My child will not eat

Children who stop eating do not make such a radical choice of sheer capriciousness. Their behaviors are adaptive and purposeful: children or trying to avoid something perceived as unpleasant, or get access to something that is important to them. The child sends a clear message to parents: "I do not like what is going on. If you want to eat, you must change something." When it comes to babies and small children, we must become sensitive to their nonverbal behavior to understand the message behind it. Our task, before you make any attempt to remedy the problem, is to carefully begin to notice the child is doing and think about the meaning of that behavior. We must ask ourselves: "What messages are we sending children?" 

If you refuse to take food or fluids, the child tells us something about anything, or all of the following:

First The child is not hungry or thirsty.

Second Something hurt him during the meal.

Third The child is experiencing emotional distress as a result of previous negative experiences of feeding.

4th He has learned how to behave in a certain way and time to get something they want - be it about a particular food or special attention.

5th A child only has to learn to feed and create a pleasant flavors reduce hunger.

6th The child is confused about what it means to eat the way parents want.

7th With one person, a child eats enough and without problems, but this is not the case when it comes to other people.

Once we recognize that these situations affect the child's eating, we have a better chance to find out what to do to help the youngster eagerly eaten.

First The physical experience of hunger or thirst. Regardless of age, children can vary greatly in need of food and drink. Their "method" of eating and drinking also vary considerably. Also, if a child is taken before meals or snacks drink plenty of liquids, will not be hungry.

Second Physical discomfort. Without delay, go to a pediatrician if you notice that your child is eating during the show any of the following: vomiting and the zagrcava, flood, passing food through the nostrils, felt discomfort in the stomach, bend your back like that

experiencing chest pain or persistent bellyache. Remember, a child who does not want to eat send us a message: his refusal of food could speak to him in pain.

Third The emotional discomfort. Nearly 95 percent of children who do not want to eat, show the emotional discomfort associated with feeding. Often the site of a spoon, approaching the high chair, or just enough to mention lunch for kids cause anger or fear. Older children, on notice that it was time to eat, I can now complain of nausea. "Emotional" behavior are often a reflection of previous, unsuccessful attempts and sometimes rough and require feeding, in young children, an additional step - "desensitization." However, the behavior of a large number of children who are apparently a reflection of fear or anger (eg, throwing on the floor, yelling, firmly close the mouth, pushing food) actually learned responses acquired in interactive experiences with their parents. These reactions, often termed the reactions of avoidance, children are always unconsciously learned intentioned parents who were not quite sure what to do when the child began to rebel against feeding. Problem avoidance reactions, and needs to be "overcome", is one of its main support.

4th Preference for certain foods and valued responses. Some children refuse to eat selectively - are completely satisfied with taking only one type of food, and refuse to eat almost everything else. For some reason, parents of these children were found early in the food that suits the child to eat and they keep on giving and food, often for several months. When a child has been talking about chocolate pudding enriched with vitamins. In another it was the pasta and sauce. A child would not have any problems parents and pediatricians that could survive on chips and soda. Parents report that attempts to broaden the child's menu always result in a battle royal and the suspension of further efforts. Eating only selected foods is not so much in dispute with another group of youngsters. Their efforts are directed toward another purpose: they are determined to do everything to their parents took in his arms, or to gain their full attention. It can be a signal that the child in the family pays too little attention. In fact, most of the family interactions occur during eating. In this case, kids will learn that when you eat quickly, quietly and well, gets little recognition, or love, but when a real fuss about eating, receiving much attention from parents. Then the problem of feeding the lower dynamics of family relationships.

5th Lack of experience of pleasant taste and / or taken to calm hunger. Most children who do not want to eat, even younger than one year, have successfully experienced the different tastes of food and a comfortable feeling that comes due to reducing hunger by eating.

Their refusal of food acquired is not connected with the ignorance of the natural consequences of eating.However, a small number of children dohranjivan the other, by artificial means. These children lived in many hospitals, or directly to the failure of weight gain and growth, or because of the great physical hardships they are prepriječile the way from birth. (Staying in hospital can dramatically disrupt the normal routine of feeding, causing varying degrees of rejection of food.) Because of the need for extensive feeding addition, children did not understand that eating the mouth can produce a pleasant taste and / or reduce hunger. In real sense, these children had little stake in the process of feeding. They were fed by someone else's schedule. No doubt they experienced hunger, but have not experienced any kind of active, personal process driven by reducing hunger.

6th Confusion. Sometimes the child is uncertain about what parents actually want. This happens when parents are inconsistent - in connection with cutlery, then in this regard should you feed the children or is expected to eat alone; Furthermore, in connection with the amount of food that a child should eat, how much should be offered, When a meal is considered complete, should the child to eat while in the arms or while sitting alone, and still plenty of other things that usually do not pose a problem child to eat comfortably and appropriately. A 12-month-old baby was randomly fed breast-feeding from the bottle and the cup. The baby has decided to bring order and consistency in his young life: it is completely stopped eating.

