What to do if your child eats very slowly

We know that children eat relatively slowly. Even children in elementary school do not eat fast. This makes parents very anxious. What should they do if their children eat very slowly? It is normal for children to eat slowly. Their gastrointestinal tract is not fully developed at this age, and sometimes it is difficult for them to digest food, so they need to chew slowly. In addition, eating slowly is also related to children's teeth, so they cannot hold too much food in their mouths at this time.

Reasons why children eat slowly

1. Gastrointestinal problems

If a child feels very full and his stomach is bloated, he will feel a little uncomfortable after eating, so he will slow down at the end of eating.

2. Action Problems

The child's eyes and hands are not coordinated. He can use chopsticks and spoons, but he cannot hold them steadily, and it takes a lot of time and effort. , so eating will be slow.

3. Dental problems

When the upper and lower jaws do not fit tightly together and the mouth cannot hold too much food, chewing must be done in batches. Chewing leeks or braised beef takes more time.

4. You can’t finish the food in your bowl

Some parents think that the more children eat, the better, so they always give their children a big bowl of food. When children see such a large pile of food, they feel stressed and lose their appetite.

5. Not Hungry

If you force your child to eat when he is not hungry, he will eat very slowly. If a child has eaten too much at the last meal or has eaten something before the meal, he or she will not be able to eat as enthusiastically if he or she forces himself to eat a little.

Children's meal time is generally about 30 minutes. If the baby still wants to eat after 30 minutes, of course you should continue to feed him. But if you are already distracted or playing around, it's time to end your meal.

Solutions for children who eat slowly

1. Set meal times

Set fixed mealtimes and meal removal times with your children, and do not extend mealtimes indefinitely due to your children's procrastination. Parents must do what they say and take away the food when the time is up and let the child go hungry as a punishment.

When children are eating, parents often make the mistake of worrying that their children will not eat or eat too little, which will affect their health. Parents may give up their principles for this reason. Parents have to be so cruel.

2. Increase the fun of eating

If the child eats slowly, parents can often play some small competitive games with the child, such as a competition to see who eats faster.

Or parents can let their children participate in the cooking process to stimulate their interest in meals.

3. Develop good eating habits

Children should have good and correct eating habits, such as controlling their snacks and encouraging them to eat more vegetables and fruits and less snacks.