Help! My toddler only eats baby food

Toddlers are notoriously fussy eaters and it’s not uncommon for them to consistently refuse new tastes. But textures can become a sticking point too, with your toddler putting her foot firmly down when it comes to moving onto chewier foods. It’s best to stick to your guns if you can but it may not be easy, especially if you’re so busy with work or your other children that it seems simpler to just give in and offer her a jar of babyfood.

Why do toddlers refuse lumpier foods?

If your baby was weaned at six months (as recommended by the World Health Organisation) or even later, the idea is that you should move her much faster through food textures, so that she doesn’t spend as long on the smooth purée stage as she would if she were weaned earlier than this. Younger babies need to spend longer eating smooth foods because their tongues and the muscles in their mouths aren’t able to cope with lumps and they could choke. In most cases they also aren’t yet developing the teeth that will help them chew lumpier foods.

In many cases, however, older babies and toddlers refuse lumpier foods because they haven’t been offered them when they were developmentally ready. It also can result from babies having an oversensitive gag reflex, particularly as it can be very alarming to think your child might be at risk of choking on lumpier foods and finger foods. In other cases, it may be that a toddler is suffering from reflux. If you have any reason to suspect your toddler’s fussy eating is being caused by a physical problem, consult your GP.

Encouraging your toddler to eat lumpier foods

Regardless of why your toddler hasn’t moved on to lumpier foods, it’s important that you help her progress by slowly introducing an increasing amount of texture and thickness into the food she eats. The baby-led weaning (BLW) approach can be really helpful with this.

BLW is a gradual weaning method that lets a baby move from milk to a solid diet without the purée stage – once she’s ready for solids you offer her a range of appropriate finger foods to try, rather than the normal puréed first foods. You can utilize this method with your toddler to get her to try lumpier textures and it can be hugely successful even with the fussiest toddler because it gives them a choice over what they decide to try. Any fussy eating situation can end up becoming a battleground between you and your toddler but if you step back and let her have some control it will help her maintain her growing independence and avoid mealtime meltdowns.

Sticking with it

Keep in mind that toddlers are stubborn and yours may well refuse to eat. It’s important that you’re consistent and that you are patient and don’t give in. Don’t let your toddler fill up on milk, juice and snacks, as this will spoil her appetite for proper food. Offer her lumpier textures when she is hungry as she’ll be more likely to eat the food.

Another good tactic is to tap into your toddler’s innate need to copy. If you have been feeding her separately, include her in family mealtimes and let her see you eating. A handy trick is to serve meals that can be eaten with your fingers – this will encourage your toddler’s first instinct, which will be to pick food up and explore it with her own fingers.

Offer new finger foods in this way every couple of days but don’t make a big deal of it – just put it on her plate and pass no comment, but be sure to let her see you eating and enjoying it.

Distraction also can be a useful tool – read to her and chat to her while you eat. Although it might make mealtimes last longer, she won’t be focusing on the food itself so more will get eaten.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Last Modified: 29/09/2009

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