From my experience as a parent navigating infant feeding, I learned early on that patience and observation are key when a baby refuses to eat. It’s tempting to stress over exact portion sizes or specific recipes, but the real focus should be on reading your baby’s cues and creating a positive mealtime atmosphere. Incorporating a variety of real foods—such as mashed bananas, grated apples, cooked rice cereal, and soft vegetables—helps babies get used to different textures and tastes. For example, preparing oatmeal soaked in water or lightly cooked fruits can make them more palatable while keeping meals nutritious. Avoid pressuring your baby to finish or focus solely on grams consumed; this can lead to negative associations with eating. Another important point is to establish routine mealtimes where your baby sits with the family at the table. This exposure encourages social eating behaviors and models healthy eating habits. Remember, it’s normal for babies at this stage to accept or reject foods repeatedly before they develop a preference. Reducing anxiety around feeding – yours and your baby’s – is essential. Keep in mind that starting solids is about practice and exploration, not immediate consumption of large amounts. The goal is to nurture a positive relationship with food, setting the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits. Lastly, trusted home-prepared options like gently cooked cereals, fruits like mango or apple, and even small amounts of fish when appropriate, offer variety. Don’t get stuck offering only one type of food daily; diversity encourages acceptance and provides balanced nutrition. Always ensure food is safe and well-cooked appropriate to your baby’s developmental stage. Overall, the journey of introducing solid foods is less about perfection and more about connection, patience, and celebrating small wins along the way.