Solids Aversion: Why Your Baby Is Refusing To Eat

Some babies show a clear and persistent resistance to solid foods, even when they are developmentally capable of eating and continue to meet their nutritional needs through milk feeds. This pattern is often referred to as a solids aversion.

Understanding why solids have become difficult is essential. In most cases, food refusal is not about fussiness or “picky eating,” but about how feeding has been experienced. Identifying the factors that contribute to this resistance helps guide the most effective and least stressful way forward.

What is a solids aversion?

A solids aversion occurs when a baby refuses to eat solid foods, despite normal hunger cues and being otherwise healthy. While most babies go through some resistance to new foods, solids aversion can become more persistent, making mealtimes frustrating for both the baby and the parents.

Signs of a solids aversion

The signs of solids aversion can range from mild to more severe, but generally, they include:

• Crying, fussing, or rejecting food during or after mealtime
• Crying when placed in a high chair or feeding position
• Turning away from the food or clamping the mouth shut when food is presented
• Arching the back or stiffening the body during feedings
• Spitting food out or pushing food away with their hands
• Preferring liquids or formula over solids, even when hungry
• Becoming visibly distressed by the smell, sight, or texture of solid foods
• Eating less than expected or refusing to eat solids altogether
• Gradual weight loss or poor weight gain

When does a solids aversion usually begin?

There are no clear statistics on how many babies develop a true solids aversion, as early food refusal can overlap with normal developmental behaviour.

What is better understood is when difficulties with solids tend to emerge. Challenges most commonly appear between 6 and 12 months of age, during the transition from milk feeds to solid foods and as babies begin learning how eating works.

Feeding difficulties in infancy are common, with studies estimating that around one quarter to one third of children experience some form of feeding challenge in early childhood. However, only a small proportion develop more persistent or clinically significant feeding disorders.

This means that while refusal of solids is often part of normal development, ongoing avoidance across many foods or textures is not something to dismiss as “just a phase” and deserves careful attention.

Why babies become averse to solids

A solids aversion can occur when babies have negative emotional responses, such as stress, discomfort, or fear, associated with eating. These feelings often arise from a specific event, whether it's related to mealtime or linked to a previous feeding experience.

When babies feel uncomfortable, scared, or coerced during feeding, they may begin to refuse food altogether. Babies who have previously experienced feeding difficulties, or have unresolved issues with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, are at a higher risk of developing a solids aversion. These early feeding challenges can shape their relationship with food, making them more sensitive to new feeding experiences and increasing the likelihood of resistance when it comes time to introduce solids.

Stress and Pressure

Pressure is the most common factor underlying solids aversion. When a baby feels pushed to eat, food can quickly become associated with stress rather than enjoyment. Pressure can take many forms, including physically forcing food into a baby’s mouth, persistently coaxing or bargaining (“just one more bite”), relying on distractions to override refusal, or expecting a baby to manage textures or volumes they are not developmentally ready for.

What parents experience as encouragement is often experienced by the baby as loss of control. In response, the baby may resist, turn away, clamp their mouth shut, gag, or become distressed. This resistance can then prompt increased efforts to encourage intake, unintentionally reinforcing the problem.

Over time, this pattern can develop into a fear-avoidance cycle: the baby resists eating to protect themselves from an unpleasant experience, and the parent responds with more pressure out of concern. As the cycle continues, aversion can intensify and may extend beyond solids to other feeding situations. Creating a calm, pressure-free environment is therefore central to resolving solids aversion and supporting a baby to learn to eat comfortably.

Pain

Eating solids can be uncomfortable or painful for some babies when an underlying medical issue is present. Pain may occur in the mouth due to ulcers, infections, or significant teething. Swallowing may be painful if a baby has oesophagitis related to acid reflux or milk protein allergy. Gastrointestinal discomfort, such as chronic constipation or gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), can also cause a baby to associate eating with discomfort.

When pain is present, a baby may refuse solids as a protective response. This refusal is understandable and not behavioural at this stage. However, once solids are refused, feeding interactions often change. Parents may encourage or pressure intake in response to concern, adding stress to mealtimes.

Over time, the baby may associate eating solids not only with discomfort, but also with feeding-related stress. In these cases, pain may trigger the initial refusal, but stress can continue to reinforce avoidance even after the original source of pain has been treated.

Previous bottle/ breast aversion

For many babies, solids aversion does not begin with solids. Babies who have experienced difficulties with breast or bottle feeding, particularly feeding aversion, may carry those negative associations forward. If feeding has already become stressful, the introduction of solids can trigger the same protective responses, even though the food and feeding method are different.

Unresolved bottle or breast feeding aversion is a common underlying factor. In these cases, solids refusal is not a new problem but a continuation of earlier feeding difficulties that were never fully resolved. Babies who have learned that feeding leads to pressure, discomfort, or distress may approach all feeding situations cautiously, including solids.

