Why Babies Eat (or Don't Eat) That

Tap into your child’s inner nutritional wisdom

Doctor, My Child Lives on Air!

If your baby or toddler eats almost nothing, consider how much milk or juice she consumes. A child who drinks 40 ounces of milk a day will eat few solids because she doesn’t need the calories. Limit milk consumption to no more than 20 ounces a day and juice consumption to no more than 8 ounces. Offer water instead. For more advice on picky eaters, How to Handle a Picky Eater

Do you fret over those uneaten peas and carrots on your baby’s tray? Do you tally up the food groups he does and doesn’t consume? We’ve got one word for you: Relax.

“Babies are born with an ability to automatically consume the right nutrients and calories,” says pediatrician Michael Schwartz, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. By supporting this natural instinct, you lay the groundwork for healthy eating habits throughout your child’s life. Here’s how, age by age:

Newborn: Breastfeeding allows your infant to control his caloric intake by crying for the breast when hungry and turning away when full. Bottle-feeding, on the other hand, can override this instinct, as many parents encourage infants to drink more to avoid wasting formula.

Four to 6 months: When your baby can sit upright and turn her head, it’s time for infant cereals and other first foods. Allow your baby to guide these feedings. When she turns away from the spoon, resist the urge to sneak in a few more spoonfuls.

Around 9 months: Once your child can pinch objects between a thumb and finger, you may introduce “finger foods.” Start with Cheerios, cooked noodles, soft-cooked beans and other foods that require little or no chewing. Place these foods in front of your child and let him choose how much to eat.

Twelve months to 2 years: Offer a range of healthful foods including dairy, whole-wheat products, soft meats (such as ground beef and chicken), cooked vegetables and soft fruits. Don’t worry if your child eats a single food repeatedly. “Over the course of a week or a month, kids do a remarkably good job of meeting their nutrient needs,” Schwartz says. “It’s your job to provide healthful foods, and it’s your child’s job to eat them.”

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