Mrs. Johnson tells the nurse that she is very worried because her 2-year old child does not finish his meals. What should the nurse advise the mother?
A. Make the child seat with the family in the dining room until he finishes his meal
B. Provide quiet environment for the child before meals
C. Do not give snacks to the child before meals
D. Put the child on a chair and feed him
Correct Answer: Answer C. Do not give snacks to the child before meals.
If the child is hungry he/she is more likely to finish his meals. Therefore, the mother should be advised not to give snacks to the child. Set times for meals and snacks and try to stick to them. A child who skips a meal finds it reassuring to know when to expect the next one. Avoid offering snacks or pacifying hungry kids with cups of milk or juice right before a meal — this can diminish their appetite and decrease their willingness to try a new food being offered.
Option A: The child is a “busy toddler.” He/she will not be able to keep still for a long time. For some kids, dinner becomes a negotiation session from the very start, and parents have been using dessert as an incentive for decades. But this doesn’t encourage healthy eating. Instead, it creates the impression that “treats” are more valuable than mealtime food.
Option B: Be alert to what toddlers say through their actions. A child who is building a tower of crackers or dropping carrots on the floor may be telling you he or she is full. Pushing food on a child who’s not hungry may dull the internal cues that help kids know when they’ve eaten enough. Kids can manage their hunger when they come to expect that food will be available during certain times of the day. If a child chooses not to eat anything at all, simply offer food again at the next meal or snack time.
Option D: Kids should start finger feeding around 9 months of age and try using utensils by 15-18 months. Some parents think that not letting kids feed themselves is for the best, but it takes away control that rightfully belongs to kids at this age. They need to decide whether to eat, what they will eat, and how much to eat — this is how they learn to recognize the internal cues that tell them when they’re hungry and when they’re full. Just as important, toddlers need to learn and practice the mechanics of feeding themselves.