Eating is more than just Eating.

Remember that special day when you brought your tiny bundle of joy home from the hospital? You survived the whole hospital checkout, the baby’s first car ride, and even that memorable moment when you walked through your front door with your little one for the first time. And as your baby reached the two-week milestone, you became a pro at decoding their cries – figuring out whether they were uncomfortable, overly tired, in need of a diaper change, or simply hungry.

Watching your baby grow is like witnessing a magical transformation, especially when it comes to what they eat. Feeding and eating a lifelong journey of exploration and learning. As parents or caregivers, trying new foods with your little one becomes one of the most important tasks on your to-do list. Whether you’re a newbie parent, a seasoned caregiver, or a professional in need of a refresher, this information will provide valuable insights into feeding, addressing feeding challenges, and sharing some useful evidence-based strategies.

Let’s kick things off with some facts. Feeding challenges in early childhood are more common than you might think – studies show that they affect about 25-35% of children. As toddlers take their first steps and begin to explore the big wide world, they also start exploring their food. So, if your child seems a bit “picky” with their eating habits during these early stages, don’t fret; it’s actually quite a typical behaviour for toddlers and young children. However, if your child’s picky eating seems extreme, it might be worth seeking some professional guidance. Various factors could be at play here, like sensory processing issues, difficulties with chewing or swallowing, underlying medical conditions affecting their digestive system, or emotional and regulation-related challenges. Remember, none of these challenges are your fault. Still, your role as a parent or caregiver is incredibly important when it comes to creating a positive eating environment and fostering healthy.

Having the food with the child in the same room.

Touching the new food at the food preparation stage/ touching the food with cutlery like knife or fork.

Sensing the odour (smell) of the food in the room.

Handling the food with the child’s hand

Placing the food on the child’s lips, teeth, and tongue

Sensing the taste of the food through the tongue.

Biting/ chewing the food.

Chewing and swallowing the new food.

Now, let’s talk about eating.

Eating is much more than just putting food in your mouth. Before we dive into strategies for handling children’s eating habits, consider this: eating is an experience. While most of us take it for granted due to our lifelong exposure to food, imagine being in a foreign country with an entirely different food culture. Trying new dishes in a new environment can be quite intimidating, right? The Sequential Oral Sensory Approach, a feeding program developed by Dr. Kay Toomey, a Pediatric Psychologist, suggests that eating involves over 20 stages, from simply tolerating the presence of new foods in the room to fully engaging with them using all our senses. It’s not just about chewing and swallowing; it’s a journey of sensory exploration.

You might notice that as adults, we tend to breeze through all these eating steps effortlessly, thanks to our years of experience. But for our little ones, every mealtime can be a thrilling adventure for their senses, right there at the dinner table. Remember, selective eating or sticking to their favourite foods is just a natural part of your child’s developmental journey. It’s essential to respect the unique differences in each child’s development. If you ever find yourself wondering whether you should seek professional advice, keep an eye out for signs like your child not gaining weight in line with their developmental stage, struggling to join family dinners, experiencing gastrointestinal issues, or frequently gagging on food. When you notice these signs, consulting with a specialist can be a helpful step.

Before seeking professional guidance, it’s a good idea to observe your child in a few key areas commonly associated with selective eating. This can provide valuable insights for the experts who’ll be assisting you in understanding your child better.

Speaking of senses, there are a bunch of them that play a significant role in how we experience food. If the idea of 5+3 senses is new to you, don’t worry! You can check out our sensory resources for more information. Now, when it comes to eating, sensory processing challenges can really throw a wrench into the mix. Trying new foods involves receiving and processing novel (sometimes even unpleasant) sensory inputs like taste, smell, and texture. Just like we have favourite types of music, children can have preferences among their senses too. Your child might be “hypersensitive” (over-sensitive) in some areas and “hypersensitive” (under-sensitive) in others. For example, they might cringe at the texture of wet and mushy foods (e.g., mushrooms) while absolutely loving the spicy kick of certain flavours (e.g., chilli sauce/ spicy crisps).

It can be very helpful to observe your child’s responses to different sensory aspects of food and share this information with professionals for a more thorough evaluation.

Sense

Things to look at:

The sense of taste

Does your child lean towards or shy away from one for the following taste?

1.       Sweet

2.       Salty

3.       Sour

4.       Spicy

The sense of tactile (touch)

Does your child prefer or tend to avoid food in a certain texture?

E.g.

1.       Crispy/ Crunchy or Soft

2.       Creamy or Grainy

3.       Chewy or Firm

4.       Moist or Dry or Oily

5.       Smooth on the Surface or Rough on the Surface

 

The sense of olfactory (smell)

Is your child seeking or avoiding food with a certain smell?

E.g.

1.       The smell of meat

2.       The smell of fish

3.       The smell of cheese…

The sense of vision (sight)

Is your child commenting on the shape, colour, or outlook of the food and avoiding it?

