Contents:
- Medical Video: My Deadly Appetite Part 1 of 3
- Your child's appetite can change
- Should you worry if your child has no appetite?
- What should be done if the child has no appetite?
Medical Video: My Deadly Appetite Part 1 of 3
When a child has no appetite, you as a mother will certainly be worried. Is the child sick? Is the child having a problem with his friend? Is the child angry? Or, other concerns. Child's appetite decreases may be able to take place in a short time or it could be longer. But, is it true that children's appetite decreases at a certain age?
Your child's appetite can change
Child growth is not always fast. There are certain times when the child's growth rate will decrease. At preschool age, child growth is not as fast as before. So, the nutritional needs will also decrease slightly according to growth.
Not surprisingly, the appetite of children in preschool may also decrease. So, this is normal. Your child's appetite will usually adjust to his nutritional needs to support his growth.
Besides being due to growth factors, a child's appetite for decline can also be caused by the desire of older children to explore their surroundings. In preschool, children usually prefer to play and be involved in the surrounding environment, so that the child's meal time may become erratic and his appetite decreases.
Should you worry if your child has no appetite?
Try not to worry if the child has no appetite at a certain time, usually this only lasts a while. If the child does not eat his food or the child is more difficult to eat at this time, you should not force the child to eat. You only need to follow the child's wishes and find out when the child is hungry. If the child feels hungry, he will also look for food and consume his food. And, he will stop eating when he is full.
Even though the child does not have appetite at a certain time, it is natural, but you should still monitor the child's food intake. Do not let the child's nutritional needs are not met, so that the child's weight falls or the child lacks certain nutrients.
As long as your child's weight continues to grow and the child stays healthy, you don't need to worry about your child's appetite. You need to worry if your child's weight continues to decline, the child becomes more easily sick, the child becomes weak, lethargic, and gets tired quickly.
What should be done if the child has no appetite?
All you have to do is:
- Determine what food will be given to the child and when the child eats it.
- Let the child choose the food you offer and determine how much he eats. It can also teach children to manage their own food.
When a child's appetite decreases, keep offering children a meal. If the child is not able to eat food in one meal, maybe you should reduce the portion to be smaller and you add the frequency of eating the child. Children need to eat 4-6 times per day in small portions.
Do not forget to continue offering children food with a varied menu so that children's food choices are broader and children are better able to supplement their nutritional needs. Offer children new food one by one, and maybe you should offer it many times until the child is familiar with the taste and accepts it.
Remember, do not force children to spend their food. The child may eat the right amount if you don't force it. Children who are force-fed also tend to develop eating-related problems.
When children eat, you should create a comfortable and pleasant dining atmosphere. So, children view eating time as a pleasant thing and their appetite is maintained. Avoid things that can interfere with the child while eating, such as watching television or putting toys at the dinner table. This can only interfere with the child's focus on eating.
