What to Do If Your Baby Is Refusing Solid Food
Suzanne Ricard, a professor living in Toronto, looked forward to feeding her son Ronan solid food once he turned six months old. She noticed that Ronan seemed ready—he showed curiosity about food, could support his head, and often reached for items on her plate. With these signs in mind, Suzanne expected the transition to solids to go smoothly.
However, things did not go as planned. Ronan rejected each new food she offered, either pushing it out with his tongue or refusing it completely. Different foods only brought more problems—some made him sick, while others caused skin reactions or gagging. As he nursed more often and began to lose weight, Suzanne became concerned and reached out to a pediatrician for help.
Common Reasons Babies Turn Down Solid Foods
Babies may turn down solid foods for a variety of reasons. At first, many infants are used to the texture and flavor of breast milk or formula, making the switch to solids feel strange.
Refusing solids can also be part of a baby’s natural development as they learn new eating skills. Gagging often occurs when parents introduce solids, and this reflex helps prevent choking. It usually happens when a piece of food touches the back of the mouth sooner than expected.
Teething can also lead babies to lose interest in eating solids. When gums are sore, chewing can be uncomfortable, so babies might push food away. Allergic reactions or discomfort after trying a new food may also cause a baby to refuse certain items. Parents sometimes mistake gagging for choking; while gagging is normal, choking is dangerous and requires immediate attention.
Some babies may dislike the smell or feel of certain foods—like the bitterness of mashed peas or the grainy texture of rice cereal—prompting them to reject them outright. If a baby recently had a cold or an upset stomach, they might also temporarily lose their appetite. Teething babies may drool more, rub their ears, or gnaw on anything nearby, making mealtimes even more challenging.
Guidelines for Offering Solid Food
You can begin introducing solid food around six months, as breastmilk or formula alone may not meet a baby’s iron needs at this stage. Start with iron-rich items to support the baby’s development. Try pureed or minced meats, fish, tofu, eggs, legumes, and iron-fortified baby cereals. These foods are gentle on the stomach and simple to prepare in soft textures suitable for young infants.
Offer new foods one by one, with a gap of three to five days between them, to make it easier to watch for any food allergies or sensitivities. This approach helps you identify any reactions and avoid confusion about which ingredient may be responsible. If the baby is new to baby food, introduce different flavors and textures over time to encourage interest and adaptability.
Consistent exposure is key even if a baby refuses a certain food at first. Children may need at least 15 tries before accepting a new flavor or texture. Parents can experiment with purees, mashes, and soft finger foods. Try small cubes of soft-cooked vegetables, pieces of ripe banana, scrambled eggs, and finely shredded or mashed fish to support both baby-led and spoon-fed approaches. Always prepare food in a way that is easy for the baby to swallow and not a choking risk.
Use the right utensils, such as infant spoons with heat-sensitive tips, to help prevent mouth burns. Keep portion sizes small, as babies have tiny stomachs and are still exploring eating. Create calm meals with minimal distractions, and encourage your child with eye contact and gentle words rather than pressure or tricks. Turn off screens and focus on the child during feeding to help build positive associations with eating.
If resistance to new foods continues past seven or eight months, contact a healthcare provider. Skill development for eating is most responsive between six and 12 months, so introduce a variety of tastes and stick to a routine to help babies accept and enjoy different kinds of foods over time.
Try a mix of conventional feeding and baby-led options to meet a range of needs, as each child’s preferences are unique. Offer a variety, maintain patience, and make mealtime a relaxed and positive experience to start solids confidently.
