BENGALURU: With the rising rate of obesity in children, it is best to try and curb this possibility when the child is very young. By prolonging the introduction of solids or any foods beyond formula until six months, the parents have the best chance of keeping their child off the obese path. After the child is eating solids, it is best to keep away from sugar foods. Young children do not need these empty calories as a part of their daily nutritional intake.
Fads and reasons
Parents, especially mothers, will stop at nothing to make sure their children are well-fed, healthy, and happy. But at times, their love spills and leads to indulgence that actually harms the child.
■ Mistaking hunger cues Hunger is one of the first things blamed when a baby cries and sucking his
fingers. Babies cry for many reasons, most of which have nothing to do with hunger. Babies are in an oral stage of development and gain comfort from sucking. Most babies enjoy sucking when they’re hungry, tired, bored, uncomfortable, upset and for pleasure.
■ Parent’s opinion of a “healthy” baby: Many parents and cultures has a notion that chubbiness in infancy is a sign of good health. A parent might try to pressure their baby to drink more than he’s willing to “fatten him up”, or make him grow faster or bigger. Small babies and lean babies are at greater risk of being pressured to eat compared to others.
■ Loss in appetite/ moody eating /fussy in mornings: It may happen that your kid would not have had the regular portion for morning breakfast at times, but trying to immediately push food after few hours despite your kid not showing any signs of hunger is not all that a great idea. At times parents just have to let go.
Why it must be avoided
■ Tiny tummies get full faster - Small children have tiny tummies. Therefore, parents should feed them portions that suit their age and stomach capacity. Moms should start with a small serving and allow the child to ask for more food if he/she is still hungry. As you feed the child, pay attention to signs of fullness, such as when the kid begins toying with the food, ignores the food or refuses to be given more.
■ Difficulty in digestion and uneasiness/nausea - Large food portions or too many meals can disrupt your child’s delicate digestion and lead to problems like gastric pain, bloated tummy, nausea, and uneasiness. This will affect his normal routine and further lead to mood swings and crankiness.
■ Weight problems / childhood obesity - Overeating can lead to piling on the unhealthy kilos, way beyond a child’s ideal weight range. This could make him lazy and a potential couch potato. You may find it cute during the pre-school years, but sooner or later, it will cause worries. Some of the disastrous consequences of childhood obesity are childhood diabetes, potential hormonal imbalances, and an inability to shed weight easily in the later years.
■ Personality and self-esteem issues -Once your child has crossed the line of ‘being a baby’, a weight problem can lead to a lot of mental agony. Children, in all their innocence, can be brutally honest and most of the times, friends and classmates poke fun at their overweight peers. At a tender age, this may gravely impact a child’s sense of self-worth and lead to personality, self-esteem, and self-acceptance issues.
Tips To Avoid Overfeeding Your Child
■ Teach your kid to enjoy different varieties of food. Serve small portions and if the child loves the taste of something particular, tell him he must first finish what’s already on his plate.
■ After a meal, if your child says he is still hungry, ask him to wait for 15-20 minutes. While the kid is waiting, let him help you out in chores like clearing the table and doing the dishes. If the child says he is still hungry even after this time lapse, he probably is.
■ While feeding your child, don’t insist on piling up his plate as soon as he finishes. Let the child eat from his plate, finish his portion and ask
for more. You can also keep the serving bowls on the table, so the child knows he has access to more food if he is still feeling hungry. However, let him take the initiative to refill his plate.
■ Some food stimulates the taste buds and makes it difficult to stop eating. So it’s important to be exceedingly firm when you are serving those food items to your kids. Have a one-serving policy for these foods and don’t give in to the child’s insistence or temper tantrums for more helpings.
■ A good rule of thumb is to start meals with small servings and let your child ask for more if they are still hungry. It’s the parents’ responsibility to provide nutritious food, but they should allow children to eat as much they want to. Fix the problem and not the symptoms.