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Is Your Little One Having Trouble Eating? Here are Tips to Manage Children's Appetite
Children who have no appetite can cause anxiety and worry for mothers. In this situation, the child only eats what they want. Sometimes, children with no appetite refuse the food given to them.
If the child's condition continues to have no appetite, it is necessary to watch out for it. Because, the lack of nutrition your child gets can cause inhibition of growth and development. Therefore, mothers need to know how to increase their child's appetite so that they can eat well.
To find solutions to eating disorders experienced by children, parents need to understand the causes of eating disorders in children. Some of them may occur due to not matching the child's appetite, chewing ability, medical problems etc.
How to overcome your child's eating difficulties
Once we understand the causes of eating disorders in children, it is important for parents to take care of their children's diet to ensure their growth and development. Here are some ways to manage children with eating disorders:
1.Avoid things that can be distracting when eating
Things that distract your child while he eats include giving him gadgets or letting him watch TV. By giving them these things, your child will lose their appetite. Let your child focus on eating.
2.Avoid forcing the child
Parents who force their children to eat because of anxiety can actually be very disruptive at mealtimes. This will make children less sensitive to hunger. So, if young children do not want to eat, mothers can gently advise and encourage them, instead of forcing them to finish their food.
3.Diversify the food menu and make it look more attractive
Children can get bored, especially if the menu is just that. It's best to prepare a variety of healthy meals for your child, for example by bringing interesting school lunches. The more variety you eat, the better the nutri in children. Don't forget to beautify the appearance of the food, for example decorating food etc. This method can increase your child's appetite so they don't have trouble eating.
4.Set a regular meal time every day
The disciplined habit of eating three meals a day, with two snacks, is a healthy eating pattern for children. Children also get used to eating on time. Creating a routine meal schedule will also have a good impact on his diet when he grows up.
5.Consult a doctor
If your child's appetite does not improve, even refusing to eat all the food you give, you should visit a doctor. The reason is that there are diseases that reduce children's interest in eating. This way the doctor will provide the best solution to the problem your child is facing. The doctor will help find the cause and treat it according to the child's condition.
Referensi
WebMD (2023). Healthy Eating Habits for Your Child.