7th A child eats "for" (in the presence) of one parent (adults), but not for anyone else. Finally, some children showed a clear tendency that "who" will, or with whom to eat. Sometimes the chosen people only a mother, and in another case the father only. There are cases when a nanny easily feed the baby, and neither mother nor father have no success with it. A child who eats for one, perhaps with the exclusion of all others, tells us that the method of feeding the people, the child's perspective, the best. One of our tasks is to carefully analyze this method in order to help others to emulate.

From "My child will not eat," Joel Macht, published Achievement, 2005;

Do not force children to eat

Often encountered children who refuse certain foods from an early age. Convinced that they are necessary for normal development, parents are trying persuasions, threats, punishment, blackmail, pleading, to consent to just the food ... If you are to healthy children with high levels of energy, there is no need to worry. You need to respect their individuality in taste, but also the needs of the organism. Taste and is usually associated with nutritional needs. 

Children from an early age not to be penalized to a meal, but they get used to the timely and high quality nutrition through regular meals, but with great respect for their individuality in terms of taste.

While obesity in childhood is increasingly mentioned as a problem for many parents is the problem when the youngest refuse food. A child or eat a little and seldom or reject a particular type of food and your diet down to a few food types. Often encountered children who refuse certain foods from an early age. Convinced that they are necessary for normal development, parents are trying persuasions, threats, punishment, blackmail, pleading that they consent to that just for food ... If you are to healthy children with high levels of energy, there is no need to worry. You need to respect their individuality in taste, but also the needs of the organism. Taste and is usually associated with nutritional needs. Especially in the age when the child is not deformed their taste food and industrial embedded bad eating habits.

Children's sense is not used to the artificial flavors. When children have an innate need for food that bears a natural taste and smell. Adults changing the senses, offering children a modified cow's milk instead of breast, industrial jar of porridge, artificial juices, and when they learn to chew and cookies, snacks and other "garbage" that is called a food, the problems start.

The child knows what you did not agree

In addition, what happens to a child simply refuses to eat a certain type of food for feeling what it is good and what harm it (and if parents and doctors think that he uses) is going to reflect the intolerance as allergy. It also happens that the digestive system show that the youngest individual food does not fit through the messy and bad chairs, gas, etc..

Children often do not like meat. Refuse to eat even when they are first offered. Intolerance to milk and milk products is also common. Let us not force the child, but his offer other foods that contain calcium, and has them in abundance. It happens that the child is allergic to a type of fruit or vegetables. It is possible that the body is not necessary the quantity of certain minerals or vitamins, that the balance established in the body, not wanting to disturb him, sent a message through the senses of taste - I DO NOT LIKE, BECAUSE WE DO NOT NEED! It happens that, not finding enough of the elements required in the food he was offered, the child scratches the wall and eat lime, eat the ants and the like. Intuitively recognize the sources of it, at that point, deficient nutritional elements.

Respect children's appetites and inclinations

Therefore, children should not be, and often not even possible to force the issue even eat certain foods, even in terms of quantity. Also, do not expect that children's tastes and needs constant amount of food. No need to worry if your child eats at one time or less refuses to accept what was once a happy meal. The changes caused by various factors - the season, a period of intense growth, the level of physical activity, mental balance.

Disease in children and usually refuse to eat. Neither therefore does not need to worry, but respected as appetite infallible indicator of the required amount. Fasting during the disease organism is released toxins. It also saves energy that would be spent on digestion, and that it is necessary for the immune system. When healed, the child often has a heightened appetite to regain weight and then the turning point occurred in his choice of food. Then you have to be imaginative. It is proven that children who are allowed to eat only what she chose to develop properly. The proper selection of food grown-ups can be good strategists.

Unobtrusive school of taste

Invite your child to help in the kitchen - it is not practical, but it is useful to de Forest, and smells when saving meal the appetite. Ask him quietly if he wants to eat lunch and if you can not refuses to mention more food, sit near him and concentrate on enjoying the meal. Do not talk to friends and relatives about the problem, because it enlarges the time, especially when a child hears in the background, even when it seems that concentrated on my game. The foods you like put a small amount (not much change the taste) of foods that carry a high concentrate of nutrients. The food that a child may accept to be the basis for new dishes.

Problems with feeding children

Many parents with their children have the same problem, nutrition. Some children from the weaning and the transition to solid foods begin izvoljevati and reject regular meals.

Parents make up all possible ways to force a child to eat something, but all efforts are often reduced to just pizza, hamburger, and piles of candy.

- The child should be talking about food, the best while preparing or buying.

- Ask your child what he wants to eat, because you'll also involved in deciding what will be a given that I chose to eat and easier.

- It is important that you sit with your child while they eat. It would be nice to eat together, but if you can not then at least make him company. Children do not like to eat alone and always need your attention, and the table maximum.

