Online resource to help with child’s fussy eating
PARENTS battling their children’s fussy eating have been given fresh hope thanks to an online resource proven to relieve the problem.
A new study has shown that the Child Feeding Guide, a free online resource developed by experts at Aston University and Loughborough University, not only helped mums who took part to change their approach to feeding but also reduced their own self-reported anxiety by nearly 20% in just four weeks.
From the age of about 18 months, between a third and half of children go through a period known as ‘neophobia’ – a fear of new things – in relation to food.
This is thought to be an evolutionary development that stopped children from eating potentially poisonous food.
In the study, published in the Nutrition Bulletin journal, 25 mothers with children aged six months to four years used the Child Feeding Guide website over four weeks. Mothers provided information about their feeding practices and anxiety levels at baseline, and again four weeks later. They also answered questions on how they found using the digital resource.
Significant decreases were seen in mothers’ own anxiety and in the use of ‘pressure to eat’ – trying to force children to eat foods they didn’t want - and ‘restriction of food’ – hiding away unhealthy foods. Mothers reported that the guide was easy to use, that they valued its credibility and reassurances and that its content helped them to better understand their child’s eating behaviour.
Dr Emma Haycraft, a reader in psychology at Loughborough University, said: “Making parents and caregivers aware of why their child might be refusing food or prefer eating pasta to carrots, and what they can do to help overcome this, is a key part of the Child Feeding Guide which users tell us they really value.”
To view the guide visit https://www. childfeedingguide.co.uk/