Many parents expect that toddlers will be picky eaters as they learn more about food flavors and textures; however infants can be especially picky when it comes to feeding. The picky infant eater usually begins when you start to introduce new foods with flavors and textures, primarily baby food. So what do you do with a picky eater? Let’s check out a few different things to try to persuade your infant to try new foods.
Food time is play time? Sometimes it can be – let your infant feel their food and play with it. Sometimes they are just curious about the new textures, scents and flavors. Infants learn well by touch and sometimes allowing them to mash their fingers into dinner is all it takes.
Try real food – the stuff that you eat, only ground up into baby food. Many of the foods you eat can be served to an infant if it is puréed. If your infant prefers a specific condiment (such as ketchup) you can add that to the puree as well to make it more palatable for your infant.
Try out a ‘fresh food feeder’ which allows you to put whole foods into your infant’s diet without risk for choking. Infants can suck and chew on the feeder to get the taste and only very small pieces coming through that are easily digestible and swallowed.
When you find a food your picky eater likes, try other foods that are similar in flavor and texture. This will expand your infant’s diet exponentially while not overloading their pallets.
Distraction tactics also work well – try singing, reading a story or poem, or giving your infant a toy to play with while feeding. You can also use toys as ‘bribes’ – have a bite then you can have your favorite toy.
You can always set up a reward system as well, even for infants. Rewarding is very effective and while infants may not fully grasp the concept; you can begin now with a system that you will be able to utilize throughout their formative infant and toddler years.
Choices, choices, choices – as adults, we love to have choices when we’re choosing our meals. You wouldn’t appreciate a restaurant that only served one dish. Give your infant a few choices, especially when introducing new foods. Slip in one new food onto a plate of ‘old standbys’ – food you know that he or she will eat well.
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