When your baby is six months old, or sometimes before that, it’s time to introduce solid foods into their diet, along with the milk they are already taking. During this stage, you’ll have to decide what to offer to your child. Maybe they’ll reject food sometimes, while they will accept others rather easily.
Key points:
1. Introduce solid foods around 6 months along with milk.
2. Baby’s readiness for weaning includes sitting, head control, mouth opening, leaning forward.
3. Baby may reject certain foods; offer 10-15 times for acceptance.
4. Be patient, offer variety, be a role model, consult pediatrician for guidance.
First of all, you need to make sure that your baby doesn’t reject food because they aren’t ready yet. Remember that some indicators that your little one is ready for weaning are that they can sit without support, control their head, open their mouth, and lean forward when food is offered. If you have doubts about your baby’s readiness for solids introduction, we recommend asking your pediatrician.
Now, if your baby is rejecting a food in particular, don’t worry. The fact that they didn’t accept it the first time doesn’t mean that they won’t want to eat it ever again. Sometimes you’ll need to offer something 10-15 times before your baby eats it and enjoys it! You can try offering this food on different days and in different presentations so that your little one doesn’t get annoyed by insisting on just one day. It’s very important to be patient during this stage.
When introducing a new food, we recommend that you pick a time when you and your baby are calm and are not in a rush to do something else afterward. At first, your little one will be satisfied with just a few spoonfuls, so don’t worry about the amount. Remember that at this stage, your baby should keep drinking milk so that both types of food allow them to grow in a healthy way.
Here is some advice to help your baby if they reject food:
- Be a role model: If you want your baby to start eating in a healthy way, do it too! Have the foods you want to introduce at home so that they can familiarize themselves with them. Also, while they watch you, eat the food you want them to eat to encourage them to do so.
- Avoid showing pickiness yourself: Children learn by imitation. That’s why it’s very likely that your baby will reject the same foods you refuse to eat.
- Offer variety: Give your baby different kinds of healthy foods (along with some that they already like).
- Frequently offer the foods they have rejected: Remember that babies need to try a food up to 15 times before accepting it!
- Have the food ready: If your baby is very active, maybe that’s why they are picky while eating. To make the process a lot smoother, have their plate of food ready before you sit them down. This will keep them from getting desperate.
- Have short meals: If your baby is very active, they might not like to sit down for too long. Try to make meals last around 10 minutes.
- Be patient: Remember that your little one is getting used to the world around them and it will take some time for them to get used to this new experience.
- Consult with an expert: If you have any concerns, always consult with your pediatrician. They will guide you through this process.
These tips will help you introduce new foods to your baby’s diet so that they can start eating solids. As they grow, there will be other occasions in which they will reject other foods.
