Abbie Tomson
Midwife MSc, BSc, Yoga Teacher, Project Lead at All4Birth
@enevlorel @All4Birth
Summary
Weaning is an exciting milestone in your baby’s development, but it can also come with its share of challenges. From constipation to food refusal, many parents encounter bumps along the way. Understanding these common issues and knowing how to address them can make the weaning journey smoother for both you and your baby. Here, we discuss practical strategies for managing constipation, food refusal, and feeding aversions during the weaning process.
Food Refusal:
As babies begin to explore solid foods, food refusal is common and can be frustrating for parents. This behaviour is part of normal development, as babies become accustomed to different flavours, textures, and feeding routines. Research indicates that food refusal often stems from developmental changes, sensory preferences, and individual temperament (Carruth & Skinner, 2000). Additionally, common factors like teething or simply not being hungry at that moment can impact a baby’s willingness to eat.
Reasons for Food Refusal
Understanding the reasons behind food refusal can help parents respond effectively:
- Teething: Discomfort from teething can reduce a baby’s interest in eating, particularly solid or textured foods.
- Hunger Cues: Babies have unique hunger and fullness cues, and refusing food may simply indicate they aren’t hungry.
- Newness of Food: Babies need time to adjust to new tastes and textures. Rejection often occurs when a baby is introduced to an unfamiliar food or texture.
Strategies to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
By implementing a few gentle strategies, parents can help make mealtimes positive and support their baby’s willingness to try new foods:
1. Offer a Variety
Continuously offering a range of foods, even those initially rejected, can help babies expand their preferences. Research shows that repeated exposure—up to 10 or more attempts—can increase acceptance of new foods over time (Sullivan & Birch, 1994). Patience is key, as babies may need multiple encounters with new food to develop familiarity and eventually accept it.
2. Stick to a Routine
Establishing regular meal and snack times helps babies understand the structure of daily eating. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends maintaining a consistent feeding routine, which can encourage a healthy appetite and help babies adapt to mealtime expectations (AAP, 2020). A routine supports the development of appetite cues and can reduce food-related stress.
3. Lead by Example
Babies are more likely to try foods they see their parents or caregivers eating. Eating as a family and modelling a positive attitude toward various foods can encourage babies to mimic these behaviours (Savage, Fisher, & Birch, 2007). Shared mealtimes help normalise new foods and flavours, making them more approachable.
4. Avoid Pressure
Forcing or pressuring babies to eat can lead to negative associations with food and mealtimes. The Division of Responsibility in Feeding model, popularized by dietitian Ellyn Satter, suggests parents should decide what food to offer and when while allowing the child to decide how much, if any, they want to eat (Satter, 2000). Keeping mealtimes relaxed fosters a positive environment and helps babies develop self-regulation skills.
When to Seek Additional Support
If food refusal persists or if you’re concerned about your baby’s growth or nutrition, your health visitor or GP can offer guidance. In some cases, underlying sensory preferences or feeding difficulties may require additional strategies.
Feeding Aversions:
Feeding aversions can occur when a baby has had a negative experience with food, such as choking, gagging, or an allergic reaction. This can create anxiety around mealtime and lead to a refusal to eat specific foods, causing frustration for both the baby and their caregivers. Research highlights that feeding aversions are a common developmental stage, but they can be distressing if not addressed effectively (Dovey et al., 2008). Understanding the root cause and applying gradual strategies can help your baby overcome these challenges and develop a healthier relationship with food.
Understanding Feeding Aversions
Feeding aversions often stem from discomfort or fear. The cause may be linked to a negative experience, like gagging on a particular food, or an unfamiliar texture that the baby finds unsettling. Identifying the root cause is essential. If your baby dislikes a food, consider whether it’s the texture, taste, or an unpleasant memory associated with it. These aversions can cause a baby to become fearful of eating certain foods, which may affect their overall eating habits (Farrow, Haycraft, & Blissett, 2015).
Overcoming Feeding Aversions: Strategies for Success
1. Reintroduce Gently
Reintroducing a food that caused an aversion should be done slowly and without pressure. Instead of forcing your baby to eat the disliked food in the same form, try altering its presentation. For example, if your baby rejects pureed carrots, try offering them in a different form, such as soft-cooked carrot sticks or roasted carrot wedges. Repeated exposure in a non-threatening way, gradually increasing the amount and variety, helps desensitize the aversion and promotes acceptance over time (Sullivan & Birch, 1994).
2. Positive Reinforcement
Celebrating small victories can go a long way in encouraging your baby to try new foods. Even if your baby doesn’t eat much, praise them for exploring the food. Positive reinforcement, like verbal praise or a small reward, can help foster a sense of accomplishment and reduce fear or anxiety around eating. Creating a relaxed and supportive mealtime atmosphere is crucial, as it encourages babies to feel more confident and secure about trying new foods (Farrow et al., 2015).
