As mindful as we try to be, there are times when our child’s behavior seems to make no sense to us. This is no rational pattern or reason nor is there any developmental theory to support what we observe. However you are looking at only one child. I have had the pleasure of observing children eat and talking to parents for the past 20 years, in a child care settings and in classes with parents present. I have made a few unscientific, non-research based observations.
Some babies will prefer to drink their meals. No matter how mindfully you set the stage for a meal your baby or child drinks but not eats or very little. I have heard this more often from parents of boys than of girls. Babies between the ages of 6 months and 12 months should be fed on demand. If your baby is able to take solids, offer solid food before the breast, bottle or cup. If you have a drinker over 12 months of age and able to take solids, you can and should limit milk to 16 ounces (2 cups) a day. Your child will probably not like this and may put up quite a fuss. But as a mindful parent you will tell your child that to be healthy he needs to try more than milk. You don’t need to force solids, but by limiting milk your child will soon increase their desire for solids.
The other common observation reported to me by parents is that a baby who once took semi soft solids is now refusing them. When I suggest that the parent try crunchy and more textured foods the baby usually responds by eating once again. It seems that for some babies, once they have experienced soft solids they are ready to move on. This sometimes happens at the same time the baby is determined to feed themselves. So go with it. Your baby will come back to semi-solids eventually, but now they want to explore what is new. Embrace this and let them try some Cheerios or especially made infant puffs. Put a few in front of your baby and see what happens.
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