How to manage food refusal or fear in children: new flavors, zero stress.
A Guide to Weaning with Confidence: How to Get Babies to Accept New Foods
Weaning is a time of discovery, not anxiety.
Weaning isn't just a nutritional stage, but a journey of sensory and relational discovery . Every spoonful represents an opportunity for the child to discover new flavors, colors, and textures. However, for many parents, this moment can become a source of stress, especially when the child refuses a food or shows distrust.
The good news is that refusal doesn't mean they don't like it: it's part of the learning process. With patience, curiosity, and a little play, you can create positive and peaceful experiences with food.
Understanding food refusal in the first months of weaning: a natural behavior
Many children go through a phase called food neophobia , a tendency to reject new foods, which usually appears between 18 months and 3 years of age. It is a physiological stage of development, also linked to a self-protection mechanism.
Recent studies (e.g. , Laureati et al., Food Quality and Preference, 2015 ) show that familiarity with a food—that is, having seen, touched, or smelled it several times—significantly reduces the likelihood of refusal. In other words, the more a child is exposed to a food, the more likely they are to accept it.
Practical strategies for introducing new foods during weaning
- Repeated exposure (without pressure)
It often takes 8-10 exposures before a child accepts a new flavor. Don't force it: offer the food calmly, even if it's just on the plate or as part of a family meal.
- The power of example
If a child sees Mom and Dad enjoying the same food, he'll be more curious to try it. A parent's calm attitude speaks louder than words.
- Involve him in the discovery
Touching, smelling, and helping prepare or plate food makes food less "unfamiliar" and more fun. A small gesture (like stirring or choosing the color of the plate) can encourage tasting.
- Avoid labels and forcing
Phrases like "you have to eat it" or "if you don't eat, you won't grow" can generate anxiety. It's better to say, "Let's taste it together, then tell me what you think." The child will feel respected and freer to explore.
- Play with colors and shapes
Creating playful dishes—a rainbow of vegetables, skewered fruit, or fun-shaped purees—stimulates curiosity and makes mealtimes enjoyable.
What to do if food refusal persists
If your child continues to refuse certain foods for a prolonged period, or shows signs of discomfort during meals, it's important to consult a pediatrician or a child nutritionist. In rare cases, the refusal may be related to sensory sensitivity or a selective feeding disorder (ARFID).
Weaning: make the table a place of discovery!
The key to a peaceful relationship with food is time, patience , and shared curiosity .
Start today with a small gesture: choose a food your child has never tried before, explore it together—look at it, touch it, smell it, maybe cook it together—and introduce it calmly, without expectations.
REMEMBER:
Every teaspoon is a step closer to trusting food .
To learn more
- It defines two distinct but related behaviors: food neophobia (refusal or avoidance of new foods) and “picky/fussy eating” (refusal of even familiar foods, reduced dietary variety).
- Examine the variables that influence these behaviors: age, child personality, gender, parenting style, social influences, tactile sensitivity/food texture.
2. Laureati, M. et al. (2015). Food neophobia and liking for fruits and vegetables are not related to Italian children's overweight. Food Quality and Preference, 40: 125–131.
- Study conducted on Italian children aged 6-9 years (n ≈ 528).
- Objective: To verify the relationships between food neophobia, fruit and vegetable liking, and body mass index (BMI) in children.
Bèbeboom's proposals for weaning made in Italy
💡 Nutritional Insights
The articles on this blog are written by nutritionist Dr. Elisabetta Picchi in collaboration with Bèbeboom , to offer accurate and scientifically validated content on nutrition and well-being.