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How to teach a child to eat on their own
The older the child gets, the more skills he acquires. One of them is the ability to eat independently. Not all parents can quickly teach this baby. It is important to adhere to some rules for the training to be successful.
Determine the child’s readiness to eat on their own
Before you teach your child to eat on their own, it is important to make sure that they are ready for this step. Of course, all children develop at a different pace. But in general, the age from 10 months to one and a half years is considered optimal for this.
It is important to be patient to teach your child how to eat on their own.
You can determine the baby’s readiness to eat on their own by the following signs:
- confidently holds a spoon;
- eats complementary foods with joy;
- is actively interested in adult food and cutlery;
If you ignore and not encourage the child’s attempts to eat himself, then he can give up the spoon for a long time. Therefore, it is important not to miss the opportunity to help your baby learn this skill.
If the child is not ready to eat independently, you cannot force him. Force-feeding provokes mental and gastrointestinal problems.
Basic rules for teaching a child to eat on their own
Psychologists know how to teach even the most naughty kid to eat on their own. They recommend sticking to simple rules to help make this process easier.
First of all, it is important to be calm. You cannot raise your voice, shout at a child if he is not very accurate. Remember that the baby is just learning and support his endeavors with praise. Do not rush the child, because every movement for him is a great effort. Be patient.
Choose convenient utensils and utensils for feeding. For this, the following are suitable:
- small, shallow bowl;
- spoon appropriate for the age of the baby.
The child should not have difficulty with the shape or size of the dishes.
Eat at the same time as your baby, because children learn best by example. The child will try to repeat your actions, thereby improving their skills. Moreover, you will have a free minute to have a quiet lunch while the baby is busy with a spoon.
Also stick to the regimen and set the frames right away. You can not watch TV or play with the phone while feeding. This impairs appetite and leads to digestive problems.
In general, to figure out how to teach a baby to eat on his own, you just need to take a closer look at him and understand how ready he is for this step.