Introducing new foods to your toddler

During weaning, babies are very receptive to new foods. But from around 12 months old, young toddlers can often become suspicious of trying anything new. This may stem from a survival mechanism that protects them against eating something poisonous, related to the fact they are on the move. This instinct is stronger in some toddlers than others.

Whether or not your toddler is showing any signs of reluctance when it comes to eating, here are some tips that may be helpful when introducing new foods.

Do:

• Continue offering a new food. Don't just try once. Some toddlers may need to be offered a new food on eight or more occasions before they really like it.
• Be satisfied if all your toddler does is taste a new food. They do not need to eat a lot of it to start with.
• Let your toddler see you eating the new food. If your toddler will not even try a new food, wait and offer it again when you are all next eating it, so your toddler will know that it is safe.
• Offer only a small amount of one new food at any one time.

Don't:

• Give your toddler a plate full of new or disliked foods, mixed with liked foods. Toddlers need to be able to identify the way a food looks and tastes in order to develop a real preference for it.
• Hide a new food within foods your toddler already likes. They will be able to tell a new taste mixed with other tastes and are likely to reject both the new food and the accepted food, and may become wary of any foods that are given to them.
• Try offering your toddler a new food when they are tired, distracted by something else, or feeling anxious, sad or insecure about something.