Studies show that 50-60% of parents in United States reported that their child having feeding difficulties. In fact, only around 30% of the children have real feeding difficulties.

What is the main reason behind this?

It is important for parents to realize the possible factors which will affect the child’s appetite. For such parents, the way they feed the child is often charged with anxiety or coercion, and the child would respond by losing his appetite. The more you urge the child to eat, the more the child will refuse to eat. There will be crying, tantrums, howling and screaming.

The common factors that affect the child’s appetite: -

Oral-motor development – Effective eating depends a lot on the development of the oral motor skills such as biting, licking, sucking, and chewing. Weakness of the muscle of lip, jaw and tongue will have a great impact to the eating, this need to be critically aware of as the child depends a lot on these muscles to manipulate the food in their mouth.

Fear of new foods – This symptom is normal for kids between the ages of 2 and 3. In this developing stage, they tends to reject new food which also known as neophobia.

Environmental factors – Some of the examples of environmental factors is, parents with unpredictable mealtime schedules causes inconsistent eating habits, children’s frequent exposed to fast food such as French fries and other high-fat food will lead to the child refuse to eat or insisting on eating the type of food they love.

Social development – When children begin to assert their independence between the age of 2 to 4 years old, they tend to be interested in other things besides food alone. As a result, they will refuse to eat or eat selectively to particular 1 type of food to show their independence.

Most of parents will point the blame at feeding difficulties when their child refuses to eat. To the parents, do you know that the relationship between you and the child affects eating difficulties? The stronger the bonds between parents and the child, the more likely your child will show interest in eating.

When children is forced to try a new food that doesn’t give interest to them, don’t ever charge their mealtime with anxiety. Children often associate eating with feelings; you give them a bad feeling to certain food, the child will recall the same ‘nightmare’ whenever the same food is served next time.

You will find the mealtime easier if you present the food in interesting ways. By associate mealtime with fun instead of anxiety, you child will most likely to show interest in new foods. Try starting a conversation with your child, cutting different shape of sandwich and etc.

Create a comfortable environment that your child feels respected. Without afraid of punishment, the child will learn new eating skills, and accepting new food. Allow them to eat with the method they prefer – finger, fist or spoon. Let them know that getting the food is what matters, not the method.

Avoid playtime before mealtime, children will get interested in playing than the food that is served.

When introducing something new, please be a little patient. Give the child some time to get use of the food gradually. As a parent, what is your ultimate goal? Your ultimate goal would be your child able to enjoy the food without anxiety. Give yourself a lil bit more patient than normal, eventually you can achieve your ultimate goal in feeding the kids.

Last but not least, be in control but be flexible at the same time.

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