Natural Remedies for a Baby Who Is a Picky Eater

Offer Choices

• Many a baby, especially an older one, revels in the control she has over what goes into her mouth. Instead of catering to your baby̵7;s demands, offer several choices at mealtime. For example, let her choose between peas and carrots or peaches and plums. This little bit of power can increase the odds that your little one will eat something new or something she regularly turns her nose up at. You might have to offer foods up to 15 times before she samples them, notes the Zero to Three website, so keep trying even if it feels like she̵7;s never going to broaden her palate.

Presentation

• Despite their tastiness, a pile of lumpy Brussels sprouts doesn̵7;t look appetizing, so it̵7;s probably no surprise when your baby refuses to eat them. It̵7;s hard to convince a picky baby to eat something even if you think it̵7;s delicious. Presenting the food in fun and appealing ways can increase the odds that your little one will nibble on something new, according to the Baby Center website. Use small cookie cutters to cut animal shapes from his sandwich or cheese slices and add tiny broccoli spears for trees and diced mango for a sun. Letting your little one dip is another helpful method. Offer low-fat dressing or hummus for vegetables, low-sugar yogurt for fruit and applesauce or ketchup for meat. Be sure that anything you serve is cut into pieces no larger than a half-inch to prevent choking, cautions HealthyChildren.org, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Hunger Cues

• If your baby is hungry, she̵7;s probably more likely to eat something she might otherwise refuse. Offer new items as an appetizer before the main meal so she has the chance to give them a try. At the same time, don̵7;t force food on your baby if she̵7;s not hungry, cautions MayoClinic.com. This only serves to turn mealtime into a power struggle. If your baby is full, don̵7;t force her to clean her plate or take just a couple of more bites or she̵7;ll come to dread meals, which reduces the odds that she̵7;s going to want to eat new foods.

Mealtime Environment

• Making meals a pleasant experience for your baby ups the chance that he̵7;ll eat what you serve. Create a routine regarding the timing of meals and snacks so your baby̵7;s body can regulate hunger cues. Keep television and other distractions away from the table so your little one can focus on his food, suggest the health care specialists at Benioff Children̵7;s Hospital at the University of California in San Francisco. Model good eating habits as well, adds MayoClinic.com. Making meals something your child looks forward to and showing him how to eat well makes time at the table enjoyable for everyone and might just have your baby eating new and different foods.