Should I Be Worried That My Baby Isn't Interested in Food?
In my Introducing Solids program, I am often asked “how much should my baby be eating?”.
There are three parts to my answer here. The first is about meeting your baby’s nutritional requirements.
The second is about baby readiness - is your baby physically and developmentally ready to start solids foods?
And thirdly, it’s about building a positive relationship with nutritious whole foods.
Some babies absolutely love solids and progress quickly into having multiple meals a day. Others can take weeks or even months to really get the hang of it.
Up until 12 months of age, your baby’s main source of nutrition is still breast milk or formula with solid foods being “complementary” to this. So when you’re just starting out with solids, as long as they are still having plenty of breastmilk or formula, their main nutritional needs are still being met.
All babies are different and grow and develop at different rates, and while it’s hard not to compare your baby with everyone else’s, doing this, can create a whole lot of stress for yourself!
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There are a few reasons your baby may not be keen on solids yet;
They’re simply not ready yet
They are still learning how to how to use their tongue and mouth in an entirely different way to breast or bottle feeding. Eating also takes quite a bit of coordination, which can take time to develop.
A strong tongue-thrust reflex
If they have a very strong tongue-thrust reflex, this might mean that they keep pushing food out with their tongue. This usually starts to diminish at around 6 months, but can take longer in some babies.
They don’t like how food feels
Solid foods feel very different in their mouths when they’ve been used to milk, and this can take some getting used to.
They’re having a growth spurt, or they’ve just finished one
At around 6 months and again at around 9 months, babies tend to have growth spurts which may mean they eat more than is typical for them around these times. You might notice they want to breastfeed more (cluster feed) or if they’re on solids, they suddenly go from 1 teaspoon of food to a whole bowl!
Then, once the growth spurt settles, their appetite may reduce again. It’s very normal to have these ebbs and flows in appetite as your baby grows.
They’re teething
Temporary loss of appetite is common in teething babies, and usually resolves in a week or two. Your baby may eat less due to the pain caused by the teeth breaking through the gums.
They may also develop a slight fever while teething, leaving them feeling fussy and irritable.
They’re unwell
Illness can make your baby feel less like eating. If they have a fever, cold, cough, or an upset stomach, they lose appetite. Their appetite usually comes back quickly once they start to feel better.
They have a food intolerance or allergy
Intolerance or allergy to some foods, such as eggs, milk, soy and peanuts, can cause symptoms like itching, bloating, diarrhoea, and low appetite. Keep a diary of the foods your baby is eating and make a note of any symptoms you notice. See your GP or paediatrician if you suspect an allergy.
They are having digestive issues
Constipation and excess gas can make your baby feel uncomfortable and less likely to want to eat. These issues are very common when starting solids, so check out my article on constipation here for tips on how to resolves this.
They recently had vaccinations
After vaccinations, it’s common for a baby to experience a minor reaction such as redness at the injection site, a mild fever, fussiness, or a loss of appetite. This usually resolves after a day or two and their appetite returns to normal.
Our children are always watching us…
We teach our children what and how to eat with every meal, every snack and with the language we use around food. Your baby is watching everything that you do and your relationship with food will become their too - so be aware of your own feelings about food and be a positive role model for your child by showing them that you love to eat nutritious whole foods too.
If your baby doesn’t seem interested in solids just yet, then my recommendation is to continue offering them a range of different foods - this could be a teaspoon of puree or a piece of steamed broccoli on their high chair tray to play with and explore the different tastes and textures at their own pace.
Don’t force them to eat if they’re not interested - this can have negative long-term effects - for example, they may associate foods with negative emotions. And try not to get frustrated or stressed about it as your baby will pick up on your feelings.
By keeping meal times light and fun with no expectations of how much they are going to eat, you are more likely to help them to build a positive relationship with food.
One more thing to note - your baby’s appetite may also change from day to day or week to week - they may be ravenous when they’re having a growth spurt - then eat very little for days.
This is typically nothing to worry about and completely normal. Just like us as adults, there will be times when they are hungrier than others.
But loss of appetite can be a concern, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your little one to make sure it doesn’t become a problem.
If you have any concerns, always see your child health nurse or GP.
I want to reiterate this point - YOU are the expert in your child, you know them the best. If you have concerns, never doubt yourself - it’s always better to check things out.
If you want to learn more about this, then I go into more detail on this topic and much more in my “Get it Right From Their First Bite” Program for introducing solids.
