How To Make Baby Try New Foods?
During the first days of life and except for extraordinary situations, newborns know that when they are hungry, they can have their mother’s milk available. This natural substance provides them not only with all the nutrients they need, but also has a unique and special flavor that they find extremely pleasant. But as your child grows, are there any systems that allow you to let your child try new foods?
From the first years of life, the little ones of the house begin to learn and strengthen habits that will mark their existence, at all levels. The type of food routine they will have at home, in terms of flavors and foods, will be decisive in establishing their future diet. Here’s why, as we’ll see in this article. it is important to get the baby to try new foods .
What to do if the child always eats the same things
Sooner or later the time will come to expand your child’s menu. Knowing how to make your baby try new foods will help you in this delicate phase. Some children love to always discover new flavors, while others prefer to always eat the same things, as some flavors become familiar over time and give them a certain confidence. In these cases, patience is essential. Keep in mind that, on average, a newborn accepts a new flavor only after trying it for at least 15 times.
Furthermore, not only infants and children can suffer from food neophobia. This is a situation that can also occur in adulthood and that prevents you from getting out of an absolutely monotonous routine. In children, these disorders tend to disappear naturally from 5 years of age.
Learning by imitation
Parents are a prime example for children. Therefore, family habits will be absolutely crucial. If adults are favorably willing to try new things and vary the type of diet, the children will do the same.
Therefore, the best way to get your baby to try new foods is to show him a positive approach to any unusual or new food. Seeing you eat different dishes, he will be pushed to do the same, thanks to the trust he has in you and the security that you will transmit to him. The example of older brothers and sisters will also be crucial.
Tricks to get your baby to try new foods
Either way, food should always be viewed as a positive and joyful experience, without any kind of punishment. Make an effort to teach your children that healthy eating is enjoyable and fun.
If children are forced to eat certain foods by force, you will only groan rejection and repulsion. At the same time, you will have to learn to recognize those flavors they prefer and love more than others. A good idea is to combine your favorite flavors with new ones whenever possible, gradually introducing new dishes, avoiding linking certain foods to a negative meaning.
Vary the presentation of the dishes
The eye also wants its part and colors are one of the best strategies for letting your baby try new foods. It cannot be overlooked that what is visually pleasing and curious is able to attract the attention of the newborn. If a food is poorly presented, unattractive and smells unpleasant, it will most likely be regarded as unpleasant. Hence, the rejection of new ingredients is not always related to taste. Your child’s reluctance may be his reaction to something that, visually, does not appear attractive enough.
Certain types of fruit, such as banana, are certainly attractive from a visual point of view, be it chopped or served in its natural form. But for a small child, who still has few teeth, it will be an extremely difficult food to chew. If the fruits that cause rejection in children, due to their consistency, are passed, they will have a less ‘palatable’ image but will be easier to eat.
Let the child experiment
At other times, the rejection is not just about fruit or vegetables. Strange as it may seem, even the use of certain cutlery can be intimidating. A good way to get your baby to try new foods is to allow him to eat using his hands, i.e. letting him carry the food to his mouth by himself.
Mistakes to avoid to make your baby try new foods
Unfortunately, often, with the aim of making the child try new foods, some parents unknowingly commit some very serious mistakes. The problem is that, in the long run, these situations will be completely counterproductive. Let’s see some examples.
The first behavior that must be avoided is to distract the little one while he eats, by showing him cartoons or a video on YouTube. It is necessary to teach him that the moment of lunch or dinner must be dedicated only to enjoying the dishes and being with the family.
However, the worst mistake is to use force as a means of pressure. Some parents go so far as to put the spoon in the mouth of the child with violence, without even waiting for him to finish swallowing. In doing so, unfortunately, the little one will begin to link food to situations of anxiety and pain.
Equally ineffective is the system based on punishments and rewards. Few people are aware of the fact that this type of “blackmail” can lead to trauma that will persist into adulthood.
