When your child is ill
Loss of appetite is often one of the first signs of illness in a child, but this need not be a cause for concern if the illness is brief.
Your child must drink plenty of fluids, especially if she has been vomiting or had diarrhea
There [...]
Overweight
Obesity is one of the most common nutritional problems among children in prosperous Western societies. Most plump children, however, are not medically overweight, and no special action is needed as long as they are healthy and active.
If [...]
Food Allergy
Most cases of suspected food allergy turn out to be no more than intolerance, or the combination of a fussy child and a fussy mother. A true food allergy is quite rare and occurs when the body’s immune system undergoes an exaggerated reaction [...]
Food Intolerance
The inability to digest certain foods fully has to be distinguished from a true food allergy, which is quite different and very rare. Intolerance occurs when the digestive system fails to produce essential enzymes that break down food inside [...]
Refusal to eat
Not eating is an early indication that your child may be unwell, so observe her carefully. If she looks pale, and seems fretful and more clumsy that usual, check her temperature and speak to her doctor if you’re worried.
Occasionally your [...]
Food Preferences
In the second year your child will start to show likes and dislikes for certain foods. It is very common for children to go through phases of eating only one kind of food and refusing everything else. For example, she may go for a week eating [...]
Feeding Problems
Some young children are “difficult eaters”, but it many cases the real difficulty is with a parent who expects the child to conform to an eating pattern that doesn’t suit her. If you approach feeding problems with sympathy and a flexible [...]