I just had a call from parents whose 1-year old won`t eat solids.  He only 
takes breast-milk - pumped in a bottle.  They are already doings the rounds 
of dieticians and psychologists.
Food refusal is a great weapon used by kids of all ages.  Very often if one 
would just allow the infant to sit at the table together with the adults to 
enjoy the experience of sharing a meal together, put a variety of 
age-appropriate foods on a plate, tastefully arranged so that he can try 
each taste and texture separately, they will eat without any fuss.
Mashing everything together is very unappetising.  Although it makes a mess, 
if the toddler can choose something and pick it up with his fingers he will 
at least be tempted to taste something that looks good.
The more fuss one makes the more the child will play around with food or 
refuse to eat.
Of course there can be physical problems like previously undiagnosed 
tongue-tie or palate problem, so parents should consult a pediatrician, but 
mostly it is a behavioral problem not a medical one.
When my kids were small, I used to put all the dishes in the middle of the 
table and help them to take what they wanted. Of course I took into account 
if one of them really disliked a particular food, but none of them refused 
to eat because they had choices.  When I was small, an aunt used to pile up 
my plate with overwhelming quantities and tell me that I must eat it all! I 
can still remember the feeling of panic when looking at this piled-up plate.
Even today when I have guests, I put the serving plates on the table so that 
everyone can take what they like and not feel awkward about leaving 
something they loathe.
Good food habits start from infancy.
I wish all Lactnetters a happy Passover and Easter.
Wendy Blumfield
NCT-trained Tutor Prenatal Teacher/Breastfeeding Counsellor
Past president Israel Childbirth Education Centre 

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