Does your child constantly

Feeding your child may be one the most difficult tasks as a parent. Children are known for their curiosity and more often, they want to explore their food rather than eat it. Eating solid food is a new experience for toddlers and they would definitely need some time in getting used to the various textures, colours and tastes

There are many reasons why your child becomes excessively fussy. One reason could be because he/she has a milk allergy. But isn’t milk supposed to be good? Yes, while milk may seem like the ideal nutritional staple for children because it contains nearly all the basic nutrients that a growing child needs[1], some children develop an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk, which is the basis for most commercial child formulas.

There are a few different types of eating issues that some children may face. Some of them are listed below:

• Eats only a few choices of food (e.g. white foods only such as rice, noodles and bread); refuses to eat foods that have a particular taste, texture, smell, temperature or appearance.
• Show signs of nervousness when asked to eat foods with characteristics that they dislike.
• Could be due to choking, gagging, vomiting during introduction to food at a younger age.

• Constantly runs around, is curious about many things and hardly sits still for proper meals.
• Much more likely to show very little appetite, feels full after only 2-3 bites.
• Are easily distracted from meals, preferring to play with their toys or siblings.

• Shows a strong resistance to any attempts made to get him/her to eat.
• Cries, pushes away food and refuses to open their mouth when offered food.
• May even cry at the mere sight of feeding/ eating items such as the bottle, spoon or bowl.
• Could be due to a past traumatic event including choking, gagging or vomiting, or also
• May also be due to a medical condition that involved the insertion of tubes through the mouth and throat.

It may be the most challenging time in your life – getting your child to even eat a bite – but this could actually be a good time to get him started on healthy eating habits. Try some of these golden rules to get him off on the right foot!

• Keep offering him new foods. If your child is afraid to try new foods, or may just be reluctant to eat what’s on his plate, don’t give up! Research has shown that it can take up to 15 tries before a toddler accepts a new food. Serving a wide range of food options to choose from increases the chances of your toddler eating different types of foods.
• Don’t take special orders. You may want to make meals that your child likes to eat, but this would make catering for the whole family difficult as well. Include something he may like in the meal, but also encourage him to try whatever you are having.

• Have meals together! This way you can eat “new foods” without actually offering your child any. When you eat, mention that the food is really tasty. Over time he will understand that he is not being forced to eat and may get curious in trying out the food as well.

Applying these rules and principles will help your child to gradually try and accept a variety of foods. Although he may still eat less or fewer food types compared with other children, it is still all part of the process of growing up. Remember never force or push him into eating something he does not want to; most children outgrow this phase and as adults, no longer have problems eating a larger variety of foods!

Adakah anak anda sentiasa cerewet memilih makanannya?

Satu daripada tugas ibu bapa yang paling sukar adalah memberi anak mereka makan. Kanak-kanak memang pada lazimnya penuh dengan sikap ingin tahu, lebih-lebih lagi gemar meneroka (atau bermain) dengan makanan daripada memakannya. Memakan makanan pepejal adalah pengalaman baru bagi kanak-kanak kecil dan mereka perlukan lebih banyak masa untuk membiasakan diri dengan pelbagai tekstur, warna dan rasa makanan baru.

Terdapat beberapa jenis masalah makan yang boleh dihadapi oleh kanak-kanak. Sebahagian daripadanya adalah seperti berikut:

• Hanya makan jenis makanan tertentu sahaja (contohnya makanan putih seperti nasi, mi dan roti); enggan makan makanan bertekstur, berbau, bersuhu atau mempunyai rupa bentuk tertentu.
• Kelihatan gelisah apabila disuruh makan makanan yang mempunyai ciri-ciri makanan yang mereka tidak suka.
• Mungkin pernah tercekik, tersedak atau muntah semasa mencuba makanan tersebut pada usia yang lebih muda.

• Sentiasa berlari ke sana ke mari, ingin tahu tentang banyak perkara dan jarang duduk diam semasa makan.
• Kurang berselera, rasa kenyang setelah makan hanya 2-3 suap.
• Sukar memberi perhatian semasa makan, lebih suka bermain dengan barang mainan atau dengan adikberadik daripada makan.

• Sangat degil apabila disuruh makan.
• Menangis, menolak makanan dan enggan membuka mulut apabila diberi makanan.
• Mungkin menangis apabila nampak barangan berkaitan dengan makan seperti botol, sudu atau mangkuk.
• Mungkin pernah melalui pengalaman trauma seperti tercekik, tersedak atau muntah.
• Mungkin juga akibat keadaan perubatan yang melibatkan kemasukan tiub ke dalam mulut dan tekak.

Anak anda boleh makan walaupun sesudu – mungkin merupakan sesuatu yang paling mencabar di dalam hidup anda – tetapi ia adalah masa terbaik untuk menggalakkan tabiat makan yang sihat. Kaedah-kaedah berikut mungkin boleh membantu anda:

• Sentiasa beri makanan baru. Usah berputus asa jika anak anda takut mencuba makanan baru, atau enggan makan apa yang terdapat di atas pinggannya. Penyelidikan telah menunjukkan bahawa ia boleh mengambil sehingga 15 percubaan sebelum seorang kanak-kanak itu akan menerima makanan baru. Menghidangkan pelbagai pilihan makanan akan meningkatkan peluangnya mencuba makan jenis makanan berbeza.
• Jangan terima permintaan khas. Jika boleh, anda sememangnya sentiasa ingin menyediakan makanan yang anak anda suka makan, tetapi ini akan turut menyukarkan anda menyediakan makanan untuk seisi keluarga. Hidangkan sesuatu yang dia suka makan, tetapi galakkan dia mencuba makanan yang dimakan ahli keluarga lain.

• Makan bersama! Ini membolehkan anda makan “makanan baru” tanpa perlu memberinya kepada anak anda. Semasa makan, beritahu anak anda bahawa makanan tersebut lazat. Lama kelamaan, dia faham bahawa dia tidak dipaksa untuk makan dan mungkin akan mula rasa ingin mencuba makanan tersebut.

Amalan dan prinsip makan ini akan membantu anak anda mencuba serta menerima pelbagai jenis makanan. Walaupun dia masih tidak makan makanan yang sama atau makan sebanyak kanak-kanak lain, ini sebenarnya sebahagian daripada proses membesar. Kebanyakan kanak-kanak akan melepasi fasa ini, jadi jangan paksa atau desaknya untuk makan sesuatu yang tidak disukainya.