The phenomenon of instability children’s eating behaviours is often found among parents. Rather than consuming a lot of food, children tend to pick and even reject the foods that is given. At the end, this condition creates a negative emotions as a results of emotional imbalance which can lead to violence and rape of children. If the child persists in refusing to eat, the parent may even replace the foods with overexposure to formula or vitamin.
If you as a parents have a child who has an instability eating behaviours, then consider it as a challenge of a father and mother growth class to be a good parents. This is a good opportunity to learn and understand the children’s character, especially during weaning food period. Weaning food period is usually very tricky for parents to live through because of the beginning of picky eater on children. However, it does not eliminate the possibility of instability eating behaviours on children taking place outside that time. In medical terms, the children’s denial on food is divided by two condition: picky eating and selective eating. Picky eating is a condition of children who reject certain foods but still consume at least one sort of each food group, that is, carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and milk. Meanwhile, selective eating is a condition of children rejects all types of foods in particular groups. It is very dangerous! Why? Here is the reason. For example, rejecting foods from a protein source may increase the risk of developing certain nutritional deficiencies and will obstruct the growth and development of children’s brain. According to IDAI, picky eating is still normal on growth and development phase on children. Even though it is normal, the parents also need to pay more attention to their kids, so that this condition doesn’t occur too long. Therefore, it is important mother and father to know the factor that can caused the instability eating behaviours on kids.
The are many factors that can causes the instability eating behaviours on kids. The existence of physiological processes such as growing teeth can affect on difficulty eating in children. Other than that, the pathological factors or disease are bound to have an effect. However, a major factor of instability eating behaviours on kids is misfeeding practice by their parents. This feeding practice includes the application of feeding rules, quantity, and quality of food.
Many parents in Indonesia still don’t understand about feeding rules. Feeding rules has two factors that will strongly influence the eating of children, that is meal schedule and feeding environment.
Meal schedule
A regular meal will create a good signal for the child to feel hungry or full. The allocation of snacks and milk feeding should be restricted. So that a children’s hunger can be stimulated during the main meal schedule. The recommended children’s meal schedule is three times a day main meals and two times a day snacks served between the main course. Milk only can be serve at 2-3 times a day. The duration of the meal is also highly recommended no more than 30 minutes. This is the perfect duration for children to eat their food. Meal duration that are too long will cause children to suck their food. In the end, the condition of sucking their food for too long can damage their teeth.
Feeding environment
Children’s feeding environment also need to pay more attention. If you as a parents are are expected to have a pleasant feeding environment on your children, do not show any pressure such as expression of disappointment, because your children will understand your expression which can lead to your children don’t want to eat. Control the distraction during the eating process which can come from toys, television, or gadget.
Besides feeding rules, the factors that need to be evaluated when a children has instability eating behaviours are the quality and quantity of food. Feed them in small portions and often more acceptable. These protions can be gradually increased if instability eating conditions begin to improve. Quality foods are foods of a variety of nutritional value, at least there are four the main group that can be served for your kids, there are, carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, and fruit and milk. To increase the knowledge of the diversity of food, parents also need to have the courage to introduce a food choices to their kids. Research shows, 10 exposures are needed to increase acceptances of food in 2 years children. Whereas, it takes 8 to 1 exposures for 4-5 years children. The introduction process can be started by serving these food choices on parent’s plate. Last, parents should know that additional vitamin and nutritional suplemen are given under the recommendation of a doctor.
Reference:
Galuh, M. (2016) Sulit Makan pada Bayi dan Anak. Tersedia pada: https://www.idai.or.id/artikel/klinik/pengasuhan-anak/sulit-makan-pada-bayi-dan-anak (Diakses: 16 April 2022).
Nagrani, D. G. (2017) Penanganan Kesulitan M(Feeding Difficulty) pada Si Kecil. Tersedia pada: https://www.idai.or.id/artikel/klinik/keluhan-anak/penangan-kesulitan-makan-feeding-difficulty-pada-si-kecil
Sjarif, D. R. et al. (2014) “RekomendasiIikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia: Pendekatan Diagnosis dan Tatalaksana Masalah Makan pada Batita di Indonesia.” Tersedia pada: http://spesialis1.ika.fk.unair.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Rekomendasi-Pendekatan-Diagnosis-dan-Tata-Laksana-Masalah-Makan-Pada-Batita.pdf.
