mDo not force your child to eat. Of course, you must
offer her
food quite often. Let her eat by herself even if she makes a mess. Let her learn to handle the spoon. You may fill up her
spoon off and on or you may offer her some food with a separate spoon, but she should be encouraged to develop independence in her
eating habits. Do not get upset if she does not eat ''''nourishing'''' foods for a few days.
Children have their moods.
for some days, an infant may eat less of certain foods but if left to herself, she may start eating the same again after a gap of few days. Breastfeeding should be continued in tha second year or as long as you and your child want.
A child must sit while eating - first in you lap and later on her own. She should not be allowed to run around the house while eating. I do not believe that you should only feed a child when she asks for her food.
some children get so absorbed in playing that they will never ask for food, though they start becoming irritable because of hunger. Children should be offered food at regular times, but not forced if they eat less or do not eat at all at one particular sitting. Too much milkis not recommended. Avoid giving your child more than 500 ml a day. You can aim at giving 1/2 or 3/4 this amount as
milk and the rest in the form of milk preparations like curd, paneer, or milk pudding. Children who hate milk may be offered milk preparations instead. I do not suggest addition of flavouring agents to milk. Similarly, the so-called nourishing drinks advertised with the help of sportsmen or sportswomen are not recommended; they offer your children little nourishment. In fact, some children may prove to be allergic to these products and others may never drink plain milk again because they get hooked to a certain taste. If your child wants milk soon after getting up in the morning, give it to her, but this is not essential. She can be given milk with her breakfast. In such cases, many mothers give the child just plain water when she gets up. This habit, if continued, is helpful later in life. The person gets some fluid at the beginning of the
day so that even if she does not get enough fluids during the day at least some of her requirements have been fulfilled. Some children and adults also find this fluid intake helpful to move their bowels. Children need to eat 5 times a day- breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks during the day - and in the evening.
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