When a baby refuses to eat, it can be very distressing. Understanding the reason behind your baby’s lack of appetite is one way to decrease your tension. Parents struggle to accept food rejection in their infants and young children.
Let’s look at some potential causes of babies refusing to eat during mealtimes. The 7 most common causes of why a baby refuses to eat will be discussed in this article, along with recommendations for how to help.
Why is My Baby Not Eating?
Many babies eat well during their first year or two of life. They grow very quickly. They get heavier, and their bodies get longer. They are going through a growth spike. Even their brains are growing, and learning is happening very quickly.
Energy is needed for all of this baby’s growth and development. Babies consequently have a healthy appetite and a natural desire to eat.
However, there are situations when babies just refuse to eat as much as they used to or as expected. You have to figure out if this is a surviving phase or a continuing pattern.
The majority of babies that have just a little bit of food refusal will become interested in eating and resume their regular eating habits after just one or two meals. Your baby refuses to eat and might need more help if their lack of food is consistent.
It’s important to visit your doctor if your baby refuses to eat is losing or not gaining weight, seems dehydrated, or has returned to the bottle and is not showing any interest in eating again.
Common Reasons Why Baby Refuses to Eat
When we observe babies who are poor eaters, their growth slows down, and they are already in a pattern of not taking in enough basic foods.
When we look at the root causes of the problems, we find that many factors came together to create the “perfect storm.”
Baby has constipation.
Constipation may occur when infants shift from a liquid feed to solid foods. Breast milk and infant formula are examples of liquids that are very easy for the intestines to absorb and digest. However, the gastrointestinal tract must work harder when solid food is added.
This may cause things to move more slowly. Babies that are constipated have a sensation of fullness. This may be enough to make them less hungry.
If your baby refuses to eat and is constipated, you can help him with home remedies like diluted prune juice, but be sure to use only infant-safe ones. If you’re concerned, speak with your pediatrician. Additionally, you should increase the amount of fiber your baby consumes when it gets older.
Baby is bored.
Many babies enjoy pureed foods, which are fantastic. Some babies prefer them and love them too much. Others are given “safe” purees and well-known flavors instead of getting tested by various textures.
Following the introduction of solid foods, most children should progress to additional food experiences, texture, and flavor by the time they are 7 months old. At this age, a texture improvement is usually recommended.
Young children and babies are naturally interested. They want to experiment with different meals. Their total growth, including language abilities, self-confidence, and, of course, nutrition, might be delayed if they are held back when they are ready to advance.
According to one study, children who were not introduced to finger foods and chopped table food by the age of nine months had noticeable selective eating in their meals by the time they were seven years old.

Your baby refuses to eat and can be bored with eating if they are avoiding purees and spoon-feeding or if they remain bound to baby food pouches or their favorite meals. However, focus on a baby-led weaning method, lumpy foods, or diced table items. Boredom may suggest that your child needs additional flavors, textures, and independence when it comes to self-feeding (hello, baby finger foods!).
Poor Appetite Due to Pain
A baby’s inability to eat is frequently triggered by teething. The mouth hurts. However, your infant may be refusing to eat because of another underlying cause of pain.
A painful throat or ear pain may be the cause of temporary food refusal.
Pain and a lack of desire to eat might result from reflux, a condition in which the baby’s stomach acids flow up into the esophagus. If this continues over time, your child may experience more severe problems, such as learning to associate pain with eating and becoming disinterested.
Gas, cramps, and other symptoms of digestive issues, such as colitis, can be irritating.
Pain, discomfort, and decreased appetite can result from food allergies or intolerances, such as esophagitis (the disorder), oral allergy syndrome (autoimmune disorders), or an allergy to one of the Top 9 foods (e.g., milk, egg, wheat, etc.).
Any baby refuses to eat if they have a severe illness, such as a cold. But after the disease is over, most babies will start eating again.
See your doctor if you think your baby’s resistance to feeding is due to a more serious, underlying medical problem.
Using Ineffective Feeding Methods
No matter the age, eating must always be a joyful experience for the child. Young children can think of eating poorly if it is not positive. For example, it can be a bad sign if your child is vomiting a lot and eating using a baby-led weaning method.
This also applies to feeding your child using a spoon. Your baby may develop a negative connection with using it to eat if you force them to eat when they are full and don’t want any more.
Babies who are more sensitive about their environment, changes, and shifts, or who have a reactive nature, may remember these unpleasant experiences, even though the majority of babies will recover from small episodes like puking.
A baby refuses to eat as a result of this, or at the very least, their desire to eat may be reduced. Avoid this situation by using reactive feeding, which will help you provide your baby with a happy eating experience, and by reviewing your feeding methods and style to make them positive and connected.
A Late Bloomer (Delayed Signs of Readiness)
Babies are different and have various qualities, but they all follow a developmental pathway. The various phases of development are handled at various stages and reflect what is known as developmental preparedness.
When your kid is ready to go on to the next phase of eating, you can use the stages of preparation for solid meals as an example. Thus, by six months, babies are usually prepared to start eating for the first time. Some are prepared sooner, while others are not. It’s important to keep a lookout for the symptoms. Some infants take longer to show that they are ready for solid foods. They are late bloomers.
Think about the child who learns to read later. They won’t be early readers no matter how much you work on their reading skills. They have their timetable for learning.

Some kids have trouble chewing and moving food around in their mouths because they lack coordination. They need additional practice. It takes more time and experience for some people to become used to textures since they find them annoying. Some babies are more responsive to food’s sensory qualities. When they observe, touch, or taste food, their gag reflex may be set off.
If your baby refuses to eat and is a late bloomer, don’t worry too much. Keep an eye out for signs of readiness and offer extra food experiences.
A teaspoon of chopped food or a spoonful of baby food puree can be placed on the high chair, and the baby can play with it.
Show your infant how to put his hand to his mouth if he is handling or holding food. Remember to stay positive and follow your baby’s lead.
If you force your kid to eat before they’re ready, it won’t be enjoyable and could cause them to become disinterested or even refuse to eat.
Food Intolerances
Another reason babies stop eating could be an unknown medical condition. A newborn with a food intolerance, for example, can become a picky eater or refuse to try some foods. Or your baby’s appetite may be affected by a serious gastrointestinal condition like celiac disease.
Sensory Problems
Extremely picky eating is one of the first signs of a feeding issue that some infants and toddlers develop. They might be extremely sensitive to food textures, “pocket” food, or struggle to coordinate their mouth for eating.
Indications That You Should See a Doctor
The time has come to visit the doctor if your child:
By nine months, isn’t it time for a change to more textured foods?
- Still refusing to eat.
- Lacks interest in eating
- and looks upset while eating.
- appears to be dehydrated.
- Is losing weight
In this situation, it’s recommended to look into the underlying causes, which could include sensory difficulties, digestive disorders, or a food intolerance or allergy.
You may need a nutritionist to look at your feeding strategy, including the feeding schedule, food presentations, and feeding connections, or your infant may require a feeding examination with a feeding therapist (a speech therapist or occupational therapist who specializes in feeding).