Read the video
A seventeen-month-old can now eat everything with us at the table. Infancy is ending and childhood is beginning. It is important to avoid conflict when feeding the child and allow them to eat with us at the table in the way they want.
Mothers may sometimes try to get the child to eat another bite or another plateful. This can lead to serious conflict followed by appetite problems. Distracting or tricking the child with something else while they watch television or play, and slipping a few bites into their mouth without their noticing, does the child great harm. Not feeding between meals also allows the child to become hungry.
Remember that children imitate others, and let the adults start eating first at the table. If the child sees adults eating with appetite, they will eat their own meal with them. Inappropriate parental behavior toward the child lies at the root of appetite problems. Therefore, encourage the child to eat at the table without conflict.
The foods the child can eat are the same as ours; what is harmful for us is also harmful for children. If we adjust our own diet for our children, we can become healthier too.
