Tips for Coping with Picky Eaters

Important Points

1. Babies often show changes in eating habits on their first birthday, which can affect parents
2. A variety of factors such as growth, health, and boredom can affect a baby’s interest in food, even if he was previously a picky eater.
3. Parents should consider factors such as satiety, illness, food preferences, and developmental changes when evaluating their child’s decreased appetite.
4. Offering a variety of foods, limiting dairy foods, providing regular mealtimes, and consulting with health professionals can help manage a child’s eating disorder.

Most babies eat better when they are growing fast and in the womb the first twelve months in life, growth is important. Milk and solid foods (from six months) are the fuel that gives the little people the energy to grow well.

When a child has their first birthday, a pattern tends to appear in children of the same age. Even those who love to eat and do not procrastinate at mealtime, may start to lose interest in food. This can be concerning for parents, especially if there is no obvious reason for the change.

Why does my child not want to eat?

If your child is healthy and well, it is unlikely that there is any reason why he or she is not interested in food. Like the adults in their lives, babies are not always hungry. Their growth, sleep, behavior and the effects of other things going on in their lives will affect how they eat.

Sometimes it is impossible to know why a child does not like food. He looks fine, nothing has changed but suddenly, he doesn’t want to eat. Often, as soon as they lose interest in food, they start eating again.

Most advice from experts is that babies need to be introduced to new foods about 10 or more times before trying. Failure to try these new foods may have a biological basis for questioning whether they are safe from eating potentially dangerous foods.

Give your child time and space to explore new foods and textures. Be patient as they learn to expand their diet to include new foods.

Sometimes babies refuse foods with too much texture, although it is important to go beyond soft foods and purees. Do not hesitate to introduce complementary foods from six months.

Reasons why children lose interest in eating

Every child is an individual and has their own reasons for their behavior. However, some of the reasons that hinder the appetite are:

1. They are not just hungry and are already satisfied with the amount of milk and food they are getting.
2. They are sick, already sick, or recovering.
3. They are tired of the food served and want to change. Or, they want the same food they’ve always had and don’t want to try something new. Babies can be very difficult!
4. They are growing through a social change and this depends on their attention and interest. Some children are more sensitive than others and even a small change can lead to other behavioral changes.

Should I be worried that my child is not interested in food?

Follow your ‘gut’ for what you feel is right for you and your baby. Sometimes it is difficult to explain a change in a child’s behavior. Apart from the feeling that something is wrong, everything else about them may seem strange.

It is always a good idea to see a doctor to rule out any reason for eating disorders.

It can be difficult to tell when a child is just eating or when their eating is a problem. See Here to understand more about the difference.

How can I encourage my child to eat more?

Remember that there are limits to what you can do to force your child to eat more. Although other methods may be useful:

1. Try to give your child a variety of foods. Fatigue can cause resistance to food.
2. Give less solids from six months of age. Remember, milk is the first source of nutrition in the first 9-12 months.
3. Avoid giving junk food. Children learn to love sweets and can fill up on yogurt and fruit if offered.
4. A good example is eating and sharing food (properly) with its structure.
5. Limit your baby’s milk intake. By 12 months, breastfeeding Babies need between 3-4 feedings in 24 hours and babies who are fed the same amount of milk are the same. As long as your baby has plenty of food and drink during the day and in the evening, he may not want to feed milk throughout the night.
6. Consider if your child is full of water. Some children just love to drink. Sips of water are good, although if your child is drinking a lot of water, expect them not to be hungry.
7. Try to wean your baby off bottles by 12 months of age. Offer milk from a cup after they finish their main meal. Drinking water when you wake up at night, not bottles of milk, helps to encourage more attention during meals.
8. Be calm and patient. Avoid rewards, discussions and threats if your child does not eat.
9. A breastfeeding guide can help you learn more and support your baby’s self-feeding skills. Once they show an interest in picking food with their fingers, playing with food and feeding themselves, they are too old to be fed with a spoon.
10. Make mealtime fun. Avoid stress, and instead focus on the importance of communicating effectively with your child.
11. Place their seat at the table and if possible, eat together as a family.
12. Don’t fill your child’s plate with food – it’s easy for little people to feel anxious.
13. Limit mealtimes to about 20-30 minutes and try to keep mealtimes consistent and regular. Children enjoy anticipation and routine, especially at mealtimes.

My child is not interested in eating, it is important to know

1. Make sure your child is safe and healthy. Loss of appetite can be a sign of illness so it is important to have your child checked by a doctor. A sore throat or discomfort can cause loss of appetite.
2. Give your child a chance to eat. Watch for their hunger cues and plan meals and preparations. In the same way that bedtime is better managed when a child shows tiredness, children tend to eat better when they are hungry.
3. Remember that your responsibility in your child’s diet is to prepare and serve his food. What they eat and how much is in their control. Avoid using too much emotional energy during your child’s mealtimes. Keep things simple, focus on serving nutritious, healthy meals and avoid ‘snacks’ between meals.
4. Too much milk in a toddler’s diet will take away their appetite for real food. After nine months, give your baby food first and then milk.
5. Talk to your Child Health Nurse and/or GP about your child’s development. Look at their percentile (growth) charts to make sure they are following the same trend of growth and not decline.
6. Talk to your doctor about an iron test for your child. Sometimes low iron (anaemia) can cause a lack of appetite and iron supplements are necessary.

About the Author:

Written by Nourish Baby and Jane Barry. Jane is fully qualified in paediatrics, immunisation, midwifery and pediatric nursing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (Nursing) and has approximately 35 years of pediatric health nursing experience. She is a member of a number of professional associations including AHPRA, The Australasian Medical Writer’s Association and the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nurses.

References:

1. Raising Children
2. Better Health Network
3. Queensland Department of Health
4. The SOS Method of Eating