal, putting ingredients, placing utensils, and helping them taste the food before eating is a great way to engage in the preparation and letting them eat what they made like literally they made with their parents.

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4.    Colours immersed in food-

Like symbolically creating a Rainbow plate- Colourful and vibrant plates attract not just kids but also adults. Colours are eye catchy and preparing a colourful plate for the kids who are fussy eaters can help and ease out the difficult process of making them have their meal.

5.    Make them eat with other children-

It is widely seen and researched that when fussy eaters sit with other children, not with the intention to eat but just spend time together, surprisingly they do pick up the food items and consume them. Their own social circle helps them ease fussiness. 

6.    Eating environment to be happy and social-

A favourable time, with no punishments, loud noise and a soothing environment when created for eating where parents/ other siblings eat together. Also, we should see that  Play and eating time is not together because naturally children are more inclined towards play and don’t mind skipping meal during play especially if they are fussy eaters.

Nowadays the Rhymes on media like coco melon, chu- chu TV also show babies refusing to eat and how the favourite toys of the child are seen eating and enjoyed making the child have it too because of the attitude change happened. When their favourite toys consume it (role play), they get the idea that they will have it too and enjoy it together.

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