Why is my baby refusing food?

Refusing food is normal

Almost every baby refuses food sometimes. The NHS says there will be days when your baby eats more, days when they eat less, and days when they reject everything, and that this is perfectly normal. For toddlers, the NHS says refusing to eat or even taste new foods is normal too.

What matters is the bigger picture. The NHS suggests thinking about what your child eats over a week, not in a single meal or day. If your child is active, gaining weight and seems well, they’re getting enough to eat.

Common reasons babies refuse food

• They’re full. Closing their mouth, turning their head away or pushing food away are fullness signs, according to the CDC. See hunger and fullness cues.
• The food is new. New tastes and textures take getting used to. The NHS says funny faces don’t mean your baby dislikes a food: they’re just getting used to it. It can take 10 tries or more before a baby accepts a new food or texture, particularly as they get older (NHS).
• They’re tired, unwell or teething. Cambridge University Hospitals lists tiredness, illness, teething, a new taste or texture, and wanting to feed themselves as common reasons for refusal.
• They want to do it themselves. Some babies refuse the spoon but happily eat finger foods. The NHS encourages letting babies feed themselves with their fingers as soon as they show interest.
• The timing is off. The NHS suggests offering food before a usual milk feed, so your baby isn’t already full, but not waiting until they’re too hungry or tired. If a young baby gets frustrated because they want milk first, the AAP suggests a little breast milk or formula first, then small half-spoonfuls of food, then more milk.
• Too much milk or too many snacks. The AAP says toddlers who sip on bottles during the day often don’t feel hungry at mealtimes. The NHS says 2 healthy snacks a day is plenty for toddlers.
• Growth has slowed. After the first birthday, many parents notice a sharp drop in appetite. The AAP says this is because growth slows down, so toddlers really need less food.

What helps

• Stay calm and take the food away. If your child refuses a food, the NHS says not to force them: take it away without saying anything, and try again another time.
• Keep offering. Offer a refused food again on another day, in a small amount. The NHS says to keep offering foods your baby has already rejected. The AAP says a baby may need to try a new food 10 to 15 times over several months, and suggests offering it once or twice a week alongside foods they already eat. The NHS notes that children’s tastes change: a food they hate one day they may love a month later.
• Serve small portions. The NHS suggests small portions and praising your child for eating, even if they only eat a little.
• Include one food they usually eat. The AAP suggests putting at least one food your child likes on the plate at each meal.
• Eat together. Babies and toddlers learn by copying. The NHS and AAP both encourage family meals with everyone eating the same food (with no added salt for your child).
• Try a different form. The NHS suggests that changing how you serve a food may make it more appealing. Try a mash instead of a stick, or mix it into a food your child already eats. Always keep the texture safe for your child’s age: see safe food sizes and shapes.
• Pair new with familiar. The AAP suggests serving a new flavor next to a food your child already enjoys.
• Cut the distractions. The NHS suggests no TV, phone or tablet at meals.
• Be patient. Allow plenty of time. Some children are slow eaters (NHS).

What tends to backfire

• Pressure and forcing. The AAP says pressuring children to eat, or punishing them if they don’t, can make them actively dislike foods they might otherwise like. The NHS warns that rushing or forcing a baby can lead to feeding problems.
• Bribes and rewards. Using dessert or treats as a reward makes the treat more exciting and the other food more of a chore (AAP). The CDC says food is not a good reward or punishment. The NHS suggests a trip to the park or a game instead.
• Cooking a separate meal. The AAP suggests serving one meal for the whole family, rather than making something else when your child refuses.
• Offering an alternative right away. If food is refused, Cambridge University Hospitals suggests taking it away and waiting until the next meal or snack, rather than offering something different.

At 6 months: refusing first foods

At the very start, how much your baby eats matters much less than getting used to eating. Breast milk or formula still gives them most of their nutrition (AAP, NHS).

If your baby cries or turns away, the AAP says not to make them eat. Go back to milk feeds for a while and try again. If they push the food out with their tongue, they may not yet be able to move it to the back of their mouth. That’s normal. The AAP suggests thinning the food for the first few tries, or waiting a week or two. Check the readiness signs too.

Refusing lumps and textures

Some babies take longer to accept lumpy food. The NHS says to keep offering lumpy textures, and they’ll get used to them. If your baby gags repeatedly on a texture and gets upset, Cambridge University Hospitals suggests leaving it a few days, then trying again. Gagging is normal while babies learn: know the difference between gagging and choking.

Toddlers and picky eating

Picky eating is often normal for toddlers, the AAP says. A toddler may eat only one or two foods for weeks, or love a food one day and throw it on the floor the next. The AAP notes that a toddler’s diet usually balances out over several days if you keep offering a range of healthy foods. See also how much your baby should eat.

When to call your doctor

Talk to your pediatrician or health visitor if:

• your child isn’t gaining weight, or you’re worried about their growth (NHS)
• you’re worried your baby isn’t getting enough to drink: the AAP says to call your pediatrician right away
• your baby stops breastfeeding or bottle feeding, isn’t feeding at all, or hasn’t had a drink in 8 hours while awake (NHS)
• your baby has signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers than usual, being overly sleepy, a sunken soft spot on the head, or no tears when crying (AAP)
• your baby struggles with feeding, gagging or swallowing (NHS)
• your baby still refuses most solid foods after 9 months of age (AAP)
• you’re worried about how much or how little your child eats (CDC)

If your child becomes extremely sleepy or unresponsive, or is vomiting and showing signs of dehydration, call 911 or go to the emergency room (AAP).If your child becomes extremely sleepy or unresponsive, or is vomiting and showing signs of dehydration, call 999 or go to A&E.If your child becomes extremely sleepy or unresponsive, or is vomiting and showing signs of dehydration, call your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) or go to the nearest emergency department.

Where US and UK advice differs

• Snacks before 12 months. The AAP’s sample menus for 8–12 months include small snacks. The NHS says babies under 12 months don’t need snacks, and suggests offering extra milk if your baby is hungry between meals. If your baby refuses meals, it’s worth looking at what they’re having in between.
• Milk amounts near 12 months. The AAP’s guide for 8–12 months is about 24 oz (710 ml) of formula a day. The NHS gives lower guides, around 400 ml (13½ oz) a day at 10–12 months. A lot of milk can leave less room for food.

Most food refusal passes with time and patience. Keep meals calm, keep offering, and trust your child to decide how much to eat.