Whether the food is

1.       In a certain colour?

2.       In the “weird” shape of the food?

3.       Coming with a weird surface (e.g., seed on the strawberry)

By observing these sensory aspects during mealtime, you can gather valuable information to share with professionals who can provide a more in-depth evaluation. Understanding your child’s sensory preferences will aid in addressing any feeding challenges more effectively.

Children who face sensory-related difficulties might encounter issues with biting, chewing, and even swallowing food. The act of swallowing itself involves a coordinated effort from a group of 26 muscles – no easy task! So, it’s no surprise that children with motor planning difficulties may find this a bit challenging. Some children may struggle to use their tongue and mouth muscles effectively to manage food, making it tough to handle food in their mouth and swallow it properly.

For those who are less sensitive to touch (hypersensitive), they might not easily notice the amount of food in their mouth, leading to occasional mouthfuls that are too big. Trying to swallow these big bites can result in gagging, making the eating process even trickier.

If you notice signs of eating challenges related to sensory processing, difficulties with chewing or swallowing, potential gastrointestinal symptoms, or if your child seems anxious when it’s time to eat, consider consulting your GP for advice and to rule out any medical concerns. Your GP can guide you in connecting with other professionals like Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Feeding Therapists, dietitians, or other specialists who can provide further support and guidance. Remember, these professionals not only help your child but also offer valuable support to ease your worries.

Happy Meals, Happy Child:

Now, for the million-dollar question: “How can I help my child develop healthy eating habits?” Yes, here are some useful feeding information and practical strategies that you might find helpful!

The Division of Responsibility is a feeding approach suggested by Dr. Ellyn Satter. It demonstrates strategies to help reduce children’s stress around eating by promoting their autonomy. This approach has been identified as the best practice for improving children’s eating by expert groups and practising clinicians.

  • Parents are responsible for what, when, and where the child is going to eat.
  • Children are responsible for how much or whether or not they are eating at the meal and snack time.

For instance, Dr. Satter suggests that parents should take charge of what foods to put on the table for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack times, and decide when and where meals happen. Meanwhile, it’s up to the children to determine how much they want to eat during these meals and snacks. Research also tells us that using a responsive feeding approach can lead to healthier eating habits and positive outcomes in terms of children’s weight.

Now, let’s dive into the world of “Responsive Feeding.” This approach is closely linked with the “Division of Responsibility.” The goal here is to build trust between you and your child by giving them more say in the eating process.
Responsive feeding is all about tuning in to your child’s cues and signals. Both of these strategies emphasize the importance of nurturing a trusting relationship between parents and children. By supporting your child’s independence and confidence, you are helping your child to become more engaged and interested in their meals. Plus, they also become better at expressing their needs to you. In the long haul, responsive feeding has proven to be a winning strategy for helping children learn to take charge of their eating and pay close attention to their hunger and fullness signals. This paves the way for them to develop healthy eating habits that stick with them throughout their lives.

Before We Start, Let’s Tackle Some Common Myths:

It’s time to kick off with some myths that we need to debunk. First up: the idea that the more your child eats, the more they’ll grow. And that being a good parent means making sure your child eats everything on their plate. But guess what? Your child is the one in the driver’s seat when it comes to how much or whether they eat the food you offer. Research shows that using controlling feeding styles, like pressuring your child to eat, often leads to unhelpful eating behaviours. Also, parents who feel overly responsible for their children’s eating can end up stressed out when it comes to managing mealtimes. This stress can lead to frustration and make it harder to understand your child’s eating cues. Remember, excessive pressure from parents can project onto children and mess with their appetite and self-regulation.

You might have heard this one before, but “playing” with food can be a fantastic learning opportunity for children to get to know what they’re eating. We truly eat food when we get to know food. Using all our senses – like sight, smell, touch, and taste – allows your child to become more familiar with different foods. Studies even show that when children engage in activities around food, like helping with meal prep or serving food, it can help build positive eating habits. So, let your child be your little kitchen helper and allow them to interact with their food during meals!

Next up, is the idea that everyone should be silent during dinner. But here’s the scoop: Social interaction, like talking to your children during meals, can be really helpful. Both studies and practical advice agree that having warm and positive interactions with your children at mealtime strengthens your bond and keeps dinner engaging for the whole family. Talking and eating at the same time can be great for practising oral-motor control, which helps with efficient chewing and swallowing.

Here’s another myth: You can only eat certain foods at specific times. But for children with selective eating habits, it’s essential to give them more opportunities to try different types of food. Experimenting with new foods at different times can give your child a fresh perspective on trying something new.

Lastly, the old “clean your plate” rule. Research tells us that trying to control your child’s food intake and pressuring them to eat can lead to unhealthy body weight and more emotional reactions. As adults, your responsibility is to provide appropriate food for your child’s development during regular mealtimes. Avoid using food as a reward or a bribe, as this can be viewed as pressure. Also, try not to comfort your child with food when they’re not hungry. It’s the child’s responsibility to decide how much they want to eat.

Now, you’ve got the essential feeding basics at your fingertips. If you’re hungry for more, don’t hesitate to dive into the 8 golden rules for your child’s healthy eating!

Click here to get to the “8 Golden Rules”.

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