Young children try to express their feelings by being selfish and crying for various reasons. Especially when they are around two years old, they often start to show their dislike for food or sleep.
Of course, this is a very important time for them to grow up. However, from the standpoint of a parent, it can be a very distressing and frustrating time.
Even if you are a parent, you may want to get angry when your child does not eat the food you have cooked, or when he starts to cry or something.
In this article, we would like to talk about the reasons why two-year-old don’t eat and how to solve the frustration of raising a child.
Possible Reasons Your Child Isn’t Eating
No matter how small the child is, there must be a reason why he or she doesn’t eat. Here are five reasons why children around the age of two don’t eat their food.
They don’t like the taste or texture of the food.
Food that tastes too light, too thick, too bitter, or too hard can be very difficult for a young child to eat. Since their chewing function is not yet perfect, they often cry in disgust when given hard foods.
If you cut the food into small pieces or use flour or potato starch to soften it before giving it to your child, he or she will be more likely to eat it.
Also, if the food is lightly seasoned like baby food, it may not be enough for a two-year-old. It is recommended that you gradually adjust the taste to that of adults.
Not eating with parents.
Children want their parents to pay attention to them at all times. Even if your children are having meals, they need to get attention from their parents that make them feel comfortable.
It is a good idea for couples to talk about any topics between adults after your children go to bed and while they are eating, it’s better to talk to them or smile at them.
This way, they will be less likely to act like they are not eating to get their parents’ attention.
The TV is on.
If the TV is on while eating, many children are bothered and cannot concentrate on eating. This can cause them to stop eating and chew less.
It is best to prioritize communication with the family during meals and turn off the TV so that the child can concentrate on eating.
Too much food.
Children as young as two years old can vary greatly in the amount of food they eat.
If your child leaves a lot of food uneaten, it is often because the amount of food is not appropriate. If you notice this early on, try to adjust it.
Also, praise your children when he or she finishes their meal. You can also increase the amount of food by asking them if they want a second round or not.
Too many snacks.
If the amount of snack is too much or the time of eating is too close to the time of dinner, the child will not be hungry and will often not eat dinner.
If you eat dinner around 7 pm, give your child a snack around 3 pm. Drinks should also be tea and avoid juice except during snack time.
Some children may be cute and beg for more of their favorite sweet snacks, but try to be patient with them.
Adjusting the time and amount of snacks to match the time of dinner will help your child to eat dinner without getting upset.
How to eliminate the frustrations of parenting
There are many frustrating things that happen during child-rearing, such as not eating or being selfish.
You need to get rid of the frustration before it explodes. Here are three ways to get rid of frustration while raising children.
Talk with your friends.
When you talk with your friends about your parenting problems, you can get sympathy and solutions. It’s hard to deal with these problems alone, but just knowing that there are other mothers who share your concerns can make you feel better.
It is also a good idea to connect with various people at child care centers, counseling classes, and on the Internet to get advice.
The solution is to get involved with a lot of people and not keep your frustrations to yourself.
Make time for yourself.
When you are raising children, you don’t have much time for yourself. We recommend that you leave your child with your parents or someone you know once in a while and enjoy your time to yourself.
Watch a movie, go shopping, or just relax and enjoy yourself. Do what you feel most comfortable with.
Forgetting your position as a parent and enjoying your own time will refresh you and allow you to face your children again.
Don’t strive for perfection.
When raising a child, it is unlikely that everything will go as planned. In fact, it is more natural for things to go wrong.
Don’t expect perfection from your child. We think you will feel a little better if you take it for granted that they can’t do it.
This is also true for yourself. Instead of expecting yourself to do the housework perfectly, try to cut corners in moderation, such as using prepared foods once a week or cleaning only once every three days.
By trying not to work too hard, you will feel more relaxed and less irritated and angry.
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced the reasons why a two-year-old child doesn’t eat and how to solve the frustration of raising a child.
Raising a child is very difficult, and we think there are many times when things don’t go as planned and you are troubled.
Even in such times, try to keep your mind relaxed and don’t try too hard.