3. Consult a Professional
If feeding aversions persist or become more severe, it may be helpful to consult a healthcare professional. A health visitor, paediatrician, or feeding specialist can assess the situation and provide tailored strategies to help your baby overcome their aversion. In some cases, professional guidance can help identify any underlying issues, such as sensory sensitivities or digestive discomfort, and suggest practical solutions or therapies (Williams et al., 2012).
When to Seek Additional Support
If your baby’s feeding aversion significantly impacts their nutrition, growth, or emotional well-being, it’s essential to seek support from a feeding specialist or paediatrician. Early intervention can prevent long-term feeding issues and support your baby’s healthy development.
Additional Tips for a Smooth Weaning Process
The journey from milk to solid foods can be a big adjustment for both babies and parents, and approaching it with patience, safety, and positivity can make the process more enjoyable and effective. Weaning is a gradual, developmental process, and the goal is to help babies develop a positive relationship with food while gradually meeting their nutritional needs.
1. Patience is Key
Weaning is filled with ups and downs, as babies explore new tastes and textures at their own pace. Research shows that parents who approach feeding with patience and low-pressure help reduce stress around meals, making babies more likely to accept new foods willingly (Farrow & Blissett, 2006). Offer support and stay calm, even if a food is rejected several times—babies often need multiple exposures to a new food before accepting it (Sullivan & Birch, 1994).
2. Watch for Allergies
Introducing common allergens early, such as peanuts, eggs, or dairy, can help prevent food allergies, according to recent guidelines by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI, 2020). However, it’s essential to introduce each allergenic food one at a time, ideally waiting a few days before trying another. This approach allows you to observe any adverse reactions, like skin rashes, swelling, or digestive discomfort, and easily identify the allergen if a reaction occurs. For babies with a family history of allergies, consulting a healthcare provider before introducing common allergens can provide additional safety guidance.
3. Make Mealtime Fun
Creating a positive and engaging environment at mealtime can help foster a healthy attitude toward eating. Babies are naturally curious, and using colorful plates, and fun shapes, and allowing them to explore food with their hands can make meals more enjoyable. Research has shown that sensory experiences, like touching and smelling food, help babies feel more comfortable and interested in trying new foods (Coulthard & Sealy, 2017). By reducing any stress or pressure, you allow your baby to enjoy meals, making it easier for them to accept new foods and develop varied tastes.
Links to other resources
Books
BooksThe Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett
Real Food for Babies and Toddlers* by Kath Megaw
First Foods: A Parent’s Guide to Solids by Sara Patience
Film Audio, Podcasts and Apps
Film Audio, Podcasts and AppsBaby Buddy app, created by the Best Beginnings Charity
Weaning Sense by Kath Megaw and Meg Faure
The Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy by Katie Ferraro
The Parent Hood by Marina Fogle and Dr. Chiara Hunt
Solid Starts App
Websites
Websites
References
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Introducing peanut and other allergenic foods. Retrieved from https://www.aaaai.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). Weaning and introducing solid foods to babies. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/
Carruth, B. R., & Skinner, J. D. (2000). Feeding behaviors and other motor development in healthy children (2-24 months). Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 19(1), 66-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2000.10718916
Coulthard, H., & Sealy, A. (2017). Play with your food! Sensory play is associated with tasting of fruits and vegetables in preschool children. Appetite, 113, 84-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.02.003
Dovey, T. M., Staples, P. A., Gibson, E. L., & Halford, J. C. (2008). Food neophobia and ‘picky/fussy’ eating in children: A review. Appetite, 50(2-3), 181-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.09.009
Farrow, C. V., & Blissett, J. M. (2006). Does maternal control during feeding moderate the relationship between child weight and eating style?. Appetite, 47(2), 190-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2006.03.009
Farrow, C. V., Haycraft, E., & Blissett, J. M. (2015). Teaching our children when to eat: how parental feeding practices inform the development of emotional eating—a longitudinal experimental design. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(5), 908-913. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.103713
Khanna, S., & Chitkara, D. K. (2021). Functional constipation in children: Risks and management. Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Reports, 2(1), 12-15.
NHS. (2021). Weaning: Introducing your baby to solid foods. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/
Satter, E. (2000). Child of mine: Feeding with love and good sense. Bull Publishing Company.
Savage, J. S., Fisher, J. O., & Birch, L. L. (2007). Parental influence on eating behavior: Conception to adolescence. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 35(1), 22-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2007.00111.x
Sullivan, S. A., & Birch, L. L. (1994). Pass the sugar, pass the salt: Experience dictates preference. Developmental Psychology, 30(4), 712-720. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.30.4.712
Tharakan, A. (2019). Massage and movement interventions for infant constipation. Pediatrics International, 61(5), 45-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/ped.13770
Williams, K. E., Field, D. G., & Seiverling, L. (2012). Food refusal in children: A review of assessment and treatment. Behavioral Development Bulletin, 18(1), 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0100514
