One in 10 parents have NEVER tried the ready-made food they serve their baby with mums and dads ‘hesitant’ to taste test
ONE in 10 parents have never tried the food they serve their baby, a study has claimed.
New research has found that parents are unlikely to try their baby’s food – even if it is new to their baby.
A tiny 17 per cent of parents rarely try their baby’s food and only nine per cent try something if it’s new to their baby, according to a poll of 1,002 adults with children aged zero to five.
The main reasons for avoiding any sort of taste test is because parents didn’t like the look of it (17 per cent) or didn’t fancy exploring the texture (15 per cent).
However, of those that do sample their little one’s food, exactly half are interested in the taste, flavour and quality, while 42 per cent like to test the temperature before handing it over.
And 37 per cent have felt anxious feeding something to their baby without testing it first.
The research was commissioned by Organix, which is running a ‘Taste the Texture Challenge‘ on social media and also working with Hollyoaks star Jessica Fox, mother to 11-month-old River.
The actress, speaking on behalf of the brand which has launched its baby meal pots range, said: “I am one of the many parents that has found feeding my baby to be a daunting responsibility.
“There is so much pressure placed on ensuring that as parents, we are making the right choice for our child’s nutrition.
“I can see why some people might be a bit hesitant to try baby food – the texture can be quite off-putting for adults.
“But I think it’s so important to taste the food we are giving the most precious beings in our lives!”
One in three (34 per cent) of parents confirm both texture and taste of baby food are reasons they avoid trying it altogether.
But among younger parents aged 18-24, this figure rises to up to 42 per cent.
The study also found a fifth of parents do not feel confident when it comes to what they should be feeding their babies at each stage of weaning.
And a further one in five misbelieve that relaxing texture progression will not cause feeding challenges later for babies and children.
But more than eight in 10 (84 per cent) believe their children mimic what the parents do, when eating.
Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine has been an ambassador for Organix while raising her five and two-year-olds, and has created top tips on introducing texture during the weaning process.
Known as ‘Mummy Nutrition’ on Instagram, Nichola said: “Exposure to new tastes and texture is important for the initial acceptance, as well as the longer-term development of eating behaviours associated with food intake.
“I’d always encourage to use a wide spectrum of textures to promote oral motor skill development and adaption to foods with more complex textures.
“It’s important to remember no two weaning journeys are the same and it can vary for every baby.
“However, the consensus and guidelines highlight the importance of introducing textures gradually for optimal development progress.”
Advice on feeding your baby
The NHS suggests that you should start feeding your baby solids, including specialised baby foods, at around six months.
Parents shouldn’t worry about how much food their baby eats at this point.
The reason we are actually told to start babies on food so early is so they can get used to the idea and feeling of eating, the NHS website explains.
The very general advice, currently offered by the NHS, is that parents should give their baby a variety of foods, alongside breast or formula milk.