Eating therapy, a parental solution for children who have difficulty eating

Having a toddler who has difficulty eating certainly makes parents confused about what to do. No need to worry, now there are therapies that parents can try for children who have difficulty eating, especially at the age of toddlers.

What is eating therapy and how can it benefit your toddler? Find the answer through the reviews below.

What is meal therapy?

Eating therapy is a method used to treat someone who has difficulty eating. This condition can occur in people of all ages but often occurs in children and toddlers.

This therapy does not only teach children to eat, but also works with parents and caregivers to make the eating process easier.

However, you need to identify in advance what symptoms make your toddler need eating therapy.

Signs that your child needs feeding therapy

According to Kimberly Hirte, pediatric pathologist told Intermountain Healthcare states that there are several symptoms that need to be considered by parents when a child has difficulty eating.

If they experience the following signs, it is likely that your toddler and child will need feeding therapy.

• Difficulty chewing food
• His weight and height have not increased in recent weeks
• Often vomits and spits food that has just entered his mouth
• Difficulty breathing when eating and drinking
• Having problems coughing or burping
• Crying for refusing to eat

If your child exhibits these symptoms or they only eat 5-10 different types of food, it is likely that the child will need feeding therapy.

How therapy works for children and toddlers who have difficulty eating

As reported from the page CHOC Children During the eating therapy, the child and the parents will be accompanied by a therapist.

The therapists try to help children improve their eating skills so that the child's mealtime is more enjoyable.

However, not all children will learn the same skills. This capability will be increased based on need.

Here are some general skills that will be developed in the therapy.

1. The ability to chew

In some toddlers, their usual way of chewing is not yet correct. When the food is put in the mouth, the food tends to be chewed on the same tooth.

As a result, these children spit out most of the food because they were bored. This condition is usually caused by several things, such as certain diseases, stunted growth and development, and allergies.

Inadequate chewing ability will increase the risk of several diseases, one of which is malnutrition.

In this therapy, the therapists help toddlers so that they are trained to control and improve the way they chew, inhale, suck, and swallow food.

Thus, this therapy for children and toddlers who have difficulty eating makes them use all their teeth and tongue to process food.

2. Increase the amount and type of food

Apart from the ability to chew, toddlers who are picky eaters may need this eating therapy.

This may be due to certain diseases or allergies that make your child unable to eat food freely.

Therefore, they need help so that the amount and type of food consumed can increase. This method is quite important in an effort so that your child can enjoy a more balanced and healthier diet.

Therapists need help from parents and other family members so that children are willing to eat the type and amount of food that has been determined.

3. Creating a positive relationship with food

This therapy for children and toddlers who have difficulty eating is also useful so that children can create a positive relationship with their food.

Children or toddlers who have health problems, such as allergies or difficulty chewing, usually have a bad feeling about their own food.

As a result, their appetite has decreased or even completely disappeared.

In this session, the therapists work together with the parents to establish a child's eating routine to create a more positive relationship with food.

For example, parents eat with their children or chew food offered by toddlers to encourage them.

This eating therapy also teaches children to drink from a glass and eat using a spoon and fork.

Thus, they are more able to enjoy meal times and have positive experiences, so that mealtimes are no longer scary.

If done in accordance with what is taught, the chances of therapy for success are quite large.

If you feel your child's growth is stunted, consult your pediatrician to get the right alternative treatment.

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