How much do you want your child to gain weight - Children's Healthy Weight Loss Method - Smart Mom's Parenting Must-Read: Children's Healthy Weight Loss Method

Author: Jin Ruijing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Respecting a child's appetite
Now, although my child is very healthy, when she was just born, she cried and refused to eat, looking thin and frail, which made me truly anxious. Although He Na was underweight at birth, she safely returned home in my arms. Like all mothers, I only hoped that my daughter would grow up healthy. My mother-in-law and other relatives all said the child was too thin and told me to feed her more. I thought that compared to chubby children, being a bit thinner was actually healthier and more appealing, so I didn’t force her to eat more or worry about her having a poor appetite. The era when a child’s appetite was considered the only sign of health is over. I believe that appetite alone cannot determine a child’s health. The only thing that worried me was that she didn’t eat much. He Na didn’t have picky eating habits; she just didn’t like rice. I kept urging her to eat more, but the moment she sat at the dinner table, she would start throwing a tantrum. I would coax her, sometimes even trick her, and occasionally scold her a few words. By the end of a meal, both she and I would feel exhausted. Worried about her poor appetite, I took her to the hospital. The doctor examined her and said she was perfectly normal. The problem was my excessive indulgence in coaxing her to eat more. Instead, it caused her to develop a rebellious attitude. The constant pressure to eat more from others led her to the point where even when she wanted to eat, she wouldn’t. The doctor suggested that when she was old enough to take supplements, she could be given them in moderation. Starting from the age of 3, I began giving He Na supplements once a year. He Na had an excellent ability to absorb supplements, and the effects were surprisingly good. Her immunity improved significantly. Her bronchi and nose were particularly weak, and since taking supplements, her respiratory system illnesses gradually decreased. He Na’s appetite also began to improve. Watching her eat with such enthusiasm, I realized that forcing her to eat could actually reduce her appetite. Scolding her or using tactics like “Just one more bite, or I’ll…” while feeding her were neither soft nor hard approaches that were beneficial to her healthy growth. Of course, I’m not saying I want her to gain weight; maintaining her current condition is enough. The key is to truly think for her sake. In the past, when her appetite was poor, I always thought that high-calorie, high-fat foods would make her gain weight, so I even tried feeding her fatty meat. However, whenever I gave her vegetables, she’d eat the meat, and whenever I gave her meat, she’d ask for vegetables. At that time, I realized that I couldn’t force her. Later, I stopped forcing her to eat and simply observed what she liked. When she showed interest in eating, I would offer it to her. Compared to meat, He Na preferred vegetables. Most children love ham and instant foods, but He Na wasn’t fond of them and rarely ate them, only occasionally indulging in a small amount. He Na is now 5 years and 1 month old. She has a good appetite, doesn’t picky eat, and doesn’t cause her mother any worries. Moreover, she is gradually growing taller. P22-23