Above the age of 6 months, babies can begin to be given food. However, babies often find it difficult to eat, which makes mothers feel anxious, because they are worried that it will interfere with the baby's development. If this condition occurs in your baby, it's a good idea to understand how to deal with a difficult baby eating.

Babies have difficulty eating can be caused by many things, for example because they feel full, food allergies, tired, do not like the food given. In addition, some conditions, such as premature birth, diarrhea, jaundice, and ear infections, can cause a baby to have difficulty eating. Even though it is considered normal, it can have a fatal impact on the baby if left untreated, especially for a long time.

Various Ways to Overcome Babies Difficult to Eat

Dealing with a baby who is struggling to eat is tiring, but try to stay calm. In certain cases, babies can grow healthily and normally even though it's hard to eat. However, if the weight does not increase due to difficulty eating, you should not let it go, because your baby can be malnourished, experience growth retardation, and even psychological disorders.

There are several ways to deal with a difficult baby eating that can be done at home, including:

1. Feed him slowly

Don't force your baby to eat if he refuses. Recognize when your baby starts to feel hungry. Usually babies can whine or become fussy if they feel hungry. Try to feed him slowly when he starts to feel hungry. You can also feed him in small portions but more often, rather than all at once in large portions.

2. Smoothing food

One of the reasons why babies have difficulty swallowing food is because the food given is too hard. For that, try to smooth baby food by adding milk or water.

3. Avoid giving new foods too often

It is not uncommon for babies to refuse if they are given new food that they have never eaten before. To overcome this, you can mix the new food with the food menu that is usually consumed daily. If you want to introduce a new type of food, then give it gradually and don't change the food menu too quickly.

4. Feed him at the right time

Babies tend to refuse to eat once they feel sleepy. Therefore, pay attention to the proper time before you feed him, as an example once he wakes up or once he plays.

5. Keep allergenic foods away

If your baby has difficulty eating because of allergies, try to avoid allergenic foods in your baby. Food allergy triggers that can be milk, peanuts, soy, wheat, seafood, or eggs. If the various ways of dealing with a difficult baby eating are not able to make it easier for your baby to eat, you should consult a doctor for proper treatment.

Be aware of the condition of the baby having difficulty eating if it is accompanied by symptoms in the form of a baby crying continuously, vomiting after eating, having bloody stools, not responding when touched, or having a fever with a body temperature above 37 degrees Celsius. Immediately take the baby to the doctor or the nearest health service.