It's also a habit, sometimes you don't think too far and just let the child do it, even though you know it's not really good. However, of course if not changed, the child's eating habits can bring bad effects to the child, even to the long term. So, what kind of child eating habits should be changed and eliminated?
What are the children's eating habits that must be changed?
Sleep while lying down
The habit of children who sleep with bottles containing milk, juice, or other sweet drinks is at high risk of tooth decay. Pacifier bottles are only recommended for babies aged one to eighteen months. The sooner you stop using the bottle, the easier it will be for you to deal with your little one's dependence on the bottle. Avoid using bottles when you are breastfeeding. If your child is 6 months old, then you should give him food or drinks using baby cups and limit the use of bottles.
The process of weaning children by not using bottles is actually quite difficult. To help with the weaning process, gradually eliminate the use of bottles. Initially at noon then to morning and evening. You can reduce the use of bottles except before going to bed, but remember to fill them only with water. If your baby does not want to drink water in a bottle, you can mix it with other liquids into the water, and slowly reduce the amount so that after a week the contents of your baby bottle are only water.
It is better to avoid silencing fussy children or lulling the child using a bottle. Although this method works, but eating habits like this are no longer needed when he grows up. Giving milk at night only serves as entertainment for babies, not for nutritional needs. So, the bottle will be the "life support" of the child and prevent him from learning to fall asleep himself. If your child cries, let him cry until he falls asleep. After a few nights, your child will forget about the bottle. If this child's habits are very difficult to remove, because your child wants the bottle to continue, then consult a doctor.
Snacking before going to bed
Many parents allow children's eating habits such as snacking before going to bed. Actually, occasionally giving toddlers a drink or a healthy snack before going to bed is still permissible, but remind your child to brush their teeth afterwards. In fact, giving a healthy snack before bed can help your child fall asleep. Giving breast milk, cow's milk, or other drinks, or even eating fruit and other nutritious foods can help your child sleep.
Well, what should be avoided is giving snacks that are high in calories, such as sweets or other packaging snacks. This will only make your child excess calorie intake. Not to mention, if you eat too much sweetness can disrupt the health of his teeth. So, whatever snacks you give your child, make it a habit to brush your teeth before going to bed.
If your little one needs entertainment before going to bed, give a blanket, or a toy that is easy to embrace, but never give a high-calorie snack that makes it fresh again and not sleepy.
Eating must be fed
When you are 12 months old, your baby should be used to drinking from a cup and eating alone using a spoon or hand. Meanwhile, at the age of 15 months, the child is able to regulate the amount of food in his mouth. He can spoon food into a spoon and put it in his mouth, although sometimes he can miss and spill food at the last second. Well, if your child is 18 months old, then he can use a spoon, fork and glass.
Eating habits like this do have to be trained since he was small so you don't have to feed him every time he eats. So, when he was growing up, the child was used to eating alone. Although indeed at first it was not easy to teach your child this matter. Sometimes, children may prefer to ruffle the food and treat it like a toy. Or, throwing the tableware because they feel bored.
However, don't give up. You must give it an understanding that it is not good. Let him try again good eating habits at the next meal time. If you want to form good eating habits, don't be tired to keep applying them until he applies them.