FORCING YOUR CHILDREN TO EAT

Often times, when our children are weaned, or when they clock six months,a mother is usually excited. It is that time of their lives when they are introduced to different kinds of meals. It is also that time of our lives as mothers, when we want to take a break. We become excited about the idea of them getting full on foods that we introduce to them, and spending less time on our nipples.

At six months, some children are already growing teeth, and would nibble on our nipple to test our reactions or maybe scratch their gums. Who knows?.
I'm usually fascinated at how hurt and upset they feel when they are flicked for nibbling on the nipples and would forget very fast, and nibble again.

When they are half a year, they begin to learn to sit, attempt to crawl and stay away from our weary arms a bit longer. The joy, the joy of not holding them all the time, and having a little spare time here and there, to do other things. And not having them get in the way with love!

The joy of this extra free time, gets to us, that we want to force them to eat other meals. We begin to try grains like

Corn (akamu)
Guinea corn (kunu)
Tom brown (a mixture of grains and groundnut)
Acha
And other available cereals.

These are easy grains to prepare, we get frustrated and start closing their nose, grabbing their hands, and forcing food down their throats. We begin to unconsciously make them prisoners of food.

As much as we enjoy this little freedom, the best thing yo give your child at this time is little smashes of fruits like

Avocado
Watermelon
Bananas
A little of things that you eat. Smashed of course.
And if they happen to like cereals, then go all out for it.

After all at six months, you are not weaning the child completely. You are a only taking a break from exclusive breast feeding. W.H.O (world health organization) advice's to breast feed till the child is at least 2.

So six months is not the best time to force them to eat. It is the time to observe them and understand what they like and what they don't like. And if your child is picky at 6months, don't worry. Just feed them what they appreciate for now.

As they keep eating the preferred food, it will ignite their curiosity to want more, or they will get tired of a particular meal and want more.

                                                                                                                   Written by Mary Jane.