Positive eating experience

Here are a few hints to make meal times fun!

• Eat with your baby and as a family as often as you can, and invite other babies of a similar age to meal times too

• Make sure your baby is comfortable and can easily reach their food

• Eat in a calm and relaxed environment, away from distractions, and try not to be rushed 

• Focus your attention on your baby and the meal

• Don’t make a fuss if your baby refuses to eat, simply clear the plate away 

• Never put too much food on your baby’s plate; it is better to start with less and give them more if they are still hungry

• Try to stick to a similar mealtime routine each day, this way your baby will get used to regular eating habits 

• Don’t give your baby a drink just before mealtimes, it may take their appetite away and they may then refuse food

• Encourage your baby to touch their food and allow them to make a mess 

• Try to only clean up your baby’s face once at the end of the meal, rather than constantly interrupting feeding with wiping 

• Encourage your baby to pick up cutlery and encourage self-feeding as much as possible, despite the mess!  

• Let your baby see you eating and enjoying the foods you want them to eat 

• Give loads of praise and encouragement for eating, even if it’s just a little. Allow babies to eat to their appetites, don’t make them eat up everything on their plates