Baby Fussy Eating

When you first introduce your baby to solids, he appears interested in almost all kinds of food. But soon the baby shows signs of fussy eating. Although you find this fussy eating quite upsetting, this is quite normal.

Tips to Deal with Baby's Fussy Eating

• Allow your baby to eat what he wants, even if it means feeding him the same food thrice a day. Some babies prefer having one food for a week and then a different food the following week. You can try offering different foods for him to choose from but do not force it on him.
• You can serve him the same food in a variety of ways. For example, he may have bread toasted once. You could try giving ordinary bread with cheese for another feed followed by bread with mashed bananas for his third feed.
• If you have been feeding him only mashed food, try giving him softened finger foods or other food that can be served as pieces.
• If your menu has been the same for a week, try changing the menu. He may enjoy tasting something different.
• Encourage him to accomplish the self-feeding process.
• Do not give him too much liquid between meal times as this will reduce his solids intake.
• Avoid too many snacks between meals. This will fill his stomach leaving him with no space for healthy food.
• Do not force your little one to finish the contents of his plate.
• Your baby may be fussy over his food just because the texture of the food is not as he wants it to be. Too thin or too thick food (especially mashed), makes all the difference to him. Try and get the texture right for your little one.
• You may have to distract your baby from playing to get him to eat his food.

I have a baby who always shows signs of fussy eating. How can I ensure he is eating enough?

Your baby may be going through changing eating patterns which may be why he is picking at his food. Some tips that you can follow to ensure that your little one is getting his required source of nutrition are:

• Ensure that the atmosphere during mealtime is pleasant. This plays a key role in affecting the appetite and a peaceful atmosphere aids in better digestion.
• Do not serve too much of food in one serving. Too much of food on your baby's plate may make him feel full by the sight of the food and this can reduce his appetite. You can always offer him a second serving if he is interested.
• Check to see if the food is in a form that he can eat without difficulty. You cannot expect your baby to eat solid food in the form of chunks if he has no teeth. Give him mashed food if your baby is yet to begin teething.
• Do not offer him snacks just before meals. Leave a large time interval between snacks and the main meal.
• Make the food look colourful and interesting to your baby.
• Do not force him to eat his food and make eating an ordeal.
• Avoid foods with high sugar content as they can be quite filling for your baby's stomach.
• Offer him a variety of foods.
• Allow him to drink his liquids only at the end of a meal. Drinking liquids in between meals fills his stomach fast and there is no place for solid foods.