Appetite Loss and Eating Habits in Babies
What to do for babies with loss of appetite
Loss of appetite is something seen in almost every child and baby, from 8-9 months to school age and even beyond. In fact, eating habits in babies vary according to growth rate, family structure, and character. The ages of 1-2 years are the periods when loss of appetite is most common. Parents try various methods, especially to make their babies eat healthy vegetables. Loss of appetite in babies can actually be regulated with simple but determined methods.
- We should adjust meal times not to the times when our baby is tired and sleepy, but rather to times when they are happy and have played.
- We should not give our child sugar, chocolate, or similar foods that suppress appetite before meals.
- During meals, we should not insist excessively on the child, nor resort to methods such as punishment or reward. Threatening is absolutely not a method to be used. Contrary to popular belief, these will completely disrupt our child's eating habits.
- We must ensure our baby sits in a high chair during meals and eats at the same table with family members. Children must be aware that eating with the family is a social event.
- We feed meals in a quiet environment without stimuli such as TV, tablet, or computer.
- Generally, babies start to hold forks and spoons from 1.5 years of age. We can support them to eat on their own by giving them a fork and spoon in the high chair or by letting them hold the food directly with their hands.
- Let's pay attention to serving small portions to our baby. A plate filled to the brim will be appetite-killing.
- We should start with foods that are easy to chew and swallow, and make a variety of meals without forcing them, but also without sticking to a single type of food.
- If our baby does not like the meal, there must be another alternative.
- Our baby does not have to like the foods we like. We must give them the right to choose.
- The food being too hot or too cold. Don't forget that a large, mixed plate is appetite-killing.
- Our baby does not have to finish the whole plate until the last bite. We should trust them when they say they are full.
