Say 'No' to pleasing Children with Treats
Why do people force children to try a new food? Is it good or bad? Tricky questions...sometimes the answer is Positive, at times Negative and Harmful too....when i say 'People', i mean every other person except Parents..parents know best about their own chuldren and their health. Whether the child has any food allergy or not, it is best to let the parents decide about introducing a new kind of food item.
My child was perfectly fine with no food reactions, she was not so delicate with trying new food items. I had total control on her food intake, etc...i brought my 3 year old toddler to India for a 3-month trip. I had my own worries about Climate, as it was end of winter...but i never expected i had to see my child facing a major Food poisoning episode just 2weeks of our arrival. It all started with family members bringing all store bought food items to please my child, they even teased me that i dont pamper her. she was given 3-4 chocolates every day, and i was asked not to stop her.....she ate sweets and every other artificial foods. One morning, she woke up vomiting 8 times, i realised she had eaten a red colored strawberry kind of sweet. The following 2 weeks she struggled to take medicines galore to relieve her food poisoned tummy. I remember i strictly told my family not to give her those sweets, they were careless.....
Why was i so helpless...those family members were my husband's parents. I couldnot argue with them and so my child suffered. One month passed and even today they offer sweets and savory to her......my own parents dont do that, they care for my thoughts and my child. Why the difference and the negligence? Should we be assertive and create a drama ( according to others) for just a silly food item or keep quiet and make sure our children are safe?! Because parents are strict and careful, these overly- smart kids go to grandparents and others tricking them for treats!! How to handle this tough and strangely troublesome situation?!
- Prathyusha Talluri