'Nag-Baby-Led Weaning Kami Pero Naging Picky Eater Pa Din': Mom Asks For Help

With millions of available information on the internet nowadays, different approaches in child-rearing easily become trends. 

One of the most famous trends, baby-led weaning (BLW) has been both popular and controversial in starting solids. 

The said approach promises that the child will eat whatever is offered and will not be a ‘picky eater’. Many parents excitedly tried BLW thus, the flood of cute videos of little ones stuffing themselves with anything that’s on their plates. Toddlers eating ampalaya and broccoli is cute, right?

However, a parent said in an anonymous post in Smart Parenting Village that even though they tried baby-led weaning, her child eventually became a picky-eater. On top of this, her child usually gets comments from other people about being ‘payat’. 

Many moms in the Smart Parenting Village came to her rescue and said that it’s perfectly normal for kids and toddlers to go through a ‘picky eating’ phase, even though they also tried BLW. 

“We practiced BLW sa daughter ko din. Picky eater din. Dati lahat ng gulay and fruits na ibigay ko, kakainin. Ngayon, piling veggies lang and mango and banana for fruits ang kinakain. Payat din sya. Deadma lang sa side comments ng iba ,” Jane L. shared in the discussion thread. 

Maria Hazel Vina Vinluan seconded them, as they also did BLW, “Not bothered at all. I know my son better than them. Naging picky din yung anak ko kahit BLW kami.”

She then found a way to somehow bring back her child’s interest towards food, “So I made it more 'fun' and tried bento at home. Hindi pa sya nag-school but I bought the bbox.ph bento lunchbox so I sometimes use it pag kakain and nilalagyan ko ng iba-ibang pagkain. Sulit din when we go out, naka-organize lahat ng snacks nya doon.”

RELATED: Masarap, Mura, at Masustansya: Baon Ideas You Can Try Even If You're A Non-Bento Parent

Parents of two children, who tried different approaches in starting solids, also shared their experience. 
“It's just a phase, I think. Eldest ko, hindi nag-BLW while my 2nd born, nag-BLW. Both picky eaters, pero mas picky eater ang eldest ko nung ganyang age ng anak mo. Pero habang lumalaki, natututunan na kumain ng ibang food,” Kathrine Santos re-assured the anonymous mom in the post. 

And for the people who frequently give unsolicited comments, there’s only one piece of advice: “Sa mahilig pumuna ng payat, mataba, etc - dedma lang,” Kathrine Santos added.

Another mom of two, Ronna Natividad-Concepcion shared their story, “Sa 2 sons ko, dumaan ang panganay ko sa picky eating, dumaan din ako sa iyak kaka-isip ng way para makakain sya pero ngayong 4yo madami na siyang kinakaing variety dahil sa mga ways na naisip ko i-offer, tiyaga ko din ganun. Sa bunso ko na 2yo, wala akong problema halos lahat kinakain, BLW din kami. Hindi ko na ini-stress sarili ko basta ilang subo lang okay na sa akin as long as complete meal with fruits pa.”

Ronna added, “Phase talaga yan mommy and sa experience ko ngayon worth it ung trial and error na ginawa ko sa eating habits nila.”

“Sa tumaba or pumayat issue naman, dedma lang ako kasi hindi naman mauubos at matatapos ang mga taong pala comment minsan sa kamag anak manggaling, di sila worth ng energy ko hehehe  basta active ang kids ko hindi sakitin,” Ronna said. 

Barbie Rana-Vidal pointed out an important aspect in a toddler’s eating habits, “I think it's normal for toddlers to be picky eaters kahit na BLW pa. Developed na taste buds nila at that age so they know which taste they like and don't like. Keep offering food lang po. Ako nga mommy, 34 yrs old na with a picky 4 yr old, picky eater din  I still don't like veggies.”

RELATED: 4 Ways to Prevent Your Baby From Growing Up to Be a Picky Eater

Defining “picky-eaters”

We often hear and read about picky-eaters, and sometimes label children as picky or ‘magana’. But before dwelling into “Why is my child a picky-eater?”, “What did I do wrong?”, “I should have tried BLW or Tamang Kain,” let’s know first the definition of a picky-eater. 

Kacie Barnes, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for ages one to ten years old, shared top signs to consider whether a child is a picky-eater:

6 signs of a picky eater

• They are eating less than 20 foods
• They’ve cut out an entire food group
• They won’t allow new or unliked foods on their plates
• They skip meals, and ask for snacks instead
• You’re worried when you eat away from home there won’t be anything they like
• Milk is their love language, and they drink more than 3 cups a day

Refusing a meal once, or twice, does not mean that a child is already a picky eater. Maybe they’re tired, overwhelmed and excited. Sometimes they just know what they want and just need guidance when it comes to new foods. There’s too many factors to consider before labeling a child ‘picky eater’. 

RELATED: Georgina Wilson, Isabelle Daza Admit Struggles With Their Kids Who Are Picky Eaters

As Barnes said in her site, “This is NOT about perfection and eating spinach every day. Even with thousands of hours of nutrition education and experience under my belt, I am still just a mom trying to do my best for my family. We eat pizza and ice cream.”

She also added a few suggestions for parents to turn mealtimes around:

4 ways to make mealtimes more fun and take the pressure off eating 'right'

1. Change the vibe at the dinner table - less stress, more fun
2. Be silly and fun - joke around
3. Play music - easily relaxes little ones and improve mood
4. Talk about fun things only - their favorite show, their friends, just don’t dwell on the foods they don’t eat or touch

To know more about Barnes' tips on turning around the mealtime experience, read her article.

As long as the child is healthy and happy, always remember you’re doing a good job, parents!