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Toddler not eating? Here's how to react
If you have a toddler who is stubborn at mealtime, don’t worry, says the late Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a world-renowned scientist, clinician and advocate in pediatrics and child development. “In reality, a child doesn’t need to eat but four things a day to do well: a pint of milk, a multivitamin, 2 ounces of protein (meat, cheese, beans, etc.) and some orange juice,” he said.
“After all, a toddler’s favorite word is no!” Ann C. Stadtler, a nurse who worked closely with Dr. Brazelton, says.
The key to your child's refusal of food is your reaction. In the bid for control, if the child thinks they're upsetting the parent, they'll continue that behavior. So it’s best to remain nonchalant and offer food again later, Dr. Brazelton says.
Whether they’re refusing to eat dinner for the third night in a row or staging a meltdown at the grocery store, Dr. Brazelton advises to approach your child in a calm, loving manner, which should ease the tension.
“The toddler years are a very high-excitement period,” he says. “And children pick up the values and attitudes modeled by their parents. So it’s important to model the behavior you want to see in your child.”
Toddlerhood is a series of progressions and regressions, peaks and valleys, and it’s what Dr. Brazelton called a touchpoint. In other words, it's a period of disorganization (or regression) that comes just before a burst in development (or progression). So take a deep breath and be patient. Your toddler will get hungry - eventually.
SOURCES:
• Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, founder, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
• Ann C. Stadtler, founding faculty member, Brazelton Touchpoints Center
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