As a toddler, alternating with his bottles, he would eat everything: Brussels sprouts, strong cheeses... his mouth would open wide and round at the approach of a spoon. But for some time now, baby has no longer been greedy. On the contrary, he's become demanding, refusing anything new. Gone are the days of taste discovery and curiosity. On his plate, potatoes, pasta and mashed potatoes all go in circles. This is food neophobia, a natural distrust of new foods that can be complicated to manage.
CONTENTS :
- Food neophobia: recognizing and taming this change
- The influence of the environment and the sociology of food
- The secrets of a mouth-watering plate
- The Élhée trick: when the container makes all the difference
- Stress-free support: the key to stress-free meals
- Beyond neophobia: building a positive relationship with food
Food neophobia: recognizing and taming this change
Food neophobia appears more or less gradually around 18 to 24 months, around the same time as the opposition period and its recurrent "No! Up until then, your child had been eating very well, but is now increasingly refusing new foods. Is this happening to you? Here's how to identify this very common eating behavior.
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Despite sometimes significant complications, food neophobia remains a natural mechanism, a key stage in baby's development, which you, the parents, will have to triumph over with patience and creativity. 🤗
But rest assured, you're not alone. According to a study conducted on 432 children aged 3 to 60 months (5 years) and published in 2018 by Natalie Rigal and Virginie Soulet, child psychology researchers at the Université Paris Ouest :
- 57% of children aged between 3 and 6 months have moderate food neophobia.
- 90% of children between 19 and 36 months (3 years) are affected by this eating behavior, which peaks between the ages of 2 and 6.
A period that naturally tends to subside after the age of 3, and can present different degrees of intensity depending on the child.
- In the case of mild neophobia, the child is a little reluctant to try new foods, but with trial and error and encouragement, he eventually accepts them without affecting his overall diet.
- Moderate neophobia is a categorical refusal of new foods, sometimes accompanied by signs of stress or anxiety.
- Crying, panic attacks or vomiting at the mere idea of tasting something for the first time indicate severe food neophobia.
- Finally, neophobia can also be selective, with a child accepting certain foods (such as fruit or cereals) and rejecting others (vegetables, meat...).
The influence of the environment and the sociology of food
Each child's unique temperament also plays a role in his or her relationship with food. Hypersensitive, some are particularly alert to textures, smells or changes on the plate. A natural shyness may also inhibit the desire to explore new foods.
The family context is the child's first taste laboratory. As parents and their first role models, you pass on your food preferences and your relationship with food.
Also, the general atmosphere at mealtimes leaves a lasting impression: an overly authoritarian approach risks creating tensions, whereas a benevolent, gourmet and collaborative setting encourages experimentation.
Beyond the family circle, the social environment broadens the scope of influences. At nursery school and later at school, particularly in the canteen, your child discovers other foods and other ways of cooking and eating them. Other children in turn take on the role of role models, sometimes even more influential than parents themselves.
Finally, the period of diversification lays the foundations for the child's relationship with food. Every taste discovery, every moment of sharing around a dish, contributes to building the child's food memory. DME (child-led dietary diversification) is therefore a particularly well-suited gustatory experience, marked by discovery and autonomy.
10 refusal phrases every parent has heard at the dinner table
- "(Understand: anything that isn't pasta.)
- "It stings the eyes!" (In front of a broccoli.)
- "I taste with my fingers first" (Tactile expertise comes first.)
- "C'est pas comme d'habitude" (It's the same recipe.)
- "I'm too tired" (What about dessert?)
- "(Invisible, but impossible to swallow).
- "It's no good!" (The classic, uttered before you've even tried it).
- "Beuuuuurk!" (Short, effective, and so expressive.)
- "I want the carrots by themselves!" or "The sauce is ON the pasta!" (This is a disaster.)
- "I prefer pasta" (The ultimate argument, which comes up every day, whatever the menu).
🤭 And yours, what's the little phrase that made you laugh out loud inside?
The secrets of a mouth-watering plate
Do you remember the last dish that made your mouth water? A beautiful harmony of colors, a careful presentation, a good smell and hey presto, your appetite is awakened! It's the same with children, no matter how picky or demanding. Because the plate is first eaten with the eyes, a few presentation tricks can transform the meal into a discovery.
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A varied and surprising color palette :
- Crisp green beans and orange carrots: contrasts catch the eye,
- bright colors, sauces that arouse curiosity.
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A set of shapes to make you smile:
- vegetable stars and fruit cubes,
- sandwich triangles,
- heart-shaped pancakes,
- small, well-separated portions on the plate.
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The art of culinary st aging:
- a path of peas across the plate,
- a forest of broccoli in front of a sun of mashed potatoes,
- miniature portions for new foods,
- reassuring rituals, a special place, familiar utensils...
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Tips that work :
- bridge foods"(such as sweet potatoes for fans of mashed potatoes),
- family cooking workshops , where everyone participates at their own level and in good spirits.
The Élhée trick: when the container makes all the difference
Has your little one ever told you that he' d rather eat the way he used to? Like when he was a baby? Like when his favorite bottle was of all milky meals? If so, we've got good news for you: the BibROND is multifunctional.🩷
After breastfeeding or when you've stopped bottle-feeding, did you know that you can still use Élhée bottles? Remove the nipple and add the supplied lid to transform them into hermetically sealed jars, perfect for carrying baby's purée or fruit. A simple way to make feeding less dramatic and reassure your child.
Looking for another tip to counter your child's food neophobia? The Élhée learning cup is also worth discovering, to help your child make the transition to the table like a grown-up. Non-drip and dedicated to drinking, it's a good excuse to eat with and like mom and dad.
Stress-free support: the key to stress-free meals
As every parent knows, it's not always easy to stay calm when your child systematically rejects new foods or categorically refuses to taste what you suggest.
So next time you have a meal, take a deep breath and tell yourself you're not alone! The good news? The more gently you accompany your little one through this period of food neophobia, the more likely he or she will be to open up to new flavors.
So, in times of discovery, forget the pressure, the extra bite or the dessert blackmail (which we've all tried 🫣). Let everyone eat at their own pace. And, as your child's first role model, share your greed and curiosity: mimicry will do the rest.
Finally, let time do its work, bearing in mind that food neophobia is a normal stage in the awakening to taste.
The little victories that change everything
Family life is full of little joys and victories. To celebrate them is to encourage your child, here, to continue exploring.
- "Hummm, that smells good!", baby discovers a scent he likes, even if he doesn't know it.
- The food presented is not immediately rejected, and your child observes it (perhaps for a long time) before trying to taste it.
- Not convinced, he still tried a tiny bite (I'll serve it to you whole, you taste it and finish if you like!).
Beyond neophobia: building a positive relationship with food
Neophobia is just one stage on the road to food autonomy. So, rather than a period to be "overcome", think of it as an opportunity for your child to discover and build a smooth, healthy relationship with food.
However, don't hesitate to consult your paediatrician if difficulties persist, if you're worried about his health, or if he seems to be refusing more and more foods. In the meantime, savor every change as a treat. By developing a good relationship with food today, your child will lay the foundations for a serene and fulfilled future.
Key points to remember:
- Food neophobia is a normal stage in a child's development.
- Stay serene, your calm is contagious.
- Let your child explore at his or her own pace.
- Value every step towards discovery.
- Create a positive atmosphere around meals.
- Offer familiar "bridge" foods.
- Choose reassuring miniature portions.
- Choose suitable, reassuring containers such as the progressive feeding bottle.
- Involve your child in the preparation of his plate.
- Trust in time.
Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.
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