#asktheexpert my baby (he is not interested to eat food )

A. If your 1 year 9-month-old baby is not interested in food, don’t worry—this is common at this age. Toddlers can become picky eaters. Here’s how you can help: 1. Possible Reasons for Not Eating ✔ Teething: Pain can reduce appetite. Offer soft foods. ✔ Distraction: Too much screen time or toys during meals can affect focus. ✔ Food Boredom: Eating the same food daily can make them lose interest. ✔ Independence Phase: Toddlers like to choose what to eat. ✔ Illness or Digestive Issues: If they have a cold, cough, constipation, or gas, they may eat less. 2. Tips to Make Your Toddler Eat Happily ✅ Offer Finger Foods: Let your baby eat on their own (fruits, paneer cubes, boiled eggs). ✅ Make Meals Fun: Use colorful plates, cut food into shapes, and let them pick food. ✅ Try Different Textures & Flavors: Soft khichdi, dosa, idli, banana pancakes, stuffed paratha. ✅ Avoid Force-Feeding: Let them decide how much to eat. ✅ Give Small & Frequent Meals: 5-6 small meals work better than 3 big ones. ✅ Reduce Milk Intake: Limit milk to 400-500 ml per day so they eat solid food. ✅ Eat Together: Toddlers love copying parents; eating as a family can help. 3. Sample Meal Plan ⏰ Breakfast: Ragi porridge / Banana pancake / Suji upma ⏰ Mid-morning Snack: Fruit slices / Boiled egg / Cheese cubes ⏰ Lunch: Dal-rice with ghee / Khichdi / Roti with paneer bhurji ⏰ Evening Snack: Fruit smoothie / Homemade ladoo / Dry fruit powder milk ⏰ Dinner: Dosa with chutney / Stuffed paratha / Soft idli 4. When to See a Doctor? ⚠ If baby is not eating at all for more than 3-4 days. ⚠ If baby is losing weight or always tired. ⚠ If baby has digestive issues (frequent loose motions or constipation).