When they find their baby has a poor appetite, most mothers become very worried and anxious, and take their child to the hospital to check if they are sick. However, many mothers do not realize that the vast majority of poor appetite is caused by non-pathological factors, so they really don't need to worry too much.
But while it's easy to say, it's hard to do. Few mothers can bear to watch their baby eat poorly. Because, not eating well may mean inadequate nutritional intake, which can affect the baby's growth and development, and may even be a precursor to illness. But experts say that in many cases, this is not actually the case.
I. Several reasons why parents think their baby has a poor appetite:
1. The amount of food babies eat is not comparable
Due to factors such as genetics, environment, body type, and activity level, the nutritional needs of normal babies vary greatly from individual to individual, and their appetite will naturally differ. Therefore, mothers must never compare their children's food intake to judge if their own child has a poor appetite.
It is also worth mentioning that some cases of poor appetite are actually due to a difference between the child's food intake and the parents' expected intake, and are mistakenly considered as poor appetite.
2. A baby's appetite is not stable
A baby's appetite can periodically increase or decrease slightly, which are mostly normal physiological phenomena and nothing to worry about. Babies often lose their appetite, have an aversion to food, or eat less in the summer. This is because the body regulates its temperature by directing more blood to the skin, relatively reducing the supply to internal organs, which affects gastric acid secretion and leads to reduced digestive function. In addition, the muggy weather affects the baby's rest and sleep, causing the nervous system to be in a state of tension, and the activity levels of certain endocrine glands also change, all of which affect gastrointestinal activity. Another influencing factor is that drinking large amounts of water dilutes the gastric juice, greatly reducing the appetite.
3. Losing interest in favorite foods
Various factors in life often affect appetite. There is no need to be overly concerned if the baby is in a good mood and healthy.
4. If the baby refuses to eat, don't force them
From a nutritional perspective, if the same amount of calories can be obtained from foods other than rice (such as bread, noodles, tubers), then there will be no problem. Sometimes a child may have a poor appetite for certain reasons (feeling unwell or being too full from the previous meal). In this case, do not force the child to eat. If you let them skip this meal, they might eat better at the next one.
II. What causes poor appetite
When a baby shows signs of poor appetite, mothers should first pay attention to whether the following situations are occurring:
1. Illness and micronutrient deficiency
A baby may have a poor appetite due to feeling unwell, oral diseases, zinc deficiency, etc.
2. Bad habits and dietary arrangements
Having developed a habit of eating snacks, the child finds meals unappealing. Improper ways of giving snacks, irregular meal times, drinking too much milk, juice, or other beverages before meals can all lead to a poor appetite when it's time to eat.
3. Insufficient chewing ability
Complementary foods are introduced improperly. Some children have never been trained to chew and swallow everything whole. When they encounter slightly harder foods, they either spit them out or hold them in their mouth. Parents, in order to get the child to swallow, give them large amounts of soup, which dilutes the gastric acid. Over time, the child's appetite decreases.
4. Physical and emotional discomfort
If the baby's activity level is insufficient, the food has not been fully digested, and they do not feel hungry. If the baby is too tired or overly excited, they may want to sleep or be uninterested in eating during mealtime, affecting their appetite.
5. Inappropriate parenting methods
Are the parenting methods appropriate? Is there excessive doting or permissiveness? Does the mother excessively force the child to eat during meals? Has the mother created a pleasant dining atmosphere for the child?
6. A severe decrease in appetite accompanied by the following conditions should be considered as a possible illness:
A severe decrease in appetite accompanied by listlessness and a low-grade fever may indicate a tuberculosis infection;
A severe decrease in appetite accompanied by abdominal pain, blood in the stool, etc., may indicate gastrointestinal ulcers, parasitic infections, etc.; In addition to loss of appetite, there are also symptoms such as slow reaction, rough skin, and poor development, which may indicate hypothyroidism;
A severe decrease in appetite accompanied by excessive sweating, softened skull bones, etc., is mostly likely caused by rickets;
A full-term newborn's refusal to eat often indicates a serious condition and attention should be paid to meningitis, sepsis, etc.
III. Two great tips to stimulate a baby's appetite
1. Supplement with micronutrients
If a baby often shows signs of slow growth, poor appetite, delayed or even lost sense of taste, poor wound healing, and is prone to infections, and if these situations occur, the baby should be taken to the hospital immediately. If there is a deficiency in zinc or other micronutrients, supplementing them can fundamentally treat the condition and increase appetite.
2. Use medicines to strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite
From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, it is related to the child's weak spleen and stomach function. Treatment can involve taking medicines to strengthen the spleen and whet the appetite, such as Xiao'er Kang and Xiao'er Shi Syrup. Some other Chinese patent medicines also have this effect. At the same time, parents can also take the baby to a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for massage, which also has a good effect.