In Kenya, many mothers complain of their struggle to get their baby to eat solid food at the age of seven to eight months. In most cases, the rejection of solids is after the baby has been eating well from the onset of weaning, leaving many new mums baffled. Although the reason for the rejection may vary from one baby to another, it is important to find out the cause so that they can eat well again.
Some of the most common reasons a baby may start rejecting solid foods include:
- Teething – This is the most common reason for babies stop eating solids because they have a lot of discomfort in the gums. Most times, they are irritable and may only prefer to breastfeed so that they feel some comfort. During such times, you can offer chilled foods such as yoghurt or bananas which help numb the pain in their gums as they chew on them.
- Food boredom – At the onset of weaning, many Kenyan mums offer the same kind of foods in the same texture, which may result in the baby getting bored. In such times, it is advisable to change their menu by introducing new foods that are tasty and appealing to babies. You can also decide to serve them the same food eaten by the family during meal times.
- Baby is full – Most mothers in Kenya work with a meal timetable for their babies to ensure that they feed well. However, the baby may not be hungry by the time their next meal time comes around resulting in them rejecting food. In such a situation, it is important to avoid force-feeding but give your baby time to feel hungry again before offering them food.
