The child spits out food a little for 7 years. A child spits food - what to do? In what cases does a child spit food, what to do and how to react to such behavior? Why does the baby spit?
Mothers often complain that the child does not eat well. It could be full refusal to eat or selective, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The reasons for a baby's protest are not always clear, and it is even more difficult to correct these feeding problems. Let's look at the types of food refusal.
Avoiding vegetables
Vegetables are one of the most common food refusals among children after the first year of life. The child may turn his head away in disgust or spit out food, throw all the vegetables on the table or floor.
Often, impatience with vegetables stems from the inclusion of different goodies in the diet. Mothers, and more often grandmothers, in order for the child to eat at least “something”, begin to give him unhealthy but tasty foods. Having fallen in love with sweets, children are very reluctant to eat healthy vegetables.
Try to “hide” vegetables in different dishes: cook vegetable caviar with cereals, an omelet with green vegetables, etc. You can cut vegetables into shapes, arousing your child’s interest. It is better to replace the puree with pieces of vegetables. It is also important to set an example for your child and regularly include vegetables in your menu.
Refusal of everything except...
Sometimes children do not take any food except one dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This usually happens around 2 years.
The child’s tastes change, and he begins to remain devoted to one dish, and then another “permanent” dish will replace it, etc. Children like repetition and stability. This gives them confidence in such a new world for them.
Individual refusal to eat
Different children may refuse different foods or ways of preparing them. Some people don’t like lumps, some can’t stand greens, others don’t eat potatoes with butter, etc. Whims and grimaces can appear for various food reasons.
Sometimes a child refuses to eat, realizing his new stage of development. He shows the world his attitude towards products. And he also wants to check what whims will be permissible in relations with his parents, while trying to expand the scope of what is permitted.
Refusal of any food
The baby may run away from food, spit it out, or make faces at the sight of food and move away from the spoon. Mothers worry that their child’s poor appetite will cause health problems in the future.
The reason for this behavior may simply be the lack of sufficient hunger for appetite. Perhaps breakfast (lunch) was a long time ago, but there were a lot of snacks (cookies, banana, apple, etc.). Refusal to eat can also be caused by being too nervous during a meal.
What should mom do? You definitely shouldn’t force your child to eat. Otherwise, eating will be associated with stress. But it’s worth continuing to offer food to your child. This should be at the same time in 5 doses. There is no need to offer snacks between these meals. It is necessary to limit the volume of high-calorie juices with pulp. Try to teach your child to eat on his own - this can bring the child new, additional pleasure.
If the child does not eat well or refuses to eat, it is important to eliminate a few major mistakes. There is no need to shout at the child, force him, bribe him with toys and sweets, praise him for every spoon and tell him all the time that he is not eating well. Instead you need:
- wait until the child gets hungry;
- stop comparing your child’s appetite with the appetite of other children;
- stop commenting on the child’s behavior;
- prevent the child’s manipulation by promising to give candy for a cutlet, etc.;
- Always ask whether the baby liked the food.
Refusal to eat- this is a temporary phenomenon. But stress during meals or unhealthy eating will have long-term consequences. React correctly, and bon appetit to your baby!
Several months after the birth of a child, many mothers are faced with the question of how to properly begin to accustom their baby to adult food. When is the best time to do this, and what foods to introduce into your baby’s diet first. Today, pediatricians recommend using a method called complementary feeding as an introduction to new foods.
When can you introduce new foods?
The first and most important rule for introducing complementary foods is the baby’s psychological readiness. If your baby is actively interested in the contents of your plate, reaches out and tries to grab something from what mom is eating, then your baby is ready to try new foods.
It is recommended to start giving new foods only when the child is six months old, he is psychologically ready, and there are no pediatrician contraindications. Pedagogical complementary feeding is, in fact, not feeding, but just introducing the baby to new tastes.
When did the method come into being?
In fact, we all know very well that the new is the well-forgotten old. For several decades, mothers began feeding their children with canned baby purees and juices. These products are produced in abundance by the food industry and can be found in any store. However, not all children like this food. It is prepared without adding salt and sugar and has a dubious taste, according to adults.
Before the invention of these products, women taught their children to eat regular food, the kind they ate themselves. Our grandmothers couldn’t even think of buying any jars of food for the baby. Everything was much simpler. Women simply let their child taste their food when he asked for it, so starting with microscopic doses, the child was gradually transferred to feeding adult foods.
