I never know if I’m feeding her too much or too little because she just loves to eat and would eat all day if I let her.
What can I do to encourage my baby to try new foods?
Answer
In this counseling answer:
•Babies nearing one year usually are interested in trying new textures but are sometimes wary of new tastes.
•Try some steamed vegetables instead of the baby food vegetables, and if you give broccoli, for example, make sure that they are soft enough and finger-sized so that the baby doesn’t choke.
•If you offer them a new veggie or fruit, for example, it is better to do so before offering the rest of the meal, because when hungry, believe me, children are much more likely to try new food!
As-Salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Truly the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) knew what he was talking about when he said that Paradise is under the feet of mothers.
We as mothers are concerned for our babies from the time that we learn of their existence as the implanted creations that they start out as!
It is necessary for you to know that I am not in any way a dietitian, but I will answer your question from the viewpoint of a mother who has five children of varying ages. For more thorough and accurate advice, please see your pediatrician.
It seems to me that you are offering your baby a variety of foods from the protein, dairy, grain, vegetable, and fruit groups, but many of them come from jars.
Babies nearing one year usually are interested in trying new textures but are sometimes wary of new tastes.
For example, try some steamed vegetables instead of the baby food vegetables, and if you give broccoli, for example, make sure that they are soft enough and finger-sized so that the baby doesn’t choke.
I read somewhere that a child (including infants) may reject a new food two dozen times before actually agreeing to it.
I believe that this is true because my five-year-old started out as a very picky eater, but I had this new philosophy of trying new foods many times before giving them up proved true.
She now enjoys fish, vegetables, fruits, and many other things that she originally rejected.
The best time to introduce new foods to children is when they are hungry. If you offer them a new veggie or fruit, for example, it is better to do so before offering the rest of the meal, because when hungry, believe me, children are much more likely to try new food!
Additionally, the younger children are, the more likely they are to learn lifetime habits of eating healthy foods and not being afraid to try new things.
Finally, to address the question of overeating or under eating, I again must say that I am in no way a qualified professional, but will give you my opinion, pending your visit to your pediatrician.
Please remember that regular checks with the pediatrician are of utmost importance during the early years, to chart growth and to keep up with immunizations.
I would think that a growing, healthy baby would have a healthy appetite, and it seems that you have a healthy baby, ma sha’ Allah.
If you feed your baby small meals throughout the day, it is probably a good idea.
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I think that you’ve been doing the right thing, just as long as they are small meals, and as long as your baby is getting nutrition from both foods and breast milk or formula.
Having said that, too much formula tends to decrease a baby’s appetite for other foods and creates a dependency on the bottle.
Please ask your pediatrician about this and all of your other questions. I hope that this information is helpful, and pray that it is what you wanted.
May Allah the Almighty bless your offspring and grant them health and happiness.
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Disclaimer: The conceptualization and recommendations stated in this response are very general and purely based on the limited information provided in the question. In no event shall AboutIslam, its counselors or employees be held liable for any damages that may arise from your decision in the use of our services.
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