Eating

Eating and drinking is generally a pleasant experience and can be a special time spent with your child. If possible mealtimes should be fun times and not rushed. There are times though when some children find certain aspects of eating and drinking a little difficult and this can cause anxiety.

It is much easier for a child to eat in a sitting position. This is the same for a very young child up to the older child who is trying to eat their tea on their laps in front of the television. A firm chair at a table means that the child is balanced and therefore able to co-ordinate their hands better to use a knife and fork.

With young children when you are feeding them make sure that they know it is a mealtime and so know what is expected of them:

• Make sure they are seated comfortably
• Make sure that the child’s head is not tipped back or to the side
• Give them a spoon to hold or some cue to tell them it is time to eat
• There may be a time where both of you are using a spoon to encourage your child to be involved
• Try to sit in front of your child so that you have eye contact
• Don’t rush your child, try to go at their pace. Be aware of when they are ready for another spoonful or when they are full
• From approximately 6 months onwards you should encourage the use of a cup for drinks. You can use one with a spout to begin with and there are ones available with a soft spout if that is preferred
  

When your child is older and starting to be more independent remember that sitting in a good position is still important. They should be sitting at a table and chair that are the right height whenever possible.

At first a child will enjoy finger feeding before moving on to use cutlery.

Use a large place-mat so that spills can be cleaned up quickly and this will help your child to build up confidence.

A child will use a spoon first, then can be introduced to using a spoon and fork before using a knife and fork.

If they are having trouble cutting food, a knife and fork with a large handle can help. You can also use cut off pieces of foam insulation to make the handles chunkier. (There are specialist cutlery items available through chemist shops called Junior Caring Cutlery that are shaped specially to encourage a good grip).

If the plate moves around when the child is cutting food making it difficult for them then a damp dishcloth can be placed underneath the plate to make it more stable.

Remember that mealtimes should be fun times.

If your child has difficulty with holding a spoon or cutting up food it can be easier to work on this through play. Spoons can be used in sand or water play and cutlery can be used with playdough or plasticine at times other than mealtimes so that they can build up confidence.

Reproduced with kind permission by Jill Steward, Occupational Therapist, Surestart, Stoke North.