Tips for feeding hesitant babes
Let me begin with a working lady who has a kid of 4 years old. She has to do all house hold works, make her kid ready for school and she should reach office at 9 0'clock. So she has to perform like a multi-task machine every morning. Suppose she makes idli for breakfast and after completing her kitchen work, she comes to her kid with 2 idlis. She wants to make him eat before she gets ready to office. But suddenly he says, "I don't want idli. I want dosa" and he hesitates to eat. She tries to give him a glass of milk. But he begins to cry. What will she do? She will really feel upset and also, she will be in tension since her mind is not willing to keep her kid's stomach empty in the early morning. This is not the case of a single working lady, but most of the mothers do suffer this problem. In this article I am giving you some good tips that prompts your child to take food without hesitation.
Develop good food habits at his young age
Food habits is really an art and it should be started from the early ages itself. Normally, a baby starts to take food at the age of 5 or 6 months. So preparations should be begun in that time itself. If good habits are brought into him in the early age itself, as the kid grows that habit also develops along with him. If so, at the age of 4 or 5, he never hesitates to take food. It is really essential for a child to take good and healthy food because development of brain occurs before 5 years itself and if it is not given proper nourishment, it will affect the kid's health and intelligence. Most kids start to eat themselves at the age of 1.5 years or two. They always want to eat themselves because kids always love to imitate elders. If so, give him food in a plate, put a newspaper under it and allow him to eat. He may waste a lot of food in the beginning. Yet, allow him to eat. Mother should sit near the child and encourage him to take food by saying comments like a football commentary. By doing this, gradually he will develop a habit of eating himself. By this way, a mother can do her homework while the kid is engaged in eating.
Stories, action songs and lies can often help you
Most important thing is to take some time to give food to your child. By this way, not only you are feeding your child but also spending some time for him. You can tell him good stories and say that you will become big and strong only if we eat good food. Some kids hesitate to drink milk. For such kids, best strategy is to tell them that if you drink milk, you will become fair and get good colour. Same thing can be applied in the case of vegetables and fruits also. In most cases, this plan will work. You can tell him stories of animals using good actions and facial expressions. You can sing good rhymes also. Your kid will enjoy it and open his mouth without even thinking what food is going inside. You should be in a happy mood and laugh well and encourage him saying, 'You are good. You are strong like superman' etc. This will prompt him to eat more. Sometimes words like, 'I will give this food to Tom cat or the girl nearby' can also help your kid to finish his food easily.
Adding new food items and habits gradually
New food items should be introduced to diet, only step by step. At first, try to include cereals, vegetables etc. Gradually, you can include fish, meat, chillies, curd etc. But patience is needed each time when a new food is introduced. He may show dissatisfaction. Yet, keep trying till your child accepts it as a part of the diet. When the child starts chewing, it may be a little difficult to him. So, at first food should be given after grinding. Slowly, he will learn to chew and eat food. Gradually avoid the use of mixer for grinding food. Otherwise, it may also develop along with him as a habit. It may be a difficult process. But it is surely going to benefit you in the long term.
Making food and serving plates attractive
Young kids are always attracted by the colour and shape. They really love bright colours and unusual shapes. It is not difficult to make dosa or chappathi in the shape of alphabets or animals. You can even make shapes of mango and sun. You can also prepare small dosa or idli for kids instead of normal ones. Use jam or green chutney to make eyes, nose and mouth for dosas and chappathi and make them attractive. Also buy colourful plates and glasses of different and individual shapes for your kid. Your child will surely love to have food in them. Spoons of different shapes are also available in market.
Good and healthy food
Avoid fried items, packet items and restaurant foods as much as possible. Even if kids love them not make it a habit. Even if your child eats chips only, never bring up that habit in him. Try to include vegetables, fruits, milk etc in his diet.
Never discuss bad food habits of kids
Never discuss your kid's bad food habits among other people in front of him. Also, never say that it is difficult to give him food. It will only make your kid to hate food more.
Never promote bad habits like watching TV while eating
Some mothers complaint that their kids eat food only in the front of television. But who has brought that practice? It is not good to start a bad habit for our convenience and later putting all blame on the children. When a kid is eating in front of television, she is interested in television scenes only. He never even checks what is going inside the mouth. Also, regularly eating in front of the television can lead to obesity according to scientific reports.
Allow him to stay in kitchen while cooking
While mother is preparing food let him stay in the kitchen. By this way, he understands she is preparing food with great effort and it may prompt him to take food. Also, he will identify each ingredient used for the preparation and thus its odour and taste. Usage of certain things may make your kid feel interested in eating. Suppose you are making a ghee roast for him. You can show him the ghee and tell him the procedure for its preparation. You can also tell him, it is specially made for him and is very tasty. It may prompt him to eat dosa. Similarly, by preparing different dishes in front of him, applying certain variations to attract him can often help you to make him eat that dish easily.
Open air or some good scenery
If you give him food in open air watching birds, children playing etc, he will eat food more because his full attention will be in them and mother can fully utilize this time. That's why old persons at home often take children to open area or court yard to give him food. You can also give a toy in his hand.
In this article, I have briefly described some tips to make your child eat. Yet, it fully depends on the mother how carefully she implements them. Of course, spending more time with your kid the most essential part of all tips.
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