Q&A: My Baby Is a Fussy Eater! What Should I Do?

Introducing solids to a picky eater can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get your little one to eat up!

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Introducing solids to a picky eater can be challenging, so here are some tips to help you get your little one to eat up!

Offer a Variety of Foods

Your baby might be tired of eating the same food all the time or may not enjoy the taste and texture of new foods. Be patient and change it up by letting him try new alternatives and a variety of flavours.

Introduce one new food every 3-4 days with the aim of giving your baby food from all the basic food groups eventually.

If your baby seems to find the taste of green vegetables bitter and refuses to eat up, let him try naturally sweeter alternatives like pureed sweet potato, carrot, or pumpkin, then gradually introduce him to green veggies that are not-so-sweet.

Related: Getting Ready for Solids

Have Patience

Just because the little one doesn’t eat something now, doesn’t mean he won’t eat the same thing a day later, or a week later.

Remember, it may take up to 8 to 10 tries before he accepts a new food. The key is to be consistent and keep trying. Don’t forget to clap and throw heaps of praise and smiles at your baby when he does eat!

Related: Nutrition for Your Toddler

Ease Teething Discomfort

Is your baby teething? He might be refusing to eat solid food because his emerging teeth or sensitive gums are causing discomfort. If your baby is teething, try to ease the discomfort as much as you can 15 to 20 minutes before mealtime.

Related: Keep Teeth in Check

No Distractions

Is your baby distracted during mealtime? Your baby is too young to be multi-tasking, so it would be best to switch off the television, put away the tablet and toys, and let him focus on eating. This also helps your baby know when he is full and not overeat—a good habit to build from young!

Related: Early Childhood Nutrition

Get Creative in the Kitchen

When your little one is slightly older (about 1 to 2 years old) and is ready for textures like mashed, chopped, or cut food, you can try attracting his attention by cutting food into fun shapes like stars and hearts. Including a variety of colourful food in your child’s meal can also make mealtime more appealing.

Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your baby a healthy start.

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.

Read these next:

This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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Introducing solids to a picky eater can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get your little one to eat up!

<div class="ExternalClass67AE13E086B541299B37E919C8EB361A"><div><p>Introducing solids to a picky eater can be challenging, so here are some tips to help you get your little one to eat up!</p><h2>Offer a Variety of Foods</h2><p>Your baby might be tired of eating the same food all the time or may not enjoy the taste and texture of new foods. Be patient and change it up by letting him try new alternatives and a variety of flavours.</p><p>Introduce one new food every 3-4 days with the aim of giving your baby food from all the basic food groups eventually.</p><p>If your baby seems to find the taste of green vegetables bitter and refuses to eat up, let him try naturally sweeter alternatives like pureed sweet potato, carrot, or pumpkin, then gradually introduce him to green veggies that are not-so-sweet.</p><p>
         <strong>Related:
            <a href="http://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1227/baby-getting-ready-for-solids" title="Getting Ready for Solids">Getting Ready for Solids</a></strong></p></div><div><h2>Have Patience</h2><p>Just because the little one doesn’t eat something now, doesn’t mean he won’t eat the same thing a day later, or a week later.</p><p>Remember, it may take up to 8 to 10 tries before he accepts a new food. The key is to be consistent and keep trying. Don’t forget to clap and throw heaps of praise and smiles at your baby when he does eat!</p><p>
         <strong>Related:
            <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1243/baby-nutrition-for-your-toddler" title="Nutrition for Your Toddler">Nutrition for Your Toddler</a></strong></p></div><div><h2>Ease Teething Discomfort
</h2><p>Is your baby teething? He might be refusing to eat solid food because his emerging teeth or sensitive gums are causing discomfort. If your baby is teething, try to
         <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1226/baby-smile-a-little-smile" title="Smile a ;Ittle Smile">ease the discomfort</a> as much as you can 15 to 20 minutes before mealtime.</p><p>
         <strong>Related:
            <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1721/keep-teeth-in-check" title="Keep Teeth in Check">Keep Teeth in Check</a></strong></p></div><div><h2>No Distractions</h2><p>Is your baby distracted during mealtime? Your baby is too young to be multi-tasking, so it would be best to switch off the television, put away the tablet and toys, and let him focus on eating. This also helps your baby know when he is full and not overeat—a good habit to build from young!</p><p>
         <strong>Related:
            <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/122/early-nutrition-for-babies" title="Early Childhood Nutrition">Early Childhood Nutrition</a></strong></p></div><div><h2>Get Creative in the Kitchen</h2><p>When your little one is slightly older (about 1 to 2 years old) and is ready for textures like mashed, chopped, or cut food, you can try attracting his attention by cutting food into fun shapes like stars and hearts. Including a variety of colourful food in your child’s meal can also make mealtime more appealing.
</p></div><p><a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub/baby-toddler/childhood-healthy-diet">Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your baby a healthy start.</a></p><p><em>Download the HealthHub app on
   <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.gov.hpb.healthhub&hl=en_SG" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google Play</a> or
   <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/healthhub-sg/id1034200875?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Apple Store</a> to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.</em>
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            <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/2012/help-my-baby-is-a-fussy-eater" title="Help my baby is fussy">Help my baby is fussy</a> </li><li>
            <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1241/baby-safe-home-for-your-baby" title="Safe Home for Your Baby">Safe Home for Your Baby</a>
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