According to Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, children should be given some autonomy over what they eat, including their snacks because children are born with an inbuilt regulator. A baby will never overeat; they stop feeding once they are no longer hungry; it is adult attitudes to food, forced onto children, that make people eat more than they need to. In the same way that a baby won't over eat, a child will not starve him or herself.
As a parent or guardian, it is your responsibility to make sure that healthy and nutritious foods are offered at meal and snack time, but it should be the child's decision when they have had enough otherwise battles could ensue and food becomes an issue and a potential battle field.
Food should never be given as a reward, or as a comfort if a child has hurt himself, for example. This will mean that food will subconsciously be equated to reward or comfort and can set up a dangerous predilection for comfort eating that can lead to obesity and poor health.
Parents often become stressed if their toddler refuses to eat, but there are reasons behind it. For a start, it is completely normal for toddlers to have a decrease in their appetite from time to time; as long as you are not filling them with junk to compensate, no harm will be done.
A poor appetite can be associated with going through a slower growth rate; being tired or excited at meal times; not feeling well; drinking too much juice or milk, or just exploring foods.
If you are concerned, you can try offering smaller amounts, with an opportunity for more if wanted; having meal times that fit in best with the toddler and the family, which may not necessarily be traditional meal times; limiting drinks before meal times, and having a quiet time before the toddler eats to eliminate over excitement.
As a parent or guardian, it is your responsibility to make sure that healthy and nutritious foods are offered at meal and snack time, but it should be the child's decision when they have had enough otherwise battles could ensue and food becomes an issue and a potential battle field.
Food should never be given as a reward, or as a comfort if a child has hurt himself, for example. This will mean that food will subconsciously be equated to reward or comfort and can set up a dangerous predilection for comfort eating that can lead to obesity and poor health.
Parents often become stressed if their toddler refuses to eat, but there are reasons behind it. For a start, it is completely normal for toddlers to have a decrease in their appetite from time to time; as long as you are not filling them with junk to compensate, no harm will be done.
A poor appetite can be associated with going through a slower growth rate; being tired or excited at meal times; not feeling well; drinking too much juice or milk, or just exploring foods.
If you are concerned, you can try offering smaller amounts, with an opportunity for more if wanted; having meal times that fit in best with the toddler and the family, which may not necessarily be traditional meal times; limiting drinks before meal times, and having a quiet time before the toddler eats to eliminate over excitement.