When solids are introduced under similar conditions, the baby may respond in the same way, by turning away, clamping their mouth shut, gagging, or becoming upset at the sight of food. In this way, unresolved breast/ bottle-feeding aversion can increase the risk of solids aversion, even when solids are introduced at an appropriate age and texture.

Fright

Some babies develop solids refusal after frightening feeding experiences. Events such as choking, repeated gagging, or invasive medical procedures involving the face or mouth can teach a baby that eating is unsafe.

Choking episodes, particularly when a baby is not developmentally ready for certain textures or when feeding is rushed or pressured, can be intensely distressing. Medical procedures such as nasal or oral suctioning, or the presence of a feeding tube, can also increase sensitivity around the mouth. Once food becomes associated with fear, babies may begin to avoid solids altogether.

Unless these experiences are addressed and feeding becomes calm and predictable again, the avoidance can persist even after the original trigger has passed.

Disgust at Taste

Some babies develop solids aversion after repeated exposure to tastes they find unpleasant or overwhelming. Babies vary widely in taste sensitivity. Bitter flavours, strong smells, or foods that differ greatly from milk can trigger distress, particularly if a baby is not developmentally ready for solids or has had limited positive feeding experiences. When food is experienced as unpleasant, refusal is a natural protective response.

If rejected foods continue to be offered, the baby may begin to associate eating with discomfort or stress. Over time, this can extend beyond the specific food to the feeding experience itself, leading to resistance to the spoon, textures, or mealtimes. This response is learned and protective, reflecting avoidance of a previously aversive experience rather than unwillingness to eat.

Allergies or food sensitivities

Food allergies or sensitivities (e.g., to dairy, gluten, or certain fruits) can cause discomfort or digestive distress when babies are introduced to solids. This could make babies resistant to certain foods, especially if they’ve had a bad experience with them in the past.

Other causes of Solids Refusals

Not all refusal of solids is due to a feeding aversion. Babies may temporarily refuse solids because of illness, teething discomfort, tiredness, distraction, or because milk feeds are still meeting most of their nutritional needs. In some cases, refusal may be related to broader sensory sensitivities. Babies with sensory-based feeding difficulties typically show sensitivity in other areas as well, such as touch, clothing, bathing, or grooming, rather than distress being limited to mealtimes. When refusal is situational, varies from day to day, or improves when pressure is reduced, an aversion is unlikely.

Is pain the cause of your baby’s solids refusal?

The distress displayed by many babies with a solids aversion can look extreme. Crying, arching, gagging, or pushing food away may appear as though eating is physically painful. As a result, pain is often the first explanation considered by parents and health professionals when a baby resists solids.

While pain and discomfort can contribute to feeding difficulties, they are not the only reason babies become distressed during meals. In many cases, the behaviour is driven by stress, fear, or learned avoidance rather than ongoing physical pain.

A helpful way to distinguish between pain and behavioural avoidance is to look at how your baby behaves outside of mealtimes.

Causes of pain/ discomfort

Some babies may develop a solids aversion if they associate eating with pain or discomfort. This could be due to conditions like:

• Mouth ulcers or painful teething
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Allergies or food sensitivities
• Constipation or gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying)

When these discomforts aren't addressed, the baby might experience stress and frustration during feeding, making them even more likely to refuse solids. Adding pressure or trying to force feed during these times can make things worse, reinforcing the baby’s aversion.

Clues that pain is unlikely to be the primary cause

The following observations can help distinguish pain-based feeding difficulty from avoidance or aversion:

• If your baby settles quickly once feeding stops, pain is unlikely. Pain does not switch off simply because a meal has ended.
• If your baby is generally content between meals, pain is unlikely. Conditions such as reflux, food allergy, constipation, or delayed gastric emptying typically cause discomfort beyond feeding times, not only when food is offered.
• If your baby eats better in certain situations, such as when drowsy, less alert, or less aware of the feeding process, pain is unlikely. Reduced awareness does not eliminate pain, but it does reduce resistance when avoidance is driving the behaviour.
• If refusal is selective, affecting particular textures, utensils, or feeding positions rather than all intake, pain alone is unlikely to explain the pattern.

When pain is the primary cause, distress is usually evident across the day, not confined to mealtimes, and feeding tends to be difficult in all situations.

Why Developmental Readiness Matters

Sometimes, solids are introduced before a baby is ready, due to external pressure, parental expectations, or medical advice. While the general guideline is to introduce solids around 6 months, some babies may not yet have the developmental skills to manage the textures, swallowing, or coordination needed to eat solids comfortably. This can be particularly concerning for babies who have had feeding difficulties in the past, such as those with physical challenges like weak oral motor skills, poor head control, or trouble with chewing and swallowing.

If solids are introduced before a baby has developed the necessary skills—like sitting up, supporting their head, or moving food around with their tongue—it can be overwhelming, confusing, and even fear-inducing. These early struggles can lead to a refusal to eat or aversion to solids over time, as the baby may not be able to keep up with the demands of mealtime. Several key developmental skills need to be in place before solids can be introduced safely and comfortably.

