Babies with poor appetites
Children, like adults, may have periods when they experience reduced appetite. Sometimes the reason is discomfort caused by sore throat, teething or the effect of medication. Other times, poor appetite in children can be due to overexcitement, fascination with new discoveries, fatigue or a normal slowing of growth.
Serious food-related problems are rare. So long as your child is growing normally, they are eating enough to satisfy their needs. It is more important to make family mealtime fun than to insist that your child eat a specific amount of food.
What to do
Take the time to observe what’s going on in your child’s life. The older they get, the more they want to do things by themselves. Learn to accept their pace, their clumsiness and a bit of wasted food without scolding them.
Give your child small servings of age-appropriate healthy foods. Let them choose how much they eat and in what order. Milk can be served at the end of the meal. If your child hasn’t eaten anything after a certain time, simply remove their plate without scolding them or making a big deal of it, then let them leave the table.
Offer snacks between meals, but keep serving sizes small so you don’t spoil your child’s appetite for the next meal. Serve fruit, vegetables, cheese and water. Avoid giving too much juice or milk between meals.
Normally, your baby shouldn’t need vitamin or mineral supplements. When in doubt, ask your doctor or a nutritionist whether your child’s nutritional requirements are being met.