Baby
UNDERSTANDING PICKY EATERS
By Aviva Schein, M.D. and Ravi Raheja, M.D.
If your baby is already choosy about feeding times or sometimes is
disinterested in feeding, you may already wonder about what feeding
troubles lie ahead. Relax. There are natural and good reasons why a
growing child may become a picky eater.
Toddlerhood tends to
be the most common age for picky eaters, although some children remain
particular about their food even as they get older. Toddlers are picky
for several reasons. First, their growth rate decreases significantly
after a period of very rapid weight gain in the first year. Their
metabolism slows, and they simply do not need as many calories. Second,
toddlers are very active and do not like to be interrupted from their
exploration and discovery of the world for something as mundane as
mealtime. Finally, toddlers are going through a period of testing their
independence -- food may be one area in which, if a battle emerges,
they insist on getting their way.
Parents should remember that
normal toddlers may have unusual eating habits. They may eat a lot one
day and very little for the next few days. They may go through a period
of only eating one type of food. They may refuse to eat an entire food
group (most commonly vegetables) for some time.
What can
parents do about this? If your child is growing well and is otherwise
healthy, recognize that the child's behavior is normal. It is not the
parents' job to force a child to eat. Parents should provide a
selection of healthy foods at meal and snack times. It is the child's
job to decide what s/he does or does not want to eat. Trying to coerce
or cajole a child into eating something s/he does not want is
counterproductive. It's better to ignore the behavior and wait until
the next meal or snack time to offer more healthy food.
Parents
can also use creative strategies to make food more appealing. If your
child likes milk shakes, yogurt and fruit may be blended into a healthy
shake. Vegetables may be disguised in a casserole or hidden in macaroni
and cheese. Many toddlers like to help prepare meals and enjoy eating
what they have made. Keep portions small, and try to have a variety of
healthy foods available.
Parents who are concerned about their
child's eating habits should discuss the problem with their
pediatrician. For most toddlers, this picky eating stage is a normal
part of development, and one day they will probably outgrow it. In the
meantime, parents should try to avoid struggles over food and keep
mealtime pleasant.
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About The Author
Aviva Schein, M.D., and Ravi Raheja, M.D., are General Pediatricians at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
