If you suddenly see your obedient baby suddenly become anorexic, eat little or not eat at all, whine, cry and get angry… then don’t worry too much. Maybe your baby is entering the physiological anorexia stage. Just go through these days of being irritable and not eating, you will see your baby become more obedient, eat and sleep better and develop more than before.
Age when baby enters physiological anorexia stage
- 3 – 4 months old: the period when babies learn to roll over and lift their heads.
- 5 – 6 months: the stage when the baby learns to sit and sit firmly, starting the milestone of weaning.
- 9 – 10 months: baby learns to crawl, stand and takes first steps with the support of parents
- 16 – 18 months: Baby walks more skillfully and is absorbed in exploring the world around him, so he seems indifferent to meals.
- The stage when the child starts going to nursery school (usually 2 – 3 years old): changes in living environment and diet have a significant impact on the child’s psychology, causing the child to lose appetite.
- There are also a few other stages that can cause physiological anorexia in babies. These are the “wonder weeks”, when babies learn new skills and make remarkable progress.
When a child enters the physiological anorexia stage, this age usually falls between 1 and 3 years old. This is a natural stage of development for children, when their body and mind are going through many changes. During this period, the child may experience a decrease in hunger, a change in taste and refusal of food.
The causes of this phenomenon can be varied, from the development of the nervous system to focusing on exploring the world around. In addition, psychological factors such as emotions, mood and the surrounding environment can also affect the baby’s unwillingness to eat.
Although it can be worrying for parents, the physiological anorexia phase is usually temporary and will pass as the baby’s body adjusts. By understanding and supporting your baby during this process, you will help your baby develop healthy eating habits in the future.
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How long does physiological anorexia in babies last?
Physiological anorexia in children can last for a short or long time, depending on each specific case. Usually, this stage lasts from a few weeks to a few months, but can also last longer if there are additional factors influencing it.
Some factors that can prolong anorexia include stress in the home environment, physical or mental health problems, or even previous negative experiences with food. If your child has health problems such as diarrhea, sore throat, or dental problems, anorexia may also last longer due to the discomfort of eating.
In case your baby does not eat enough for a long period of time, you should consult a doctor or nutritionist to ensure that your baby receives enough nutrients necessary for development to help your baby overcome the physiological anorexia stage healthily and quickly.
Symptoms of physiological anorexia in children
When a child has physiological anorexia, there are some signs and symptoms that parents can recognize to deal with effectively. One of the most common manifestations is refusing to eat or eating less than usual. The child may appear uncomfortable or fussy at mealtimes, or may also play around instead of focusing on the meal.
Other signs of anorexia may include changes in appetite, such as not eating foods that were previously enjoyed, or a change in your child’s attitude toward eating. Health problems may also appear, such as sudden weight loss, fatigue, or poor concentration.
Parents can also pay attention to psychological manifestations such as stress, anxiety or unstable mood of the child when mealtime is approaching. All of these signs can indicate that the child is going through a physiological anorexia stage and needs support from the parents.
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How to overcome physiological anorexia in children
At these times, parents will certainly be very worried and try every way to help their children eat better. However, parents need to be patient and maintain the healthy eating habits that they have tried to teach their children from the beginning. Mothers should not let their children eat while they are not eating, coax them to play while eating, let them watch TV or use their phones while eating, etc. These things will make previous efforts to teach their children to eat disappear and, more dangerously, will make their children’s anorexia last longer. Below are some ways to overcome the situation of children refusing to eat.
Create a habit for your baby
Creating a routine for your baby is an important part of teaching your baby to eat well and helping your baby avoid anorexia. To do this, parents can take the following steps:
- First, create a regular eating schedule and set a fixed time for each meal. This way, your baby will know when it is time to eat and your body will gradually adapt.
- Second, create a quiet and comfortable eating space. Remove distractions such as toys or electronic devices while your baby eats.
- Third, provide your baby with a varied and balanced menu from different food groups such as vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins and healthy fats. These foods help your baby get enough nutrients and enjoy food.
- Finally, encourage your child to participate in the food preparation process. Involving your child in selecting and preparing food will create excitement for your child to eat the food he or she has chosen.
Do not force or scold children
During this stage, it is important not to force your baby to eat, but instead to create a comfortable and positive environment around mealtimes. Parents need to provide a varied menu, encourage the baby to participate in the food preparation process and make eating fun.
Make mealtime fun for your baby
To make your baby feel excited when eating, parents need to create a space for the baby to eat with the family. This helps the baby bond with the family and at the same time helps the baby feel happy when eating, which can make the baby forget the feeling of anorexia. However, to make the baby sit and eat with the family, parents need to prepare a suitable product for the baby such as a high chair that can help the baby sit upright when eating.
When it comes to high chairs, the Autoru brand is certainly no stranger to anyone, a famous brand of products for mothers and babies. Parents can consider and choose products at Autoru.
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Choose the right foods for your baby
Prioritize choosing liquid, soft, easy-to-digest foods such as soup, porridge, soup, mashed rice with eggs, fish… especially dishes that your baby usually likes to eat. When your baby has a poor appetite, parents should try to understand and monitor their baby’s feelings about food. Choosing foods during the period when your baby has a poor appetite is very difficult, because at this time, the daily dishes that your baby likes may not be eaten by your baby anymore. What you need to do now is to change different and varied foods to help your baby not get bored when eating.
Increase the number of meals per day
Increase the number of meals per day, reduce the amount of each meal to shorten the time of each meal while still ensuring the amount of nutrition for the baby. Decorate the dishes in an eye-catching and funny way to stimulate the baby’s taste buds. Increase the amount of milk and snacks if the baby does not eat much in the main meal. Some suitable foods for snacks are cheese, yogurt, biscuits, fruit, flan…
If you have tried all the measures but your baby is still uncomfortable and does not want to eat, do not be impatient and try to force your baby to eat more. This can easily have the opposite effect: not only will your baby not stop being anorexic, but he or she will also become afraid of eating, turning into a long-term psychological anorexia that is very difficult to overcome. Mothers should be comfortable with each meal of their baby, help your baby gradually adapt to the new stage of physical development, and then your baby will soon return to eating normally as before. Through this article, Autoru hopes to provide useful information to help parents reduce anorexia in their children.