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Fending Off Preschooler Food Fits  Fending Off Preschooler Food
Fits  Now that he can better communicate his eating preferences,
your child may hassle you more than ever about eating. Children
who regularly refuse food at mealtimes or demand diversions such
as television and toys in order to eat are prone to what I have
come to call food fits: They use food to gain attention and to
manipulate their parents and caregivers. When adults chronically
cave in to crying, screaming children, they perpetuate this
behavior. Children crave attention of any type. So when you get
upset, it's just as fun for them as when you praise them.
Watching your reaction to their refusal to eat may actually be a
sport for children who regularly throw food fits.  You can't
stop a child from fussing about food. But you can control the
way you react to her demands for special foods served in certain
ways. The good news is that food fits don't have to turn into
full-blown fo