Changes in Appetite among Toddlers Aged 1–3 Years after Massage with Citronella Oil

Background: Reduced appetite in toddlers may compromise nutrient intake and growth. Toddler massage with citronella oil may provide tactile stimulation and relaxation that can support eating behaviour. Objective: To analyze changes in appetite among toddlers aged 1–3 years before and after massage using citronella oil at Al-Amiin Day Care, Kediri City. Methods: This quantitative pre-experimental study used a one-group pretest-posttest design involving 34 toddlers from a population of 50. The intervention was delivered four times over one month, once weekly, for approximately 15 minutes per session. Appetite was measured using a 17-item questionnaire adapted from the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test at α=0.05. Results: Before the intervention, 24 toddlers (70.6%) had moderate appetite and 10 (29.4%) had good appetite. After the intervention, all participants (100%) were classified as having good appetite. The median score increased from 59.5 (IQR 53.25–63.00) to 70.0 (IQR 69.00–77.00). Thirty-three participants had higher post-intervention scores, one had a lower score, and none had unchanged scores. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant pre–post difference (Z=-5.059; p<0.001). Conclusion: Appetite scores increased after four sessions of toddler massage using citronella oil. Because this study had no control group, the findings demonstrate a pre–post change but do not establish definitive causal effectiveness