5 Toddler Feeding Mistakes Parents Make

Nutrition and food are one of the basic requirements of any being in the world. Be it plants or be it, humans, everyone needs food in some form or the other. Little children need more nutritious food because it helps them grow and so, in their concern to feed their child, parents often tend to make certain mistakes that eventually have a negative impact on the child’s eating habits. We have compiled a list of 5 such mistakes that you should try to avoid as much as you can.  

1. Junk food as reward for doing something

Ever given a candy or a chocolate to your little one as a reward for completing his/her chores or doing something extraordinary? Well, then we are talking about you. Rewarding your child with food items is only going to send them through the wrong path and they will stop wanting to eat healthy food. Because now it will be like every time they get junk food, they will feel a sense of achievement.

2. Making them finish everything you have put on their plate

Imagine that you have been given a full plate of food when you can eat only half of that food. And then someone sits right beside you and forces you to eat the entire plate. Well, that’s how your little one feels every time you force them to eat more. Everyone has a capacity of food they can eat at a time and if they are forced to eat more than that they will stop liking food time altogether.

3. Distraction feeding

Another way that moms often find to make their child eat is by distracting them and then feeding them. This results in the little one not enjoying the food and actually overeating at times. Food is supposed to be felt and enjoyed especially at a young age so that the child can develop his/her food pallet. Whenever you have to feed them, try different things so that they can get variety in the same food.

4. Don’t try to feed your child the same thing others feed their own child

Every child is different and thus their food preferences can also be different. Just because your best friend’s baby likes some food does not mean that your own child will like it too. Let your child make his/her own preferences and let them develop a taste for everything. Help them taste various dishes and keep experimenting with even your signature recipes to give your child a new taste every time.

5. Eating anything in snack time

Another mistake that parents often tend to make is that they end up allowing the child to eat anything they want to during snack time. And since everyone like junk food more than healthy food, the child ends up eating that. Instead, it is actually your duty to make your child have healthy snacks like fruits or vegetables.