Mothers may face some baby feeding problems that could leave them stressed and frustrated. At times it can be stressful for babies as well. Mothers worry a lot especially when their babies experience gagging while they are feeding them. Sometimes mothers do get angry, frustrated and would not know how to deal with their babies who simply refuse to eat lumpy foods. However, some understanding on how babies eat, chew their food and how their gag reflex works will help mothers deal with baby feeding problems.
Introducing babies to solid foods may not be that easy but it can be less stressful if mothers know more about it to lessen the incidence of baby feeding problems. Mothers may observe that their babies simply push the spoon out from their mouth especially when they start to feed them. They need to understand that this is part of the natural instinct of babies as they are equipped with nature with a reflex mechanism that keeps the spoon and the food out.
However, mothers have to be patient as their babies will overcome this natural reflex mechanism at about six months. Mothers may take this also as a signal if their babies are ready to start eating solid foods or not. In such cases, mothers should not force their babies to start eating in order for them to avoid baby feeding problems. Their babies may still need a little more time so mothers can try introducing them to solid foods after another week or two.
Although gagging is considered as a natural defense mechanism for babies, it can be one of the baby feeding problems that mothers have to deal with. Gagging can be scary to first time mothers who would not know what to do. Mothers should start introducing solid foods slowly. They may prepare meals that are easier for their babies to deal with such as pureed fruits. Mothers should be patient until their babies learn to swallow and enjoy the foods that they give to them.
Mothers may also experience some baby feeding problems when they start giving lumpy textured foods to their babies. Babies may display gagging and at times vomiting when they are forced to eat something that they do not like. Forcing them would only make it more difficult for both mothers and babies to deal with the problem. Mothers should learn how to make baby feeding time as pleasant as possible.
Introducing more textured foods to babies may not be easy for mothers as they would always encounter baby feeding problems. Mothers will have to start with foods that may be more liquid at the start and then gradually increase the consistency until their babies accept lumpier or more textured food. Babies will then have to learn how to chew their food at the right time. There may be no right formula on how mothers can effectively teach their babies to like and to eat solid foods but mothers should be wise and patient to learn how they can make them eat and avoid baby feeding problems.