What to do if your baby has poor appetite? What to eat to stimulate appetite

Many babies have a poor appetite, but there are many reasons why children don't eat, such as eating too many snacks, being sick or under pressure, etc. Never force-feed them. So what should you do if your baby has a poor appetite? What should you eat to stimulate your appetite?

Reasons for baby's loss of appetite

Weight gain slows down: After the baby is one year old, his weight has increased by one or two times compared to when he was just born, so his weight will start to increase very slowly, so the baby's brain will begin to adjust his dietary needs, and they will start to eat less.

Stress and depression: Your child may be nervous about your move or going to a new school. Watch for signs that your child is withdrawn or gets angry easily because of anxiety or stress.

Any health problems Has your child been sick or taking medicine recently? If your baby is sick, it usually takes a while for the body to recover. It is normal to have a loss of appetite while recuperating.

Too many snacks Did your child eat too many snacks between meals? Or did he drink too much juice? Of course, if he ate so much, he would not be able to eat the main meal. It is best to limit the amount and time of snacks.

Being lazy and inactive: Does your child spend a lot of time and energy watching TV and playing games on his phone? Lack of exercise can affect your baby's digestion and make him lose his appetite.

What to do if your baby has poor appetite

Let him decide the quantity: Put the prepared food in a bowl or plate, and then let your baby decide the quantity he wants to eat. After a week, you will probably be able to grasp your baby's appetite and ask him to finish the food in the bowl or plate every time.

Limit snack intake: It is okay to have a snack once a day, and your baby should be allowed to have it. However, you cannot let your baby not want to eat because of a snack, as this will put the cart before the horse.

Avoid spoon feeding: Your baby is old enough to eat on his own, so stop feeding him and let him eat when he is hungry. Force-feeding will only make your child lose his appetite.

Limit fluid intake: Give your baby only one glass of milk a day. Milk and other liquids contain a lot of calories. Excessive intake can cause bloating and loss of appetite in young children.

Offer small portions: Only offer small portions to your baby so that he or she can finish the meal. When your baby finishes eating, you can pat him or her on the back to encourage him or her to finish the meal. This will make your baby more willing to eat.

Family mealtime: Create opportunities for the whole family to eat together. This will make mealtime more fun and enjoyable, and your baby will look forward to family mealtime every day.

Change the menu frequently: Changing different dishes and adding new foods frequently can help your baby try different tastes and flavors, and also allow you to understand his food preferences.

What to eat to stimulate the baby's appetite

Hawthorn: Hawthorn can stimulate appetite and help digestion. It can be cooked with red dates into porridge for babies.

Yam: Yam strengthens the spleen and stimulates appetite. It can be cooked in porridge.

Tangerine peel: Tangerine peel can warm the stomach and dispel cold, regulate qi and strengthen the spleen. It has a good effect on indigestion and loss of appetite. It can be soaked in water or added to porridge.

Corn porridge: Corn porridge is a coarse grain that helps gastrointestinal motility and can help digest food.

Millet: Millet is the most nutritious, and it is good for the spleen and appetite, and is easy to absorb. Children love to drink millet porridge.