Common Nutrition Problems in Children

Nutritional and dietary requirements differ in children from that of adults because they are at a growing stage. Nutrition that is vital for human becomes more critical for the children’s growth. However, it becomes challenging for the parents to make sure whether the child is receiving proper nutrients in their daily routine. Following are the general nutritional problems related to children.

Failure to Thrive

This term refers to the kids who are not gaining weight with their age, and their weight is not within the line of a healthy weight range according to their body type. Their height also seems shorter than that of their age fellows. Due to these reasons, the healthy development of a kid is affected, and the puberty may be delayed. While failure to thrive can be due to medical problems such as hormone problem, metabolism problem, organ problems, the problem with genes or deficient nutrient. The failure to succeed that is caused due to poor diet can be treated by following a proper diet that includes the use of vegetables, fruits, grains and all those food items that are rich in vitamins, calcium and protein that their body needs to grow.

Food Refusal

Food refusal is the other problem of poor nutrition in children. Some children are very picky in case of food and eating habits. It might be due to their food taste, colors or textures of the food. Therefore, parents should make sure that their child tastes everything and should make them adopt the habit of eating what they are served from an early age. In this way, they would be able to get proper nutrition by having a variety of foods.

Allergy and Intolerance

Food allergy could be commonly seen in the kids due to certain factors like Gluten and lactose intolerance nowadays. Most children have allergy from eggs, milk and peanuts. Due to this, kids don’t get certain nutrients due to which deficiencies occur in their body that affects their growth process. For instance, if a child has an allergy from milk or has lactose intolerance, the calcium intake in their body could be affected. In such a case, you need to talk to the physician about the supplements to fulfil the deficiency.

Iron Deficiency – Anemia

An iron deficiency causes Anemia in which the body don’t have enough red blood cells. It is mostly seen in the children lacking the use of milk and dairy products in their diet. The symptoms of iron deficiency include weakness, pale skin, chest pain, fast heartbeat, head-ache, breathing problems, cold hands and feet. To avoid such a problem, parents should make sure that their children have iron rich food apart from their daily diet.

The Emotional Needs of Toddlers

Although the toddlers cannot verbalize their emotions, their feelings in a particular situation but their behavior shows what they feel. Identifying the child’s mood and reacting towards it determines how parents meet their emotional needs. It is not an easy job as the children have mixed feelings and emotions. They might express themselves with tantrums, bouts of aggression and crying with any actual reason. At this time, they want someone, especially their parents, to give them time, attention and make them feel secure and loved.

The need to Feel Secure

The essential need for the emotional well- being of kids is to make them feel safe and secure. You need to promote the feeling of security in your kids by keeping your words. For instance, if you say that you will take your child to the park in the evening, then it is essential to do so. You need to be friendly with your child so that they feel secure.

The need to Feel Heard

Even with limited verbal communication ability, kids want to be heard. They put all their effort as they can to make you understand what they need. But if adults do not understand them, they get frustrated. To avoid the communication gap, you need to understand your kid's attempt to communicate and make them learn the right way to express themselves.

The need to Feel Included

It is the need of every child to get importance from their loved ones. Those children who are given importance and are involved in daily activities or discussion have a well-groomed and confident personality. So, you can make your child included by spending time with them doing different activities like taking help from them while baking cookies, in gardening or building a tower from blocks with them. You should give them a chance to express what they think and should appreciate their contribution.

The need to Feel Loved

It is the need of every living thing to be loved whether they are birds, animals or humans. You can get everything in exchange for love. Children want your attention and time. They want you to take care of and support them. You don’t need to be with them all the time, but you need to make them know that you will be there for them at any time they need. It makes them feel secure and loved.

The need to Feel Accepted

Children do things the way they imagine them. It is not compulsory that they do things in the way you want them to. Let them do it their way. They need your acceptance. Spend time with them while watching and listening to their ideas and understanding their way of seeing the world. For example, if your child is playing with the dollhouse and she put the bathtub on the roof, then it’s okay. Don’t start finding mistakes in it; accept their way of doing things. You should appreciate them and support them so that they can confidently live and grow up.