Oral Motor Skills

Before transitioning to solids, babies need to develop oral motor skills such as the ability to move food around in their mouth, chew, and swallow. Introducing solids too early, when these skills are underdeveloped, can make eating uncomfortable and even painful.

Head and Neck Control

Babies must be able to sit upright and hold their head steady before they can swallow properly. If they are not yet able to do this, mealtime can be frustrating, stressful, and potentially dangerous.

Increased Risk of Choking

Introducing solids before a baby can properly coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing increases the risk of choking. This can be not only dangerous but also traumatic, and may lead to long-term aversions to solid foods if the baby associates feeding with fear or discomfort.

Negative Associations

Babies who have struggled with bottle or breast feeding may already have negative associations with feeding. If solids are introduced too early, it can be difficult for them to separate these previous experiences from their new experiences with food. This can reinforce their resistance to solids and further escalate their feeding aversion.

Signs a baby is ready to manage solids

Readiness for solids is not determined by age alone. It depends on whether a baby has developed the physical and feeding skills needed to eat comfortably and safely.

A baby is more likely to cope well with solids when they:

• can sit upright with good head and neck control
• are able to move food around their mouth with their tongue
• show interest in food without becoming tense or distressed
• can accept food into their mouth without frequent gagging or panic
• appear curious rather than resistant when solids are offered
• are beginning to use chewing or mashing movements rather than relying only on sucking
• have had generally comfortable feeding experiences with breast or bottle feeding

When these skills are emerging, solids are more likely to feel manageable and exploratory. When they are not yet in place, feeding may become stressful, which can increase the risk of refusal or aversion. Learn more about the best time to start solids.

Solids: What matters most

Until around twelve months of age, solids are not a baby’s primary source of nutrition. Breastmilk or infant formula continues to meet most nutritional needs during the first year. At this stage, the purpose of solids is not calorie intake, but skill development.

Solids allow babies to learn how eating works — exploring tastes and textures, practising chewing and swallowing, and coordinating breathing with eating. These skills develop gradually and require repeated, comfortable exposure.

When solids are treated as something a baby must eat in certain amounts, mealtimes can quickly become stressful. Pressure to eat can interfere with learning and increase resistance, particularly for sensitive babies or those with a history of feeding difficulties.

Focusing on experience rather than intake supports learning, reduces stress, and lowers the risk of solids refusal developing into feeding aversion.

How solids aversion is treated

Speech therapy

Speech pathologists support infant feeding across swallowing safety, oral-motor skill development, sensory responses to food, and positive mealtime experiences. Referral may be appropriate when a baby frequently coughs, chokes, or appears distressed with solids, particularly when safety concerns are present.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists bring specialist expertise in sensory processing and regulation, which can be relevant for babies who show strong sensory responses to food. This may include sensitivity to textures, temperatures, or oral sensations. Referral may be considered when sensory differences are suspected to be contributing to feeding challenges.

Behavioural approach

Treatment for solids aversion focuses on removing the factors that maintain refusal and allowing a baby to relearn eating as a safe, comfortable experience.

In physically well babies, solids refusal is rarely resolved by changing foods, textures, or schedules, or by repeated exposure alone. When the underlying cause is behavioural, these strategies can unintentionally increase pressure and reinforce avoidance.

Effective treatment involves:

• identifying and removing pressure around eating

• restoring the baby’s sense of control during meals

• supporting feeding at a pace and level the baby can manage

• ensuring hunger, tiredness, and feeding expectations are balanced

When pressure is removed and feeding experiences become predictable and safe, many babies gradually become more willing to engage with solids. See how we can help.

What this means for your baby

Babies who refuse solids are not choosing not to eat. They are responding to how eating feels to them. When solids are offered in a way that exceeds a baby’s current abilities or comfort, refusal is a predictable outcome. The goal is not to persuade a baby to eat, but to create conditions that allow eating to be learned without distress. With the right timing and approach, many babies are able to move forward with solids safely and confidently.

Understanding why your baby is refusing solids is the first step toward resolving it.

By Rowena Bennett

About Rowena

• Rowena Bennett (RN, RM, CHN, MHN, IBCLC) is a leading infant-feeding and sleep specialist and author of several books on infant feeding and behaviour, including the widely acclaimed “Your Baby’s Bottle-Feeding Aversion: Reasons & Solutions.” With over three decades of clinical experience across child health, midwifery, mental health, and lactation, she has helped thousands of families worldwide understand and resolve complex feeding challenges through her evidence-based, baby-led approaches.

How Baby Care Advice can help

If your baby is showing signs of a feeding aversion, you do not have to navigate it alone. Our resources are based on Rowena Bennett’s decades of clinical experience helping thousands of families worldwide. A personalised assessment with an experienced consultant to identify all possible feeding problems and provide tailored solutions.

Learn more about our Consultations

References

• World Health Organization. Complementary feeding of infants and young children (2003).
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders (updated regularly).

• Kerzner B et al. A practical approach to feeding difficulties in young children (2015).

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