If your baby enjoys carrot puree one day but pushes it away the next, or if you find yourself convincing your little one to eat, you're not alone. Around 20% to 50% of kids are described by their parents as picky eaters. Why do babies turn into picky eaters? What are the signs? And what can you do about it? I am Christelle Bedrossian, a pediatric nutritionist in Dubai. Let me guide you on how to deal with picky eaters and make them eat healthy foods they show tantrums around.
The symptoms of a picky eater are very obvious. Your baby might push away the spoon or turn his head away from it. Baby might close its mouth as you try feeding it, spit out food, or become bad-tempered or tired at mealtime. Yet these signals don't automatically mean your little one is picky. They can also be signs your baby is simply distracted, full, or not feeling well.
A baby can seem picky for many reasons or no reason at all. He may have an immature digestive system that will heal with time. She might be teething, have a food allergy, an infection, or just might not be ready for solid foods yet.
If the growth and weight gain are normal and the baby is reaching their milestones, there's generally no reason to worry about a fussy baby who prefers a limited diet. But if you find yourself nervous about infant feeding problems, talk to your pediatrician or dietitian before trying the following instructions.
If your little one turns his head from the spoon, this means he has had enough, even if it seems he had very little. Trust that your child will consume what he needs. If you force the baby to eat despite these signs, he may start associating eating with discomfort and tension and he might become even fussier.
Even babies have food preferences. Some enjoy wet foods, while others like better finger foods. Some may want to browse through 5 to 6 mini-meals, while others may favor liquids over solids for a time. Be careful not to feed your child "junk" in order to get him to eat. Offer healthy options, and he'll build up a taste for them.
Make food the center of mealtime. Turn off the TV, remove books and toys, and aid your little one to focus on one thing: Eating! This will help your child understand the importance of meals and meal time.
Some babies want to eat fast, while others like to eat slow. Could you be annoying your baby with the wrong feeding tempo? Find this by slowing down the next feeding or picking up the speed.
It's better to let a picky eater take less time than he wants to eat. Although you shouldn't rush their mealtime, don't let it exceed 30 minutes.
You most likely wouldn't eat a food you've never seen before without first looking, touching or smelling it. Your baby is just the same, so let him touch a new food before you offer it. Interacting with the smell and touch of food plays will help your child like it better.
The majority of babies start eating solid foods between 4 and 6 months. However, some may start a little earlier and others later. As with crawling, potty-training, and just about every other baby milestone, there's no perfect time, there's your baby's time.
By about 9 months, many babies are fascinated in trying to feed themselves. Although your picky eater will most probably make a mess around mealtime by waving the spoon, letting them take control is essential for their growth and development.
As they attain the end of their first year, babies tend to develop slowly, so their calorie needs can sometimes get low. Learn to be patient around this time; developments are on the way.
React sensitively to a picky eater because even a 1-year-old will understand his power over you. Recognize that you want your baby to eat for his own well-being, not to please you. Always remember that a baby's rejection of a food is not a rejection of you.
Some babies may require trying a food 8, 10, or even 15 times before they start to enjoy it. You need to be patient and continue to revisit a rejected food over time as long as there are no allergy issues.
It's your duty to feed your baby, but it's your baby's responsibility to choose what and how much to eat. Children are always going to eat when they're hungry. As long as your child is growing and gaining the right weight, and you are feeding him healthy foods, there's a modest need to worry about a picky eater. To learn more about this, connect with me. I'm Christelle Bedrossian, a pediatric nutritionist in Dubai specializing in nutrition programs for kids and adolescents.
