A good appetite, healthy weight gain, and enthusiastic experimentation with flavors and foods are reassuring for parents. It indicates that everything is fine with the little one and that they themselves are doing everything right. However, if the transition from breastfeeding to solid foods is difficult or temporarily stalls, mothers first become thoughtful and then mostly panic.

But everything has a reason! Instead of worrying and anxiety, it's better to explore the possible causes and solve the underlying problem. Let's see the 5 most common reasons why a baby might not eat!

 

Reason 1: Not ready yet

The optimal time to start introducing solid foods can vary greatly between 4-6 months, but around the sixth month, it's definitely worth exploring flavors and textures.

If the little one is not interested, rejects food, doesn't want to eat with a spoon or using the finger food method, don't be alarmed! Try again in a few days - but don't make the mistake of force-feeding with a small spoon, as this can have the opposite effect in the long run. 

However, if you find that the baby is not open to eating even after several attempts, only accepts breast milk or formula, has difficulty sitting up, struggles with neck control, has trouble swallowing, is reluctant to touch food, or is bothered by messiness, consult a health visitor or pediatrician! There may be underlying health reasons such as muscle weakness or tension, neurological immaturity, or other factors requiring attention.

 

Reason 2: Teething

Some children smile at the world with charming little teeth as early as six months, while others are still waiting for the first tooth to break through even at one year old. Unfortunately, the long wait does not mean that teething, with its pain, tension, and excessive saliva production, cannot start as early as the third or fourth month.

During this time, due to gum sensitivity and pain, a baby's appetite may decrease for days, which is considered normal. There's no need to worry, but to relieve the pain, it's worth using a teething necklace, a cool teether, or if necessary, herbal or medicinal local pain relief. 

 

 

Reason 3: Illness

Just like in adults, children's bodies have effective signaling systems. If the little one is about to catch a cold, or if a virus or bacteria is approaching, it's natural for their appetite to decrease. In such cases, don't force them to eat, but focus on solving the underlying problem and maintaining proper fluid intake! Water, sugar-free tea, and fruit juice can help prevent dehydration.

 

Reason 4: Anxiety

Babies may not understand many things, but they feel almost everything. With their invisible little sensors, they “scan” your emotions and “know” if you are exhausted, burned out, worried about your mother's illness, or if there is anxiety due to dad's work.

Of course, you shouldn't feel bad about this, and you can't change the circumstances overnight. However, it's worth paying attention to working through and resolving your own internal tensions as soon as possible! This way, not only will you feel better, but the little one will also calm down and become more open again.

(It's also important to ensure that emotional or physical discomfort doesn't lead to constant overeating and an unhealthy attachment to meals and food, as emotional eating can become a serious problem in the long term.)

 

Reason 5: Change the feeding rhythm

I meet many mothers who are seriously worried because their child doesn't eat enough. In such cases, first, check whether this is 'just' the mother's impression or if the little one is indeed eating less. It's common for the baby to nibble on various things throughout the day, so the problem may not be the quantity of food consumed, but its quality and distribution.

It's also not uncommon for eating, or the lack thereof, to become part of a game, or for health issues, allergies, or physiological changes to be the underlying cause, in which case it's advisable to seek professional help for exploration.

 

If the baby doesn't eat, panic is the worst advisor

If you are one of those mothers who repeatedly throw away - or eat instead of the little one - the homemade tasty baby meals, the first and most important thing is not to freak out! I know this is the hardest part, but anxiety and panic are the worst advisors!

If the baby's weight is normal and the growth rate is not below expectations, there's no need to worry, as every little one is different. And if the signs indicate that something needs to be done, instead of worrying, simply take action. Face the problem, confront it, and remind yourself that you are not alone. This will make everything much easier.