Help, My Baby Doesn’t Want to Eat!

Do you have a baby who’s just started eating solid food and is reluctant to try new things? Here are our best tips for how to get your baby to enjoy mealtimes, including three hacks to make mealtime more fun.

What Can I Do When My Baby Won’t Eat?

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Babies and toddlers can be picky eaters for a variety of reasons, but there are plenty of ways to encourage them to explore and enjoy their meals. Here are three tips for children who are hesitant to try food.

1. Try Making Mealtime Fun and Interactive

Let your baby watch you eat and join in on the action. Model good eating habits by describing the food and chewing with your mouth open (yes, really!).

2. Be Patient and Positive

Encourage your child to scoop and feed themselves and be patient as they learn. You can even make mealtime a pretend play activity by feeding stuffed animals or dolls. And drop the no mess-approach. Messiness is an essential part of learning.

3. Get Creative

If your child is resistant to touching certain foods, try exploring different shapes, sizes and textures. Serving food in fun shapes might just do the trick. A divided plate could also help since it allows your child to discover and explore one taste at a time.

Above all, remember that every child is different and it may take time for them to warm up to new foods. Keep offering a variety of options in a gentle manner and trust that they'll get there eventually. And if you ever have concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider for guidance. Happy eating!

3 Ways to Make Mealtime More Fun

1. Let Your Child be With You and Watch You Cook

It’s fascinating for your baby to watch you cook. Give your child a bib and a spoon so they can taste, smell and feel the food while you cook.

2. Play with the Food

You “eat with your eyes”, so offering food in lots of different colors and investing in dinnerware in happy colors and interesting shapes, are great ideas. And, finally, it usually works to buzz, hum or fly the food into your little one’s mouth, so they give you a big smile and happily open their mouth. 

3. Let Your Child Explore the Food

Most babies enjoy eating once they’re introduced to self-feeding. Let your child eat and freely explore their food however they prefer, with a spoon or their hands. Then you can have an extra spoon on the side, filled with food, which you occasionally sneak into the mouth of your little explorer.

3 Clever Products for Feeding Babies and Children

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The Divided Plate

A divided plate is a great way to introduce new foods, as it helps your child to discover and explore one taste at a time. This plate is also ideal if your child doesn’t like different foods touching, or if you want to be able to serve several courses at the same time.

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Feeding Spoon

The extra-long and flexible handle is great for feeding your child and scooping up every bit of food from the jar. It has a soft blade for tiny mouths.
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Baby Bowl

Thanks to an anti-flip design, the bowl is less likely to be knocked over. It’s not magical, but it prevents the worst messes. The no-drip edge is designed to prevent spillage and feels soft against your baby’s lips.

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