We Nigerians are very unique and creative when it comes to critical matters.
I knew a woman who always complained about her children not wanting to eat. As a mother, this made her worried and restless.
Solution? She resulted to using the traditional feeding method which involves laying the child horizontally on her laps and forcing the content down their throat.
This method is being implemented on picky children who are a year old or younger. This method involves, famously, the use of Pap which is made to a very watery state.
Research has proven that this method is very harmful to a child because the pharynx shots the trachea to receive food into the stomach and vice-versa. This is to prevent substances from going down the wrong path. Therefore, when a child is being fed forcefully could lead to choking or even death.
Unfortunately, Nigerians are very daring and insists on this harmful feeding process.
My mother once told me that I was a picky eater and she had always used that method on to feed me when I was a child.
We need to create awareness to discourage the society to refrain from this bad practice as it has lead to an unfortunate death of so many young ones at an alarming rate. We need to educate the society to visit a nutritionist who will provide guidance on healthy eating habits for the child. This method has been proven to be more effective and very safe for the child and the family at large.
It is time to change our mindset.