Many mothers suffer from their child's low weight and loss of appetite, which negatively affects their health, growth, and immunity.
Therefore, in this article, we offer tips to stimulate your child's appetite and increase their weight in healthy and effective ways, providing several solutions that mothers can implement with their children.
What are the reasons for a child's loss of appetite
The reasons for a child's loss of appetite are numerous. They may be due to temporary natural causes such as a cold, a sore throat, or teething.
They may also be due to medical, psychological, or behavioral reasons, such as a deficiency in certain vitamins, exposure to stress and anxiety, lack of physical activity, or excessive consumption of sweets before meals.
Tips to stimulate your child's appetite
Stimulating a child's appetite requires patience from parents, along with taking simple steps in healthy eating habits to reach the appropriate weight for the child. The most important tips are:
- Setting fixed times for main meals throughout the day.
- Avoiding forcing or coercing the child to eat.
- Offering a variety of foods in shapes and colors that appeal to the child.
- Involving the child in preparing their food.
- Encouraging the child to be physically active.
First: Setting fixed meal times throughout the day
When parents establish fixed times for main meals, this helps stimulate the child's appetite and also helps with:
- The child feeling hungry naturally.
- Improving digestion.
- Preventing a decrease in their energy levels.
Second: Avoiding forcing the child to eat
Forcing a child to eat may cause them to dislike food and associate mealtimes with stress. Therefore, it is preferable to encourage them and avoid scolding or pressuring them.
It is best to serve food in a calm atmosphere and avoid comparing the child to others. The more comfortable the child feels, the more likely they are to eat and accept their food.
Third: Variety in Food with Shapes and Colors that Attract the Child
Children are influenced by the appearance of food. If their food has attractive colors and shapes, it encourages them to eat it, even if they don't like it. This can be done in the following ways:
- Using molds to shape the food.
- Using natural food coloring.
- Serving colorful fruits and vegetables.
- Arranging the food in creative shapes on the plate.
- Avoiding serving the same food repeatedly so the child doesn't get bored.
Fourth: Involving the Child in Preparing Their Food
Involving the child in preparing their food not only helps increase their appetite but also strengthens their bond with their mother and makes them more enthusiastic to try what they have prepared. They can be involved in the following ways:
- Choosing new food recipes.
- Choosing food ingredients from the market.
- They can wash vegetables and prepare dishes.
- Talking to them about the benefits of the food they are preparing.
Fifth: Encouraging the Child to Be Active
Physical activity and movement help naturally increase a child's appetite and promote healthy weight gain. Some of these physical activities include:
- Practicing a sport they enjoy.
- Reducing screen time.
- Participating in simple physical games.
- Playing in parks or outdoors.
Foods and Drinks that Help Increase a Child's Appetite
These foods and drinks can be varied in main meals or as snacks to increase the child's appetite, including:
- Peanut butter.
- Yogurt with sesame seeds.
- Cinnamon and ginger.
- Sweet potatoes.
- Bananas and dates.
- Carrot juice.
- Nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best appetite stimulant medication for children
The doctor determines the appropriate medication to stimulate the child's appetite according to their condition. Some of these medications include Digestin and Diginom syrup.
What is the best way to increase a child's appetite
The best approach is to offer small meals at regular intervals, encouraging the child without forcing them to eat.
What are the best recipes for increasing a thin child's weight
You can offer bananas with honey or nuts, oatmeal with milk, or a slice of bread with peanut butter.
Which vitamin helps children gain weight
B complex vitamins help increase weight and stimulate a child's appetite, in addition to aiding in the absorption of nutrients.
Article Summary
Many parents are looking for ways to increase their child's appetite and weight in healthy ways, the most important of which is regulating meal times.
There are also some foods that help increase a child's appetite, such as yogurt with sesame seeds, peanut butter, and some nuts.