A mother's priority is to ensure that everything related to her baby is going well. However, during the process of raising a baby, many problems of various dimensions can arise. If your milk is insufficient, you may feel sad. If your child is picky about food or frequently gets sick, you may spend anxious days. If you are one of those mothers who say, "My baby refuses to eat solid food", you will look for solutions for this. You will research the issue related to your child's problem and try to find the best doctor and the healthiest and most effective healing methods.
The refusal of solid food by the baby is a concern that worries and tires many mothers. Sometimes, this process requires a lot of patience and may necessitate trying various methods.
Today, the sixth month of life is considered the ideal transition period to solid food for babies. According to the World Health Organization, breast milk is sufficient to meet all the needs of healthy growing babies aged 0-6 months without weight loss. The organization also recommends that even a 9-month-old baby be fed with breast milk at a rate of 70%.
On the other hand, every baby's developmental process is not the same. If the baby is not benefiting enough from breast milk, and if their body weight is not increasing as it should, doctors may recommend transitioning to solid foods starting from 4 months.
From the sixth month onwards, breast milk begins to become insufficient. To meet the increasing energy needs of the baby, it is necessary to gradually add new food items to the feeding routine. It is recommended that the transition to solid foods begins during this period and is not postponed.
Mothers who strive to get their six-month-old or older babies to start consuming solid foods may face various challenges. For some babies, even getting a few spoonfuls of soup can be an issue. You try fruit juice, you try other things, you make some tricks, but you just can't achieve victory. But you must not lose hope and continue, because it is really important to get your baby accustomed to consuming solid foods as soon as possible.
If you say, "My baby refuses solid food", the following tips may help you.
A baby may not want to eat anything when their stomach is full. Therefore, when you want to introduce a new solid food, make sure they are hungry. This way, they will at least be eager to taste it. However, they should be a little hungry, not too much.
One of the mistakes made by mothers who complain, "My baby refuses to eat solid food", is thinking that a baby who rejects a certain food the first time it is offered will never like that food. If the baby has turned away the food you offered, try again a few days later. If you fail again, try once more after 1 week - 10 days. Change the cooking and presentation method from time to time.
You should know from the beginning that the process of getting a baby accustomed to foods they have not tried before can take a long time. Each baby's attitude in this regard is not the same. Some do not cause much trouble for their mothers, while others can be quite stubborn. But with patience, you can eventually overcome this challenge. Look around you; adults do not like every food either, but there is no adult who completely rejects salty or chunky foods. Over time, you can get your baby accustomed to almost all kinds of food.
If one of the keys to this process is patience, the other is creativity. If your baby did not like a certain food cooked in olive oil, try cooking it with meat; if they do not like that either, grind it and add it to their soup or boil it. Use your creativity in cooking and presentation as long as you stick to healthy methods. Do your best to make the food they rejected appealing to them.
Do not engage in a power struggle with your baby who rejects the food you offer. They will win the battle, and you will be left feeling sad and angry. When it comes to feeding babies, the path ahead is not a straight one; it is inevitable that there will be zigzags along the way.
Your goal is to introduce your baby to new flavors, diversify their feeding routine, and introduce them to new nutritious foods. A baby who has been happily and peacefully breastfeeding for months will not naturally adapt to this change in routine immediately. Be patient, not stubborn and insistent. If your baby rejects a solid food you offer for the first time, take a step back for a while and then try again.
Foods that are pureed become very smooth, which delays babies' adaptation to chunky foods. Most babies who are six months old have the ability to manipulate food in their mouths. Chunky food items also help develop the baby's mouth and tongue muscles.
Initially, prefer to pass the foods through a fine sieve. When your baby is 9 - 10 months old, you can start offering them mashed with a fork.
During the transition to solid foods, avoid giving soup every time. Soups made with vitamin-rich, nutritious vegetables are beneficial, but since they contain at least half water, they are not sufficiently effective for the baby. Vegetable purees prepared with age-appropriate ingredients and passed through a fine sieve are much more effective for the baby's health. If the puree you prepare is too thick, you can thin it out with a little water or breast milk, but be careful not to make it soupy. This can lead to the baby's stomach being filled with water.
During the transition from breast milk to solid foods, it is necessary to avoid using a bottle. If you want to instill proper eating habits in your baby, you should offer these foods with a spoon. This way, you ensure that they develop the habit of being fed with a spoon. Additionally, very thick foods can cause unwanted situations when sucked from the bottle's nipple.
If you say, "My baby refuses solid food", one of the things you should do is to seat your baby at the meal tables you have prepared. 7-month-old babies can sit comfortably and bring food to their mouths. Get a safe high chair and make a place for your baby at your table. Place the foods you want them to eat in front of them. Sitting down to eat with the family will delight and encourage the baby. During this time, they will also see how older children and adults eat. Over time, they will start to imitate them and perform the correct actions.
During this time, you determine what your baby will eat, but let them decide how much they will eat. Avoid forcing and conflicting, especially if you have placed something they will taste for the first time in front of them.
Before starting to give solid food to your baby, have their routine check-ups done and get advice from your doctor.
The question, "What should be the first solid food?" has different answers, and there are no comprehensive, controlled studies showing that any of these is superior to the others. Additionally, babies' needs and families' eating habits vary. However, there are some basic information you should consider in this regard.
However, some experiences suggest that starting with yogurt and vegetable puree may be better than starting with fruit. Fruits contain varying amounts of sugar, and it is not recommended to get the baby accustomed to sugary foods. Additionally, they are tastier to babies compared to vegetables. Therefore, a baby who starts the transition to solid foods by tasting fruits may have difficulty eating vegetables later.
Vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals, so it is really important to get babies to like eating vegetables.
When preparing vegetable puree for the baby, always prefer fresh seasonal vegetables. These should also be vegetables that have a low risk of causing allergies and can be easily pureed. Mix two seasonal vegetables that you have steamed using olive oil with about a teaspoon of boiled rice, bulgur, oats, or semolina. Then pass this mixture through a fine sieve. If it is too thick, thin it out with a bit of breast milk or water, but do not make it soupy.
Puddings and fruit purees are also among the solid foods that can be given to the baby. However, as mentioned above, it may be more difficult to get a baby who starts consuming solid food with fruits to eat vegetables. Still, if you prefer to start with fruit, choose fresh seasonal fruits. However, do not start with fruits that have a higher risk of causing allergic reactions, such as strawberries and pineapples.
The baby's body may be allergic to some foods they will taste for the first time. If you give many solid foods within the same week, you may not be able to determine which one caused an allergic reaction. Therefore, it is better to introduce new foods at least at weekly intervals.
Before starting to give solid foods with a spoon, regularly seat your baby at the family table and make them feel that mealtime is special.
Choose a time for the first spoon feeding attempt that is suitable for both your baby and yourself. The baby should be well-rested, happy, and a little hungry. You should also not be in a hurry; you should have plenty of time and feel calm and relaxed.
Solid food is a different version of adult food; it is strained, chopped, or grated. If you prepare the solid foods you will give to your baby with your own hands, you can be sure of what is in the food. You also have the chance to produce meals that suit their taste. When preparing solid food for the baby, it is recommended to pay attention to the following points:
Child Health and Safety
