Baby and Toddler Picky Eater Advice and Articles-Getting Your kid To Eat

Picky Eater? Piece of Cake!
Parents of picky eaters unite! Some simple guidelines may make your food battles a distant
memory.

Never cook a separate meal. Your child will not starve. If you cave on this, you’re
doomed to short-order cookdom forever. He’ll eat if he’s hungry.

Don’t require a clean plate. Avoid a lifetime of food issues! We’d all do well not to leave
a clean plate, so don’t require it of your kids.

Encourage trying just a bite, or bites equal to their age. Might make them dread
birthdays, but also boosts counting skills.

Dip, sauce, and ketchup. It’s the Nutella principle – you’d even eat a shoe if it were
dipped in Nutella.

No yelling at the table – ever. It’s bad for everyone’s digestion and gives your kids a
button to push. Mealtime should be guarded jealously and used to build strong families.

By Sue LaPointe

When Babies Try New Food

All parents get worried when their child doesn't want to try a new food. They
wonder what is right and what is wrong. My eight month old son started
eating broccoli today, and he wasn't the happiest baby on the block. It was fun
getting that green gunk out of my hair. I started thinking about how I got my first
son to eat so well. He is an excellent eater and is not picky whatsoever. He
will eat anything you put in front of him unless it has hot sauce on it (go figure).
Then I think about some of the other children I know that won't even look at
anything besides chicken nuggets. I am not a psychologist, simply a mother
with two children. I also have experience with the children that used to come to
my daycare. Here are some of the dos and donts for parents that really want
healthy eaters.

Try the old trick that we all know. The airplane-zooming-into-the-mouth
trick. You can be as silly and dramatic as you would like. You should
get at least a couple of spoonfuls in.
Give some bait. Try giving a spoonful of something they love. Make
them want more and then stick that yucky stuff in their mouth. They won't
know what hit'em! Or try putting that irresistible taste on top of the food.
Let your baby play with it. Put a spoonful on the highchair. It is a baby's
nature to somehow get some of it in their mouth.
If your baby doesn't want it, wait a little while. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO
STARVE YOUR BABY. All parents feel that they will starve them if they
don't feed them. When your baby is hungry, he/she will eat. That is a
proven fact, even with adults.

Just remember this- you as a parent are in charge of teaching your child
healthy eating habits, and no matter how upsetting it is, it is best for them in the
long run. Don't give into them and don't give up. Teach them to eat vegetables
and fruits. Malnutrition leads to a variety of complications. Remember that, and
it will come natural to you.