How to help a Toddler to Chew Food

Are you one of the moms who are struggling to feed your child? – your child doesn’t chew food or doesn’t know how to chew food. This is a very common problem with toddlers – a daily struggle between moms and their toddlers. The child wants to finish the meal so swallows it without chewing which results in indigestion & either he / she throws up the entire meal or just passes it out as stool. Both of which isn’t healthy for child. 

Below are some reasons why chewing is a problem with toddlers:

  • Late introduction of solids and textured food 
  • Trouble accepting new texture
  • Disinterest in food.

Ipsaa, one of the leading preschools and daycares, provides expert tips on healthy eating for toddler mommies:

  1. Start by introducing smaller amounts of textured food (spoon mashed or hand mashed), mixed in with familiar puree. 
  2. Gradually offer several spoons of textured food along with pureed food. As your baby gets used to the new texture, he or she will be able to eat the textured food.
  3. As rightly said – Slow & steady wins the race; in this case you have to move slow as you increase the texture. Let your baby guide you, if she has difficulty gulping the portion or bigger size of pieces in the food, then going back to smaller portions should be preferred.
  4. Family meal times are very important. You can make your child sit in a comfortable chair along with other family members for the meal times. It encourages the little one to start chewing solids as you can show her that everyone on the table is chewing the food.
  5. Kids usually follow each other – be it a good habit or a bad. Children tend to do what other children do, so watching other children chew & eat might encourage your child also to do the same. You can have snack party with neighbors, friends or cousins of the same age to motivate your child.
  6. At least 2-3 hours’ gap is appropriate to ensure hunger. Schedule the meal times. Over a period of time, your child would start finishing her meals on time.

All you have to do is be patient, offer healthy food and your child has to learn to understand his or her hunger and learn how to eat and what to eat.

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