A Survival Guide for Parents With Children Who Are Picky Eaters

Experts note that parents often recognize a change in their child's eating patterns as the infant becomes a toddler. Just as the child's growth slows down after he or she is about two years old, so the number of calories the child needs will also decrease.

It can be very disturbing to a parent to suddenly see their child not eating as before. Also, parents too often compare how their toddler is eating with other toddlers who may eat more. Of course, such a comparison is not meaningful as each child develops differently.

One of the key measurements for determining if a child is eating enough is whether his weight and height conform to normal growth charts. Parents who are concerned about their child's eating are often reassured by their pediatrician's advice based upon these growth charts.

Even though it is difficult, experts agree that as long as your young child is eating nutritious foods, there is nothing wrong with letting the child decide what he or she will eat. For instance, you might notice your child is only eating one or two foods over and over again, but later, will completely stop eating that food and go on to something else.

Parents quickly learn they may have to cook special foods for their child when he or she is being picky. For instance, if the only food a child will eat when you serve beef stew are potatoes and vegetables, and not eat the meat, you may want to just cook potatoes and vegetables for the child.

Some parents make a list of those foods their child is eating and try to rotate them at different meals. And if you are unsure whether these foods are nutritious, there are many books and computer software which can guide you.

Many parents have success by offering their child food which is tasty, looks good, and is appropriate for the child's age. A rule of thumb is to offer one tablespoon of each food for each year of the child's age. After rotating foods, if the child is still hungry, by all means give him more.

As all parents know, it is hard not become angry when your child refuses to eat. However, the reason for not becoming upset about your child's eating habits is because you do not want food to become a means for a child to get attention from his or her parent. This can become a recurring source of frustration for both parent and child if such a routine is allowed to develop.

Snacks, often an issue causing tension, might be easily handled based upon a number of factors. First, if the next meal is hours away, a bigger snack might not cause any problems, On the other hand, if the regular mealtime is approaching, take the time to explain to your child that the entire family will soon be eating.

If a child chooses not to eat at the normal mealtime, you might offer a larger snack including fruits and vegetables. If the child refuses this, there is a good chance he or she will be hungry and eat at the next meal.

Talk with your pediatrician to get his or her guidance about your child's eating habits. And remember, children go through eating phases which come on quickly and disappear just as quickly.