STRATEGI PENDAMPINGAN ORANG TUA PADA BALITA DENGAN WASTING : Studi Kasus”

Background: Toddlers are a vulnerable age group prone to nutritional issues such as wasting and underweight, which can impact physical growth, organ development, and learning abilities. According to UNICEF data in 2023, approximately 45 million toddlers worldwide experience wasting, with most cases occurring in Asia, including Indonesia. Objective: To identify parenting strategies for addressing toddlers with poor nutritional status who are difficult eaters or picky eaters. Methods: The research utilized a qualitative case study method involving two subjects, Mrs. M (P1) and Mr. A (P2). Data validation was performed using source triangulation through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The data analysis technique used is thematic analysis, which aims to interpret meaningful themes through keywords obtained from interviews, observations, and documentation. Results : Data analysis from validated interviews identified four themes: 1) Strengthening the active role of toddlers in independent eating through the Baby-Led Weaning approach, 2) Parents’ adaptive strategies in fulfilling nutritional needs through food intake, and 3) Efforts to provide adaptive support for parents in feeding children with wasting. Conclusion: This study identified four key strategies used by parents in supporting the nutritional sufficiency of children with wasting: partial implementation of Baby Led Weaning, provision of complementary foods based on the child's taste though not yet nutritionally balanced, and adaptive family support in maintaining the child's motivation to eat. These strategies reflect a responsive parental role, though further strengthening is needed to ensure more effective nutritional support.