YOUR STARVING FUSSY EATER IS HOME FROM CHILDCARE

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YOUR STARVING FUSSY EATER IS HOME FROM CHILDCARE
www.fussyeater.com.au
Call 0421 843 038
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YOUR STARVING FUSSY EATER IS HOME FROM CHILDCARE
Your starving fussy eater is home from childcare.
He is distraught, cranky and gulps downs a
chocolate flavoured milk bottle in seconds, you
struggle to help him calm down. Again today he
has not eaten anything at childcare.
This has become a daily occurrence and you wonder
how best to address the issue. This post will
help you ask the right questions to determine
whether your child needs further support, whether
the childcare centre can provide a more
supportive environment, or whether a change of
childcare centre may be appropriate.
If a change is necessary then this post also
outlines criteria you can use to assess
prospective childcare centres as to the level of
support they can provide your child.
Childcare centres can help fussy eaters
I always recommend children attend childcare
where meals are provided. It provides beneficial
structure and routine, a wide range of food, as
well as peer modelling from other children. Peer
modelling is shown to increase the likelihood of
your child eating new food1. Childcare centres,
therefore, present wonderful opportunities to
support your child.
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I recently wrote this article about children who
eat everything at childcare and are much more
challenging to feed at home. However, some
extreme fussy eaters may struggle at childcare
and may come home starving.
Here are some questions you can ask your
childcare centre to determine why your fussy
eater comes home starving from childcare

1. Does my child reject all food offered?
2. Is my child upset at mealtimes and if so how
   much?
3. Does my child sit with others during meals?
4. Does my child look at what others are eating?
5. Does my child touch the food or explore it in any
   way, including mouthing it, or spitting it?
6. Is my child reactive to smells?
7. Is my child reactive to the noise?

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Best fussy eater feeding practices for childcare
centres
If many answers to these questions concern you,
then it may be useful to determine whether your
childcare centre is using best practice to
deliver meals to fussy eating children.
In my view, the best practice for a childcare
centre is to provide meals around 4 aspects
1. Provide some structure, children are
encouraged to sit down for their meal. The
environment is comfortable and ergonomic.
2. Follow a routine that has most children hungry
at meal and snack times. I know many centres
adapt to parents routines. In fact, I recommend
parents adapt and follow the childcare centre
mealtime routine.
3. Offer a range of food from the middle of the
table so children may help themselves whenever
possible. I have been to childcare centres that
very successfully implement this rather than
plating for children. This not only empowers
children, it allows them to leave food they are
not quite ready to eat, on the table. It also
gives them exposure to unfamiliar food.
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Offer a range of staples, such as bread, fruit or
yoghurt, with the main course. This enables a
fussy eater to eat something successfully. When a
child has refused what is on offer, responding by
offering previously unavailable alternatives, may
reinforce the childs behaviour and delay their
acceptance of new food.
Not all childcare centres accommodate fussy
eaters
You might find your current childcare centre will
not be able to accommodate the changes necessary
for your child to stop coming home from childcare
starving.
Dont despair, I have found centres that are more
than willing to assist parents of fussy eaters.
You may need to contact many local childcare
centres, using the above criteria to find the one
that is right for your child.
www.fussyeater.com.au
Call 0421 843 038
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Your starving fussy eater may need extra support
When fussy eating is extreme some children are
able to switch off their appetite completely!
They can go on for hours without food. It is a
terrible thing to witness as a parent. There may
come a time when you realise your family needs
intervention, because starving an extreme fussy
eater never works. Throughout the years extreme
fussy eating problems compound. It is extremely
debilitating for children to grow into teenagers
or adults who are stuck with such difficulties,
so the earlier you can get professional help the
better. Here you can book your 15 min free
assessment.
www.fussyeater.com.au
Call 0421 843 038
7
Contact us
6 Riddell Parade, Elsternwick 3185, Victoria,
Australia
0421 843 038
mariefrance_at_fussyeater.com.au
www.fussyeater.com.au
www.fussyeater.com.au
Call 0421 843 038