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(*this post is in association with Yellow Giraffe, a cute online store for kids' toys. If you haven't dropped by yet, do check them out at Yellow Giraffe)
Are you one of the many parents facing a mealtime struggle? Well, help is on the way. Here are 8 ways to tame and feed your picky eaters.
1. Do not force the need: It’s time to stop the feed if your little one turns his/her head away from the spoon. That’s a tell-tale sign that he/she’s full for the time being so what if the quantity might have been little. Toddlers will eat exactly according to need and force feeding will lead to the building up of tension and discomfort in the little one. This will only cause the child to be more of a fussy eater.
2. Variety is the key: Different babies have different preferences when it comes to food. The food habits are entirely subjective, i.e. differs from baby to baby. Trying out different textures is feasible as some might like wet foods and others might prefer finger foods. This applies in the case of solids and liquids as well. Do
not judge your baby meal by what the neighbor’s baby is having. You might have to give him/her half a dozen mini-meals if the need arises.
3. Keep varying the space: Maybe the little one is jittered as the feeding tempo might be all wrong. There are some babies who want to gulp it all down quickly and there are some who prefer to eat slowly. You might face a situation where your child is playing with the same online toys you bought for your child yesterday. This might delay the entire feeding cycle, don’t worry. There’s only one way to determine which way works best. You could slow down the next feed and then speed it up accordingly the next time you feed baby.
4. Limit distractions: The food should be the main focus when it’s feeding time and not anything else. The toys and other distractions should be kept aside and the television should be switched off. This will only aid your little one to focus on the most important thing- EATING!
5. Talk to baby: A little conversation always helps. Talk to the baby reassuringly during meal time keeping food as the focus always without going into extensive monologue.
6. Allow baby to feel his/her food: It’s perfectly alright for baby to touch and feel food that is being offered. Look at it this way. Wouldn’t you like to go over something which is being offered to you for consumption for the very first time? Your baby is no different!
7. Set the proper target for meal length: While it might seem okay to let a picky eater linger on and take as much time as he/she wants to finish a meal, it’s the wrong approach. Do not be in a hurry of course, but ensure that meal time does not stretch over half an hour.
8. Be cool: Keep your cool in all kinds of messy situations. Remember, majority of parents classify their kids to be picky eaters but just let him/her be and don’t be alarmed if it’s really not affecting essentials like health and weight in any way. Consult your pediatrician before you employ the above strategies for your picky
eaters.
About the Author:
Charu Swaroop contributes to Yellow Giraffe – a store for online shopping for toys in India. When time permits, Charu loves dreaming up and trying new dishes. She has been promising herself to get over her sweet tooth (since 2003), and to trek in Nepal (since 2009).
- Debolina Raja Gupta
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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ
Happy Parenting!!!!
Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta
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