- Children refuse to eat because it is one of the few things you can control. I refuse to dinner, let him let go of the table, but do not desert him. The child will look for food when hungry, but then he does not give snacks, but a real dinner.

He refuses to eat vegetables, milk does not tolerate or frequently suffer from constipation ... What to do?

By the third year, the child loves to discover new tastes. Take the time to get used to different tastes of fruits, vegetables, meat ... From three to six years - this will be virtually impossible! The best way to get used to a variety of child nutrition is to give him an example. If the parents every day eat fruits, vegetables and fish, the child will understand that it's good and what i will mainly only! However, if parents do not cooperate, this task will be much more difficult. Make sure your child that is varied and balanced diet is healthy, and not initiate any meal an argument and forcing the child to eat some food. If it still will not eat it all, you must resort to some trickery.

He does not like certain foods

I never drink milk, or it does not tolerate

Why is it necessary to milk? It brings the necessary calcium for bone growth and strength. Ideally, the child takes four daily dairy products. It rarely happens that a child does not like not all dairy products.

What do propose as a replacement? A child who does not like or does not tolerate milk, and still has a great selection.

Remember: the yogurt and cheese contain lactose, so that they can be consumed by children who can not tolerate cow's milk proteins.

Among dairy products, try to choose one particularly rich in calcium: 100 g plain yogurt contains 150 mg calcium, 120 mg chocolate cream, yogurt and fruit 96 mg. There are also cheeses, for example, Emmentaler, which is extremely rich in calcium (children simply adore when they narendate cheese over the dishes!)

Besides dairy products, and other foods contain calcium in sufficient quantities: broccoli, lettuce, parsley, grits, some mineral water, almonds and dried figs ... Another idea: insert milk everyday dishes (in the soup, puree, bechamel sauce), store-based confectionery dairy products (pancakes, cakes with yogurt). Be careful not to eat too much salt - gram of salt added to food causes loss of 25 to 50 mg of calcium through the urine.

"He hates the" meat

Why is meat necessary? It is rich in proteins necessary for the development and maintenance of muscles. Meat is also the over-represented in the diet. A sufficient amount of meat is 0.8 to 1 gram per day per kilogram of body weight. You can give your child only two or three times a week.

What do propose as a replacement? In the first place, eggs (60 g of meat = 1 egg), fish or cheese. But other foods contain protein: dried vegetables (250 g lentils or beans is worth a 100 g of meat) or dried fruit.

He does not like vegetables

Why is it necessary to vegetables? It provides vitamins, minerals and fiber. In addition stimulates digestion. A small number of children aged two to ten years, like vegetables. It is often necessary to wait for puberty to begin to really cost him.

What do propose as a replacement? It rarely happens that a child does not like just any vegetables: there's a lot, and can be eaten cooked or raw. Take your child to the market or in a garden where they can only choose either harvested vegetables. Why not planted parsley on the terrace? Let him help in the kitchen, especially when it comes to peel vegetables.

There are problems with health

Often suffer from constipation

The prison talk when the child has less than three stools a week. This problem occurs mostly in boys, and the causes can be various: an unbalanced diet, taking certain medications (eg codeine), poor hygiene in the bathrooms ...

What to do? Make sure your child get enough fiber. For breakfast he suggest wholemeal bread, cereals, muesli ...As a dessert and eat fruit that contains more fiber than squeezed fruit juice, dried fruit (prunes, figs, apricots ...), and fresh green vegetables. It also needs to drink more water. On the other hand has to reduce the intake of white rice, pasta, potatoes, white bread and fast-food meals. You may want to also have regular physical activity.

In diarrhea

Talking about diarrhea when the child has frequent and liquid stools. It can be caused by infection (gastroenteritis) or food poisoning can occur with ENT infections (eg, ear inflammation).

What to do? Although it is rare that a larger child becomes dehydrated, you can offer him juice from fruits and vegetables (carrot, apple ...). For a meal to give her white rice, pasta, potatoes, mashed ripe banana. Such a diet should be maintained while the chair does not become normal.

Recovering from illness

After a childhood disease or ENT infection, the child is required to restore power, but does not feel a great hunger. Offer him fresh squeezed fruit juices (orange, grapefruit, kiwi ...) and if you like, strawberry milkshakes, or raspberry. These pleasant drinks he will soon make up the necessary vitamins.

- Many parents believe that if children hide sweets to eat better, but it's wrong. What they subtract, it will most likely want. There is no reason to not allow them to eat sweet, but find a deal.

- Do not threaten your child will not get a cake if you do not eat lunch or dinner, because it will be considered as a main course something bad because he can not get something he likes and wants. Instead of these tactics, saying that they will become strong salty foods and large.

- Do not force children to eat everything you put them in a plate. They know their measure of food and therefore will, depending on daily activities or the mood to eat as much as they need, no more, no less!