Child Struggling to Eat? Doctor Urges Evaluation of Feeding Rules Before Suspecting Illness
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Facing a child who displays the Mouth-Clamping Movement (GTM) or has difficulty eating can leave parents feeling puzzled. Worries about a child’s slow weight gain often trigger panic, leading parents to quickly suspect a particular illness. Before testing a child for secondary diseases that cause poor appetite, such as tuberculosis (TB) or anaemia, the first step is to evaluate the feeding practices (feeding rules).
This was stated by Dr Ian Suryadi Suteja, M.Med Sc, Sp.A, at the Health Corner event titled ‘Fighting Children’s Weight: Proper Nutrition, Great Growth’ in Jakarta Pusat, on Friday 6 March 2026. According to the paediatrician practising at Tzu Chi Hospital PIK, proper feeding should follow regular schedules, environments, and procedures. The World Health Organization (WHO) also promotes ‘responsive feeding’, where parents understand the child’s signals of fullness and hunger.
The following are the feeding rules parents should adhere to:
Children should have regular main meals and snacks, i.e., three main meals and two snacks in between.
Meal times should not exceed 30 minutes. Milk can be given two to three times a day, and the child should only drink plain water between meals.
Create a pleasant environment and avoid any form of coercion during meals. Ensure there are no distractions such as toys, television, or devices. Parents are also advised not to offer food as a reward.
Always encourage the child to eat independently. If the child shows signs of unwillingness, such as clamping the mouth, turning the head, or crying, offer the food again in a neutral manner without cajoling or forcing. If after 10–15 minutes the child still refuses, end the meal.
For babies aged zero to three months, they drink milk as they wish. From four to six months, milk feeding should begin to follow the schedule set by the parents.
The milk-feeding schedule can be adjusted in line with the recommendations of each child’s paediatrician to better fit the individual child’s condition.