How to Deal with Toddler Picky Eater

Feeding is important in toddler development stage. What are they consume and their eating pattern will affect their future health. That is why parents have to put high attention on toddler eating behavior. Unluckily, most of toddler have problem with their feeding. Some toddler becomes picky eater. Picky eater commonly makes parents depressed because they feel confuse about feeding. They often worried that their toddler do not get sufficient amount of nutrition because they only eat certain food. So what should we do as parent to overcome this problems? Firstly, we have to get deeper understanding about their development stage.

Children who enter the toddler age have slower growth rate. They are not getting significant weight growth as the earlier age does. Toddler also has some differences on the appetite. They may not neglect any kind of food that we give to them when they are under toddler age. Their growing teeth also affect their eating habit. Teeth that grow up make them feel a little bit lazy to eat. We have to understand these changes. There is also changes in portion but do not worry because toddler already know how much to eat. They will eat when they feel hungry and stop when feeling full. They may seem to like a certain food but avoid it at the next time. Toddler also seems to ask for more autonomy like want to picking their own food instead of feeding by parents. Do not worry about this because your toddler is trying to increase their ability in eating at this phase.

Instead of just being depressed, parents may try this following step to deal with picky eater toddler. It is clearly depending on us whether we want to make it easy or hard situation. Instead of get angry on their behavior, we may try this following ways:

1. Let them eat and stop when they like.

Do not push toddler to finish all their meal. It will make them refuse to eat and increase their temper.

2. Create a joy feeding environment

Feeding time should not be full of argue and anger. Just take them outside to enjoy the environment and play with nature. By playing, they will feel that feeding time is a pleasant activity.

3. Provide proper food.

Give a healthy food that matched with their taste. Encourage them to acknowledge the taste of fruits and veggies. Both of that kind of food contain important ingredient that needed for their developmental phase. Snack may given sometime but just remember to give a safe and healthy one like whole grain biscuit, oat bread, fruit juice, and etc.

4. Limiting the drink time and portion.

Sometime, our toddler become picky eater because a reason that we might not aware of. We may give them drink right after before giving them food. Automatically, it will make them feel full before eat any food. Just try to give the solid food before provide any drink.

5. Make a consultation with the doctor.

We need to see the doctor if the changes is already reach a crucial level. It may show from their decreasing of energy and growth level. In this time, we really need to ask professional opinion and suggestion to seek for the best solution. If they do not have significant changes on their growth then we should not need to be worry.

Written by: Enduah Surya Harini

Back to listings of articles about Relationships