Starting your picky toddler on solid food can be tricky

Perhaps one of the most asked questions of pediatricians by new mothers is when can they start their baby on solid foods. Generally speaking, the transition to solid food from breast milk or formula can occur when a baby has doubled his or her birth weight which usually occurs between 4 – 6 months of age.

Starting a baby on solid foods is a gradual process. In the beginning, most of your baby’s nutrition will still be coming from breast milk, formula, or a combination of the two. Gradually introduce one new food at a time. Single grain cereals are a good “first” food as well as pureed vegetables, meats, and fruits. Start introducing single-ingredient finger foods such as carrot sticks around the ages of 6-8 months, and move on to chopped, ground, or mashed foods as your baby approaches the one year milestone.

Once your baby gets the hang of eating solid food, it’s important to start him or her on a mealtime schedule of three main meals per day plus two or three small snacks in between.

However, getting toddlers eating solid food can be a frustrating experience. Some toddlers have trouble with the taste, texture, smell, or even the appearance of the new foods that you’re introducing. Some have trouble adjusting to changes in schedules when it comes to meal times. This can cause many parents to worry whether their picky eaters are getting the necessary nutrition for proper growth and development.

Getting the right balance

To ensure that your toddler is eating healthy as well as eating enough at each meal is to offer him or her a variety of foods from each food group — foods that have different textures, tastes, and colors. This will help your toddler to develop a more “mature” palate in order to get the nutrition needed for growth and development.

It’s important to make sure that your toddler is getting foods with fiber. Fiber helps to move food through your toddler’s digestive system which is important when it comes to relieving and preventing constipation. It also is filling which helps to prevent overeating.

Plant-based solid foods with fiber for toddlers include vegetables, grains, and fruits. The problem is that many toddlers are picky eaters when it comes to these types of foods. So, adding a ready to use liquid dietary fiber supplement specially formulated for kids is a great option to ensure that your toddler is getting the RDA of dietary fiber.

Adjusting along the way

Unlike other fiber powders for toddlers, Yummy Fiber, offered by Vibrant Nutraceuticals, is smooth and grit-free. It’s clear with a mild fruit flavor that can be combined with your toddler’s favorite food or liquid, hot or cold.

If you’re starting a picky toddler on solid food and are worried that his or her diet may be lacking in fiber, consider adding Yummy Fiber to the daily routine. One tablespoon contains 7 grams of dietary fiber, FOS probiotics, and is gluten-free.