From 6-12 months of age a baby needs solid food as well as breast milk or formula. For the first few months, parents should introduce new, easy-to-digest, simple foods slowly to prevent allergies. “When children get to solid food, we put them in a high chair and put food in them and it’s all bland” according to Cynthia Lair author of Feeding the Whole Family. “We have problems later because we have trained them to have separate meals and to like bland food.” The period of 12 to 21 months of age is a “window of opportunity” for getting children used to a healthy diet. Toddlers crave adventure and variety so give them things the rest of the family is eating rather than depending on commercial baby foods. Take some of what the family is eating and grind it up for young children.

To avoid problems at this age do not force a child to eat more than he or she wants. Provide enough food variety to prevent boredom. Do not limit their diets by crossing foods off their menus when they refuse them. Something they refuse today they may like later. Research has shown that the Rule of 15 applies: a particular food can be offered to a child up to 15 times before it is accepted. Make sure every meal has a “winner”, a food that your child really loves.

Do not encourage a child’s natural pickiness by pushing new foods. Let them refuse foods while they watch you eat them. They can then decide when it is safe to try that food. Leave the refused food within reach. Offer one plain alternative and let the child watch you enjoy the refused food.