One-year-olds can be fussy, and it is tricky to introduce new foods into their diet. After all, they may not end up liking those foods, which means they will create a fuss or cry constantly.
In such a case, it is important to follow the right guidelines to introduce new food to your one-year-old.
The key is to take baby steps and keep trying so that they can get used to the taste. Of course, it is not always that simple.
We have broken down how you can make this happen into five tips to help you succeed in introducing new food to your one-year-old.
Key Notes
- Start small by introducing a little taste of the new food
- Use creativity to make this process fun and enjoyable
- Don’t try to force your one-year-old to like the new food
- Remain patient and consistent during this process to ensure the best results in the long run
1. Start With A Little Taste
It is crucial that you begin introducing new food by starting small. If you give too much of the new food in one go, then your one-year-old will refuse it instantly. Babies need time to explore the taste and understand what they are experiencing, which takes time.
Because of this, the ideal way to go about this is to begin by giving them a little taste of food. For example, you can give them a teaspoon of the new food the first time. Doing this will give them a chance to acquaint themselves with the taste.
Then, slowly and gradually, you can increase the quantity of the new food till they begin liking it. Tiny portions are the most effective in getting one-year-olds to try new foods.
2. Keep Trying
Keep in mind that your one-year-old will not like certain foods the first time you feed them.
For example, most toddlers don’t enjoy broccoli or peas for the first time. You have to keep trying and exposing them to the food till they get comfortable and start liking it.
You have to be patient during this process because it can take even more than ten tries. Understanding this will help you become more realistic about what you can expect during this process.
As a result, it will also keep you determined to make sure your kid is trying the new food.
3. Be Imaginative With The New Foods
If the table is no fun for toddlers, they will most likely not eat.
That is because they need a sensory experience such as sounds, taste, visuals, and much more to enjoy any experience.
You can do this by:
- Using colourful bowls and plates
- Cutting the food into unique shapes
- Serving the same food in a new location
- Turning the living room into a picnic area
- And much more
There are many ways you can be creative and add some fun to the eating process. Once you do, your toddler will also be more inclined to consume the food.
4. Let The Child Explore The New Food With Various Senses
Children are always exploring their senses because everything is new to them, and they are curious. That is why it is important to let a child explore the new food with all senses. For example, you can encourage your one-year-old to:
- Smell the food
- Touch the food
- Roll it in the fingers to understand the texture
- And more
A sensory experience will make them more willing to try the food and keep at it. Besides that, once they explore the new food, they will be more comfortable trying it out.
So, if your one-year-old wants to play with the food, then let them do it because it will help them explore the food on their own.
5. Don’t Be Forceful
It is never okay to force your toddler into a habit that they want to build. Your toddler will mostly react negatively when you pressure them to eat a certain food.
That is why it is important for you to stay positive during this process, remain patient, and think about the bigger picture when incorporating such habits.
Besides that, even offering rewards will not work while you are making the toddler try new foods. Instead, follow the guidelines we have stated above to begin the process slowly and gradually.
Once you do that, it will be easy for you to facilitate the process and for the toddler to start liking the food.
Final Thoughts
These are the top five guidelines you can follow to introduce new food to your one-year-old.
As a new parent, you will have to remain patient and consistent while you are introducing new foods. It is not an easy process, but it will help you reap long-term rewards once you build healthy habits.
