Patient's question:
My daughter is five years old, and she has never been a good eater at dinner. The teacher reported that at school, she is usually in the second or third last place when it comes to eating dinner. Moreover, there is always a lot of food left over. The same situation happens at home. It takes her two hours to finish a meal. Hello doctor, what should I do if my daughter has a poor appetite?Doctor's answer:
For the daughter's recurring refusal to eat, first, you should not force her to defecate or constantly criticize her. Since she is in a rebellious phase, this will only make her more resentful of defecation. Instead, you should try incentivizing her or engaging in more patient interaction with her to encourage her to defecate. Additionally, you could consider involving her in meal preparation. Children often feel excited about doing things themselves, and if she participates in cooking, it may reduce her appetite.