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He likes it. He likes it not. As your baby becomes more strong-willed, it can seem like he's getting more finicky by the day. Here's how to pacify your picky eater.
Set the stage
Sometimes the environment, not the food, contributes to a baby's fickleness. Do you get up from the table to run to the fridge or answer the phone? Is your baby's high-chair tray loaded with toys? All this distracts from the purpose of mealtime: nourishment and family bonding.
Create a calming environment by having everything you need - salad dressing, salt and pepper, and napkins, for example - on the table so you can stay put. If the phone rings, let it go; your priority is family and eating. And don't try to resolve family conflicts over the dinner table. If the time is viewed more as a lighthearted social hour, your baby will be more likely to want to participate in eating. |
To keep your baby from associating mealtime with playtime, keep toys off his tray. Also limit the number of bowls, spoons and cups on his tray. Giving him too much too soon, even if they're eating utensils, can overwhelm him and leave him uninterested in the task at hand.
Remember, too, that your child learns eating habits from you. At this stage, your curious little guy takes pleasure in watching mom, dad and siblings eat. If you make a face or holler "Yuck!" after biting into a food, your baby will think it's acceptable for him to follow suit. And if you eat unhealthy foods, your baby will want them too. But if you make fruits and vegetables a regular part of your meals, he'll be more apt to mimic your healthful choices. In many ways, just like when you were pregnant, your baby eats what you eat!
Be food smart
The other factor that contributes to your baby's pickiness is the food itself. As he explores new tastes and textures, he naturally finds some foods he loves, some he merely tolerates, and some he quickly spits out. Here's how to handle his changing tastes: |
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- Breast-feed or bottle-feed your baby before the family sits down to the table to ensure that he's not too hungry to focus on his food. Remember, even when he's eating solid food, he still needs the nutrients from breast milk or an iron-fortified infant formula.
- Large portions may overwhelm him, so be sure to put baby-size meals on his tray.
- Give him time to chew, swallow and even play around a bit with a new food. Rushing him may make him anxious.
- Add interest to his food. Use small cookie cutters to cut slices of bread, cheese or pancakes.
- Don't expect perfection. If you're uptight about the mess your baby makes when he eats, he'll sense it. Protect flooring near his chair with a plastic runner or newspapers. Give him unbreakable dishes and his own child-size spoon.
- Remain patient. If your baby rejects a food, prepare it in a different way next week and try offering it to him again.
- Be realistic: your baby may never love brussel sprouts. But with your help, he can learn the joy of trying new foods and the pleasures shared around the dinner table.
For more information on this topic, check our Q&A Section. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please feel free to Ask a Dietitian. |
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