Why Does My Baby Refuse New Foods?
Firstly, it is important to note that it is normal for babies to refuse to eat every now and then for lots of different reasons. For example, they could be sick, tired, distracted or just full.
When a baby refuses to eat food, they are familiar with, they could be seen as being picky, fussy or refusing for one of the reasons mentioned above. However, food neophobia is when your child tends to reject or not want to try new foods. Children are known to form a mental picture of what a food should look and smell like. They will then therefore refuse anything that doesn’t fit with this image.
Common between 18 months and 6 years of age, it is defined by a reluctance to taste new foods, but it also manifests itself in a certain selectivity: baby refuses foods that they loved a few days before and increasingly reduces the number of foods they accept to eat.
Rest assured, this is NOT a developmental disorder, but a normal (and transitory!) phase.
The intensity of this phase can be reduced by early exposure (from the age of 4-6 months) to foods of different flavours (such as vegetables).
If the child refuses a food, it should be offered again, kindly and without force, about ten times.
Tips:
• Try adding flavour and colour. You can use spices and aromatic herbs to introduce baby to new flavours.
• Introduce something new. A fun plate and a new spoon can stimulate baby and encourage him to eat.
• Changing environment. Musical chairs, tonight everyone changes places! Changing our habits can entertain children and unblock situations.
