How can I get my baby to try new foods?

If you give your infant a new food for the first time, don’t be surprised if she makes a weird expression or rejects it completely. It may take some time for your infant to develop a taste for a new cuisine. In fact, you might have to offer it ten times or more before she agrees to try it!

If you’re only starting solids at six months, your baby may require some time to adjust to the idea of eating. Once a day, provide little amounts of food, such as a few teaspoons or a couple of finger-sized strips of cooked veg. By around 10 months, you should be able to progressively increase the amount of food and the number of meals she has.

It’s worthwhile to begin by experimenting with various textures. Some babies prefer to be spoon-fed puree, while others prefer to feed themselves finger foods. Since six months, both have been fine. Follow your gut and do what’s best for you and your baby.

In general, it’s better to feed your baby before she drinks her customary milk, while she’s still hungry. However, if she’s starving, she might be too frustrated to try something new. In this scenario, consider giving her a small amount of milk before attempting the food again.

Even if your baby is eating well, she can be hesitant to try anything she hasn’t tried before. Try these tricks to get your baby to try new foods, no matter how old she is:

Early and often, introduce new foods. Babies are considerably better at learning to like new foods than toddlers. So the sooner you can introduce your infant to a variety of flavours, the easier it will be. Don’t get discouraged if she repeatedly refuses new foods. Offer it on a regular basis, at various mealtimes. This will assist your child in becoming accustomed to it.

Pick your moment. When your baby is weary or irritable, she is unlikely to be up for a gastronomic excursion. When she’s relaxed and happy, however, it’s the ideal time to introduce her to new flavours.

Try different textures. Food texture is equally as important to babies as its taste. For example, your baby may refuse to eat mashed banana but will happily eat a banana chunk. Alternatively, she may scoff at tomato slices while slurping up every last drop of tomato sauce. However, soon after weaning, make sure you give your infant some lumpier textures. She needs to chew now and then to keep her jaw muscles healthy.

Allow your child to feed herself. Self-feeding gives many babies a sense of independence that they enjoy. It allows children to go at their own pace and might help them gain confidence in the kitchen. You can give her strips of soft finger foods that she can easily hold and put to her lips if you’re comfortable with baby-led weaning. If you want to feed her purees, give her her own spoon to hold as you feed her.

Accept the mess. Allowing your child to play with her food might be a messy affair. However, it aids her in acclimating to the unfamiliar textures and encourages her to attempt a bite. Put down some newspaper or a sheet of plastic (a cheap shower curtain works well), get a decent bib, and let her do her thing!

Maintain a comfortable atmosphere during mealtimes. Don’t be concerned about how much your child consumes. Until she turns one, she’ll be getting the majority of her nutrients from breastmilk or formula. If you pressurise, persuade, or force her to eat, you’ll make mealtimes even more stressful for both of you, and she’ll be less likely to eat properly as a result. Instead, simply allow her to eat what she wants and remove any undesired food without comment. She may not eat at all at some mealtimes, but she will soon make up for it by eating more at other times.

Demonstrate how it’s done to your child. Because you are your child’s role model, show her how to eat foods of all colours and textures. You can also demonstrate how to eat in other ways, such as with a spoon or your fingers, so she can begin to imitate you.

Take everything one at a time. Don’t overwhelm your infant by introducing too many new foods too soon. Strike a comfortable balance between items she already enjoys and new foods on occasion. This will make her feel protected and secure while also allowing her to widen her tastes and grow her horizons.

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