An occasional loss of appetite is normal and usually not a concern. When appetite loss is prolonged or accompanied with weight loss, a visit to the doctor is warranted. Causes of reduced appetite include some illnesses, certain medications, emotional or mental problems, or your child simply may be a picky eater. Take your child to a physician to rule out underlying medical conditions. Follow any directions given by the doctor and practice appetite-stimulating techniques at home to encourage your underweight child to eat and gain weight.
Step 1
Offer your child his favorite foods--even if they are not the healthiest of food choices--to encourage him to eat. If your child has no appetite and is not eating, even unhealthy food choices are better than no food at all. Although unhealthy foods are not appropriate as main dietary staples, they are useful for encouraging appetite. Try offering small amounts of junk foods such as cookies or chips, followed by healthier food choices.
Step 2
Set regular times for meals to habituate your child's body to desire food at mealtimes.
Step 3
Make mealtime fun. Eat together as a family in a casual setting with fun conversation. The University of Nevada suggests playing your child's favorite music during mealtime to promote a feeling of happiness, which may increase appetite.
Step 4
Experiment with different foods during meal and snack times to find ones that stimulate your child's appetite. Try foods without different textures. Some picky eaters are turned off by certain food textures.
Step 5
Prepare foods to look and smell good by using your child's favorite spices and dips.
Step 6
Encourage your child to participate in daily physical activities to encourage hunger. The Mayo Clinic says "regular moderate exercise may help stimulate your appetite." Swimming, hiking, playing basketball, riding a bike or any other activity your child enjoys will work.
Step 7
Ask your child's doctor if prescription appetite stimulant medications are appropriate for your child. Appetite stimulants such as cyproheptadine carry some risks of side effects but have been shown to increase appetite and weight gain in children, according to a study published in the "Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism."
If you are interested in natural appetite stimulants, ask your doctor about dandelion extract. Dandelion extract is a mild appetite stimulant that is generally safe for use in children, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Due to the possibility of allergies to dandelion and medication interactions, ask a doctor before giving your child dandelion extract.
References
- University of Nevada: When You Need to Gain Weight
- Mayo Clinic: No Appetite? How to Get Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
- Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism; Short-term Cyproheptadine Therapy in Underweight Children: Effects on Growth and Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-I; Pat Mahachoklertwattana, Santhira Wanasuwankul, Preamrudee Poomthavorn, Lulin Choubtum, Arporn Sriphrapradang; Jan. 6, 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dandelion
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