It starts when they are first born and continues until well, I have not got to the end of it yet so I don’t know how long it continues—but what I do know is that parents naturally fuss about whether or not their child is getting enough to eat, enough of the right sorts of things, and whether the eating habits are healthy or not. The reality that can surprise many new parents is that a child’s appetite changes—it can change in a day or can go in spikes and shifts. Children are not static little robots, nor do they have the general regular eating habits of adults. Children’s appetites are constantly changing.
Just when you’ve got your infant to sleep through the night, you might be worried to find that she is waking again crying and wanting to nurse. Chances are, she is experiencing a growth spurt and needs more to eat. A baby with a voracious appetite may turn into a toddler that will only eat dry cheerios and sliced apples. I have known many parents of toddlers who are shocked to find that just when the child seems to be busier than ever, his appetite seems to drop. Sometimes, the changes in appetite seem obvious and make sense—the child is teething or sick and doesn’t want to eat—and sometimes they seem downright kooky—suddenly the child won’t eat anything orange (or brown or green or yellow). A parent could make him or herself crazy trying to decipher and keep up with a child’s changing appetite. Instead, we can try to take things with a little more calm.
If you are really concerned about a child’s appetite shift, ask your physician or primary care provider for advice. Meanwhile, continue to offer a variety of foods and don’t be alarmed if a child is suddenly extra-hungry or not hungry at all. There will be times when your growing child will need and want more food and there will be other times when it may seem like he is hardly eating enough to stay alive. Keep the beverages and fluids coming and have fun with food, if you expect that your child’s appetite will change constantly it might not be such a problem.
Also: Being Eaten Out of House and Home