While some babies start grabbing for food on mom's plate by the time they're 5 months old, others don't demonstrate much interest in solid foods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends starting your baby on solid foods at 6 months, provided they're showing signs of readiness. But what if there's resistance and your baby is not eating solids? Here are some ideas that may help make mealtimes easier.
Best solid food to start if your baby is resistant
Best utensils for introducing all types of solid food
It may take weeks or months before your baby is truly able to eat solid foods, but consistency is key, and establishing a regular routine around meals should be a top priority. Offer a variety of food textures to help your baby learn how to chew, as this is an integral component of self-feeding and later, speech development.
If you've exhausted all options and your baby still hasn't taken to some types of solid food, it may be time to bring in reinforcements in the form of special utensils at mealtimes:
Mesh fruit strainers
Strainers work much like a pacifier; frozen or thawed fruits and other foods placed in the mesh compartment allows baby to hold the utensil and eat independently.
Silicone feeders
These are special spoons that work much like the mesh strainer but with silicone, which can also assist with teething.
Compartmentalized plates
Section plates allow your baby to easily dip foods into yogurt or peanut butter, which can make eating solids more interactive and interesting.
No-spill snack cups
Finger foods like whole-grain cereals, freeze-dried yogurt, and cheese puffs can be messy. No-spill snack cups work great on the go because your baby can still eat solids without the mess.
Remember that it may take some time to get your baby to eat solid foods, so have patience and give yourself and your little one some grace. Even at a year old, you'll still need to chop food into smaller pieces and ensure vegetables are soft enough. The end goal is to have your child eating most of the same foods the rest of the family is eating by their first birthday, so keep at it.
Of course, if your baby is exhibiting extreme resistance to solid foods or having other difficulties with eating, it's important to bring this up with the pediatrician to rule out other problems and to ensure they're getting adequate nutrition.
