Avoid These 10 Food Mistakes

Feeding your toddler is a constant challenge. Be wary of falling into bad habits.

- Claire Barnardo

1 FORCE FEEDING

WHY NOT? It’s tempting to want to insist that your toddler eats when she starts to refuse. But it’s a bad idea to force feed your little one. “Pressurising a child to eat often backfires, and you become a ‘casualty of war’. Your child may associate eating and mealtimes with anxiety and arguing, and this can lead to them refusing to eat,” says Lee-Anne McHarry, a paediatric dietitian based in Cape Town.

SOLUTION: Take a deep breath to begin with, and try to let go. Your child is probably showing signs of independence that has less to do with the actual food. You are in charge of making the food, but your child will decide on how much of it to eat.

2 USING THE SPOON TOO OFTEN

WHY NOT? The spoon can be a source of great control and comfort for parents. But using it too much halters development. “Let your child feed herself, even though this can seem painful to watch. By allowing her, you are helping her to build her self-feeding skills and develop independence. Hand-mouth coordination is developed as a child learns by feeling, tasting and experiencing different things. It is a good idea for children to use their fingers to play with food,” Lee-Anne says.

SOLUTION: It takes patience to give your child control. A good idea is for you to both have a spoon. Then sit back and marvel at her growth. It’s the perfect time to get out the camera!

3 TRYING DIFFERENT MEALS TO SUIT TASTE