Dealing with a fussy eater can be a frustrating and stressful experience
for parents and bub's alike. However, it is important to remember that picky eating is
a normal part of child development and you can get through it with patience and persistence.
Let's look at a few ways to deal with a fussy-eating baby.
Stay tuned!
Hello! My name is Melanie McGrice and I'm a dietitian who specialises in fertility,
pregnancy and infants in a period known as the first thousand days of life.
This first thousand days from conception until the age of three is where genetic
programming takes place to give your little one the building blocks for a healthy future.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when dealing with a fussy eater
is to not make mealtime a battle and to remember that force-feeding is never the answer. Children
may become resistant to new foods or textures if they sense that their parents are worried
or stressed about them not eating and may develop food aversion if force-fed. Instead,
create a relaxed and positive atmosphere around mealtime and allow your child to explore and taste
new foods without pressure. It's also essential to be consistent with mealtime routines which
means sticking to a regular schedule for meals and snacks. Children thrive on routine and
predictability and a consistent mealtime schedule can help to establish healthy eating habits.
When introducing new foods, do it gradually, starting with small amounts and slowly increasing
the serving size. Offer these new foods alongside familiar and well-liked foods so that bub has an
option to fall back on if they're feeling anxious (which is quite common and is known as neophobia).
It's also important to consider the texture of food, usually there should be a texture
progression from pureed foods at the start of your feeding journey to lumpy and eventually whole food
pieces once eating has become well developed. Research has shown that there are a number of
reasons why a bub will (or won't) accept various textures, but one of the main factors appears to
be repeated exposure and allowing your bub to explore eating their food with their fingers.
Remember that it can take up to 15 repeated exposures before your bub accepts a new food.
So if they hate it the first time, don't be put off. Be patient and keep trying.
This same study found that mum's reluctance to start solids (due to her feeling nervous or
stressed about the feeding process, especially when it comes to feeding food pieces) also
affected texture acceptance. Another reason why mum's may feel stressed is that they may think
that their bub's are not eating enough. But the truth is that most healthy young children have a
natural ability to self-regulate their energy intake, meaning they eat more when they are
hungry and less when they're full. Their appetite will depend on a variety of factors like how tired
they are, they're activity level and if they're experiencing growth spurt. So your best bet is to
go with the flow and trust your bub to explore their food in a safe supervised environment.
Believe me, I know it's not easy when they are fussy, but by creating a positive atmosphere
around mealtime, being consistent and patient with mealtime routines and offering a variety
of foods and flavours, you can help your bub develop healthy eating habits.
For more helpful information on introducing solids to your bub,
feel free to check out some of my other videos on my YouTube channel or head on over to our
social media page where we've got tons of useful information that will make
your complementary feeding journey as healthy and as stress-free as possible.
Or if you still need further assistance, book a consultation with on of our dietitians.
I'll put all of the contact details in the description box below this video.
However well your bub is feeling, we are here to help. So feel free to reach out.
And I look forward to seeing you in my next video.