When children begin to try non-staple food, parents are most worried about their children’s picky eating, leading to malnutrition. But in many cases, it is the parents’ feeding style that causes the baby to be pickier. For example, offer too many snacks or force a child to eat when he isn’t hungry.
1. False Feeding Styles Often Made by Parents
- Passing Negative Messages
Many parents instinctively send many negative messages, such as telling their children, “Don’t eat candy, it will make your teeth decay.” Instead, they can say, “Apple is healthier, it can help you not get sick.”
- Eating too long
You may spend a lot of time convincing your baby to eat green vegetables, but it leads to eating too long. In fact, the food your baby eats in the first 15 to 20 minutes is enough for the next meal. If the baby is too picky, divide the food into multiple meals.
- Feeding when babies are not hungry
Picky babies hate eating when they are not hungry, so you should pay attention to whether the baby is hungry. If your baby has little exercise between meals or slow digestion, you shouldn’t force them to eat.
- Provide too many snacks
Too many snacks will only make it harder to feed. If the baby eats too many snacks, they won’t feel hunger, so they won’t want to eat dinner.
2. Good Ways to Make Babies Eat Smoothly
- Maintaining a Fixed Time
Provide meals, fruits and snacks at a fixed time and last for at least two weeks. So your baby slowly knows when to do what and adjusts to work with the schedule.
- Prepare a dining chair
It’s not a good way to let your baby eat everywhere, which distracts your baby. Prepare a dining chair for your baby to sit on. This will send a message that he should sit in a fixed position for his meal.
- Creating Interesting Activities
Instead of letting your baby watch TV while eating, try to weave food stories or sing songs to your baby. TV and cell phones can only distract your baby from focusing on food.
- Diversification of food
If you provide the same food, the baby will feel bored. Try changing food choices, such as apple puree in the morning and banana puree in the afternoon.
- Eat with your baby
If the baby is older, you can try to eat with him. This allows the baby to learn how to treat the food and finish it. In addition, it can also connect your feelings.
- Let the baby eat by himself
Many babies like to eat on their own, although this may cause you a lot of trouble, such as washing and cleaning, but allowing the baby to eat on his own can train his hand-to-mouth coordinated development and make him willing to eat.
- Baby’s exclusive tableware
Choose brightly colored bowls, spoons and cups, these elements can improve the baby’s eating motivation. You can also tell your baby that when he finishes eating, he will see the animals hidden under the food.