She is also insistent. My wife and I always try to fulfill her needs and regard her thoughts. How can we decrease her insistence?
Please suggest a solution.
Regards
Asish Kumar Sarker
Janata Traders
7, Rajuk Avenue (7th floor)
Dhaka 1000
asish_pfizer@yahoo.com

Answer:
As your statement says, your daughter is okay in growth and development and she has no major health problems. There is nothing to worry.

First thing you should realize that to maintain proper health and nutritional status, eating rice is not significant. As she has reached the age of 4 without rice, she is pretty habituated with other foods that satisfy her demand.

If you are interested in changing her food habit for the consumption of rice, you can inspire her by showing the example of other children of same age (maybe her friends and cousins). You can bring her to the dinner table with other children who eat rice. But you have to keep in mind that if she looses her appetite with other sorts of food, she is most likely not to be interested in rice. She needs to be hungry enough to take some food that she doesn't like.

Although she is apparently healthy and free from disease, she may suffer from some nutritional factors like vitamins and minerals. To assess any deficiency, you can consult a pediatrician who can suggest any vitamin or mineral supplement if your daughter is really in need of. You must not use any drug for the purpose of increasing her appetite without prior consultation with any specialist, as there is no such indication.

Your second complaint is your daughter is insistent and you would like to get rid of this habit. This is simply a behavioural problem. This may be the result of your over affection and lack of restriction. You have to make her understand the common family and social values.

She may require some psychotherapy after her behavioural assessment.

On coming issue "Your Doctor" will respond to problems of nephrology (kidney diseases). Send your questions to Your Doctor, Star Health, The Daily Star, 19, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka 1215 or e-mail your problem to starhealth@thedailystar.net