Meal time feels like a “battlefield” with my child. How can I change it?
You are totally right; the meal time has to be a good time for the child and the parent. You need to find a way to avoid creating a “battlefield” environment at every meal. Meal time stress can come from both parent and child. That's why it is your responsibility to plan ahead. Here are 3 tips that can help you do so:
Meal time should be concurrent with a good mood. Make sure the child is not too hungry, angry, upset, tired, etc.
Introduce a new food 2-3 times per week. It can be a stressful situation and you don’t want your child to feel he is being “tested” at every meal.
Offer only 2-3 food options for the child. Too many options can be confusing for the child and start a fight over what the child will or won't eat. For infants/toddlers, it is best to include all the prepared food on the child’s plate.