Today, pediatricians have come to the conclusion that this method is the best for introducing complementary foods; the baby quickly adapts to adult nutrition and after a year can already eat food familiar to parents. The most important aspect of such complementary feeding is the baby’s constant interest in new foods.
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Features of introducing a baby to new food
Pedagogical complementary feeding is possible only under the condition of breastfeeding. At the same time, the baby should not be accustomed to the pacifier and bottle. This is an important condition, since only if these rules are followed will the child receive all the necessary enzymes from mother’s milk to digest new food.
You need to start complementary feeding with microscopic doses. During a family dinner or lunch, if the baby shows interest in mother’s plate, you can give the little one a tiny bit of the food that mother eats. If the baby asks for more, give him a second baby. In this case, the amount of food should be no more than can fit between the mother’s index finger and thumb.
A child can be given no more than 3 pinches of a new product per meal.
Over time, the amount of food should be gradually increased and brought to one teaspoon. Remember that complementary feeding is not nutrition for the child, but is used for informational purposes only. Breastfeeding must be continued throughout the entire period of pedagogical complementary feeding.
What can you give your baby to try?
In the system of pedagogical complementary feeding, there are rules that determine which foods can be given to a baby and which ones are not advisable to try until one is a year old. Permitted products include all types of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, eggs, cereals, soups, and cereals. Before giving the baby a taste of food, it must be crushed so that the baby does not choke. Monitor your child’s reaction after each new product; allergic reactions should be a reason to ban dangerous foods.
It is not advisable to let your baby try fried, salted, canned or low-quality foods. Food such as sausages, sausages, etc. may contain large amounts of preservatives and flavor enhancers, which often cause allergic reactions.
You can also encourage your baby to try drinking. This should only be done from a mug or glass, pouring a little water or milk into it. The amount of liquid should not exceed one small sip. The little one can also try natural freshly squeezed juices (preferably vegetable), homemade compotes, jelly and other neutral drinks.
Creating a menu for a 10-11 month old breastfed baby
All food that the baby eats must be well cooked and prepared only from fresh ingredients. Never give your child yesterday's food, as this can cause the development of harmful microbes in the baby's stomach.
What to do if the baby is not yet 6 months old
Many children begin to show interest in adult food much earlier than six months. They reach for mom's plate or want to take food out of mom's mouth. In this case, there is no need to indulge the little one. His digestive system is not yet ready to accept even small pieces of adult food. By starting pedagogical complementary feeding ahead of time, you can provoke disturbances in the baby’s digestive tract, which can result in various diseases.
Differences between different power systems
Many parents cannot understand why a child who receives complementary feeding with baby food from jars can already eat a lot of product by the age of 7 months, but complementary feeding does not allow giving children large portions.
It's all about the composition of the food. Baby food is prepared in a special way, which allows you to preserve vitamins in canned food and remove all unnecessary components, such as salt, sugar, fats, etc. Therefore, baby food is well absorbed by a small stomach and does not cause digestive problems. The purpose of complementary feeding with baby food is to fully feed a baby who, for a number of reasons, is not breastfed or does not get enough of his mother’s milk.
The purpose of complementary feeding is to introduce new tastes and prepare the child for proper complementary feeding. It is for this reason that pedagogical complementary feeding does not require large portions, because the system is used only if the baby is fully breastfed on demand, which means he does not need other food to fill up.
What to do when your child spits out food
Most children, although they begin to show a keen interest in their mother’s food, when they receive a piece to try, they immediately spit it out. This is normal at the initial stage of getting to know the products. It’s just that the baby doesn’t yet know that food can differ from milk in consistency and taste, he doesn’t know how to chew and simply spits out food that is incomprehensible to him. Later, when several days have passed, the baby will understand that there are different tastes, and food can be rubbed between the gums and swallowed. It just takes time.
What to do if your child is not interested in adult food
For many mothers, the baby's lack of interest in food at 6 months becomes a cause for concern. The child may be interested in a spoon or other utensils, but not pay attention to adult food. In fact, there is no reason to worry in this case. It’s just that your baby is not yet psychologically ready to try something new and imitate his elders. Be patient, there is no need to force something to try. After a few weeks, your baby will probably show a desire to try from your plate.
