What I Did When My Baby Refused Spoon Feeding

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Many babies will refuse spoon feeding at the first, second, and maybe even third try and beyond. I've gone through the spoon feeding stage with multiple children. If your baby has refused it, read on to find out what worked for me when my baby refused spoon feeding. Also, ask your child's pediatrician for advice and tips.

Try More than One Baby Food

I learned early on that when an infant refuses spoonfeeding, it isn't always the feeding that's opposed to. It could be the taste or texture of the food. Whenever my baby refused spoon feeding, I'd try more than one baby food, within reason. Remember that babies have sensitive stomachs, so try only one food at a time. Also, when baby won't eat from a spoon, it may not necessarily be the taste, but the texture, or even just the spoon action they're not used to.

TheAmerican Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting at least 2 to 3 days in between testing foods. This is to allow baby's system to get used to each food. It also can make it easier to detect any food allergies. Infant cereals are often suggested as a first food, but fruits, vegetables, and eventually meats can be introduced as well.WholesomeBabyFood.com has instructions for preparing homemade baby foods from fresh foods.

Be Consistent

Once you make the decision to spoonfeed your baby, stick to the plan and be consistent. When my baby refused spoonfeeding, I would be consistent and attempt it at the same times twice each day. If the baby won't eat from a spoon, try again at the next scheduled time. I believe that not giving up is what helped the baby finally decide to give a try.

Don't Stress

When parents get stressed out, so do babies. If you remain calm and positive, chances are your baby will follow the lead. Whenever my baby refused spoonfeeding, I did not stress about it. I simply moved on to the next task of the moment and then followed the consistency rule and tried again at the next scheduled time.

Let Baby Watch You Eat

Babies learn from their parents and they greatly enjoy mimicking what they see. When my baby refused spoon feeding, another thing that worked is me tasting the baby food. Get out two baby spoons. Take one bite of the baby's food with your own spoon. Then, try to feed the baby his or her taste of the baby food. Sometimes seeing the parent taste the food lets the baby feel more secure with it or just causes them to mimic the act.

Make it Fun

One more method that worked for me when my baby refused spoon feeding is to make eating fun. Try giving baby colorful utensils that are easier to grip. Find ones with their favorite characters or colors. Another fun option is to use a favorite puppet or stuffed animal's hand to feed the food to the baby. There are many ways to be creative and make eating fun.

-- Note that the author is not a licensed medical professional. The above is provided for informational purposes. Always consult a licensed medical professional for any advice pertaining to health matters.

*I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

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