As a parent, you want nothing more than for your child to eat healthy and well. But what if that appetite temporarily disappears, especially during a mental leap? This article explains why this is normal and how you can make sure your little one still gets enough intake.
How can you ensure that your child eats enough
There’s no need for that, your child will do it by himself/herself. As a parent, of course, there is nothing quite as wonderful as having a child with a good, healthy appetite. And if that is occasionally not the case, you may begin to panic. That’s quite normal because your child is naturally the most important thing in your life. But remember, these are really typical young parents’ worries that you’ll laugh off in a few years. Children tend to eat less when they are going through a leap in their mental development.
What to pay attention to
Fortunately, such a leap never really lasts very long, and a child normally has enough reserves to cope with these periods of reduced appetite. Only if you notice that your child eats little or nothing for an extended period of time, dehydrates, or seems ill, should you consult a doctor. In this case, your child’s lack of appetite has nothing to do with a leap but is caused by another underlying condition for which you should really consult a doctor. Whenever you are in doubt, consult your GP.
As a possible remedy, offer your little one small, healthy snacks in between at more frequent intervals, even outside mealtimes.