How to stop a child from spitting
Be persistent and consistently teach order. In case of disobedience, clearly express dissatisfaction: with gestures, facial expressions, words. Do not laugh, otherwise the child will perceive what is happening as a game and it will be very difficult to distract him. Spitting food demonstratively? Ask to leave the table, and later have a confidential conversation and explain that such behavior is unacceptable.
"French children do not spit food"
The book was written by the famous journalist Pamela Druckerman, voicing in it the system of rules by which French parents raise their children. The main postulate: balance in everything. From the very beginning, it is necessary to establish certain boundaries of what is permitted, within which the baby can feel free.
Principles of education according to Pamela Druckerman:
- the interests of parents are as important as the interests of children;
- From birth, the baby must be taught to be independent;
- normal development requires a large amount of freedom and independence, and not constant care and attention;
- the result is obvious: French children do not spit, do not interfere in adults’ conversations, and do not throw tantrums.
Spitting is a temporary phenomenon, it will definitely pass, you just need to put in a little effort. If such a reaction - the child spits out food - is delayed, you should contact a child psychologist and dentist.
Child spits out food
You patiently taught your child etiquette, set the table beautifully, did not force him to finish eating, reduced portions, but the baby still eats reluctantly, and sometimes even spits out the food.
Why is this happening? Perhaps the reason is that you have chosen the wrong feeding regimen, and the little one simply does not have time to get hungry for the next meal. To correct the situation, remember at what time the child eats willingly and more or less carefully, and when creating a regimen, start from this point. First, put a few spoons of food on the plate, and as soon as the baby copes with the task, add more. Offer your little one a comfortable and small spoon. If he still tries to spit out the food, take the plate away from him. Calmly and kindly tell him that he is obviously full and can get ready or go to bed. If the baby reacts aggressively, that is, makes it clear that he is hungry, try again. Don't forget that sometimes children need help from adults to finish eating.
The child does not want to sleep
To solve the problem of falling asleep, you have read many books and tried all the suggested options: stop outdoor games on time (an hour and a half before bedtime), come up with a pleasant bedtime ritual and try to do it every day. But the child still falls asleep poorly, sleeps restlessly, and wakes up early.
Why is this happening? Perhaps the reason lies in, for example, the fear of loneliness. To make it easier for your baby to cope with the situation, you should be especially affectionate and gentle with him before bed. Hug him, stroke him, tell him stories that help relieve stress, leave the light on in his room. If the baby spent this day in unusual conditions for him (for example, because relatives came to you or a new nanny appeared in the family), be especially attentive to him. If your little one wakes up crying in the middle of the night, pet him, calm him down, hold his hand and talk to him. It is better if you do not take him out of the crib: he can decipher these actions as a signal to wake up.
Child throwing tantrums in a store
You always try to prevent and fulfill the child’s reasonable wishes, provide him with freedom of choice and, if possible, take into account his opinion. But as soon as you come to the store with him, the real extortion begins.
Why is this happening? Realizing that he is an individual, the child often tries to check who is in charge of the situation and looks for ways to control adults. Of course, the best way out of the situation is not to take your child to the store or visit online store of children's goods and that's all. But, unfortunately, this is not always possible. Therefore, if you need to go shopping together, first voice your plans and intentions: “We are going to the store for milk, cottage cheese and bread. Maybe I can buy you a book.” Waiting for the purchase will distract the child from the desire to throw a tantrum. Choose a store where you can do all your shopping without spending too much time, and then be sure to take your baby for a walk. Don’t forget to take with you what you might need on your “hike”: diapers, wipes, some food and drink, small distractions (a soft toy, a car, a doll, soap bubbles).
Child fights
You do not punish the child, he has the opportunity to “let off steam”, you teach him to share and give in. But on the playground he behaves too aggressively: he tries to bite and fight.
Why is this happening? Most likely, because the baby does not yet know how to interact with peers, and, trying to take a leadership position, begins to act from a position of strength. Observe the interactions between children and understand what precedes the little one’s aggressive behavior: perhaps he was not given a toy, or perhaps he was not included in the game. Organize children's activities, do not encourage them to share toys at all costs, gently and tactfully teach them to communicate and cooperate in the game. If you think your child is being too aggressive, walk alone for a while. Then return the baby to society and observe his behavior. If it does not change, consult a psychologist.
