One in three parents say taste and texture put them off taste-testing baby food
One in three parents (34%) admit the taste and texture of their baby's food – has put them off taste-testing it themselves, before feeding it to their little ones, according to a study.
A survey of 1,000 mums and dads, with kids aged five years old and under, saw 17% admit they didn't fancy the look of their tot's ready-made food, while 15% were put off by the thought of the texture.
And 17% rarely try out the purees themselves, with 9% doing so only if it is a new recipe that they haven't fed to their kids before.
In fact, of those who do sample the baby meals beforehand, 37% are anxious about feeding something to their youngsters, without first trying it for themselves.
And 42% like to test the temperature before feeding it to their infants – while half are interested in the flavour, taste, and quality.
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The study 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.
Hollyoaks actress Jessica Fox says it is “so important” we are happy with what we feed our youngsters (Organix/Jessica Fox)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.”
It emerged that the number of parents put off baby food by both the texture and taste, rose to 42% among younger parents, aged 18-24.
The study also found a fifth of mums and dads 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 wrongly believe that relaxing texture progression will not cause feeding challenges later for babies and children. However, more than eight in 10 (84%) believe their children mimic what parents do, when eating.
Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine has been an ambassador for Organix while raising her two-year-old and five-year-old, 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 using a wide spectrum of textures to promote oral motor skill development, and adaption to foods with more complex textures.
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“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.”
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