Many parents have observed that when their babies reach nine months, they tend to limit their food choices, refusing to eat many good foods that they once relished. In some children, this phenomenon is noted at the age of 10 or 11 months. Parents of these picky kids often become concerned about the causes of this self-limiting by toddlers in eating. However, if the child shows no other symptoms of illness, the reduction of choice is not a problem in itself. It is normal for kids of this age to behave so because: 

• Children after their first eight months feel less hungry as their natural growth slows down a bit.    
• At this age, babies tend to exhibit independence and becoming picky in eating is one manifestation of this process. By limiting choices, they are providing proof of their growth.
• They take interest in many other activities and, unlike their earlier months, do not derive pleasure from eating only.
  

What You Do?

 If your kid is picky about food, you should do the following to ensure him/her good nutrition.

• Serve a variety of food items at a single time.
• Let the kid make his/her choice.
• Present food in varying flavors, colors, and shapes every time to make him fond of as many items as possible.
• Serve food when you sense that your baby is hungry enough to relish it.

 What to Avoid?

 Following are the things you should not do in an effort to widen your child’s food choices. 

• Do not force the baby to eat a certain food. This will only make him/her more resistant and self-limiting.
• Do not serve food when the baby is not hungry.
• Do not give in and start serving only the baby’s choice item. It will strengthen his habit of narrowly choosing his meal. Keep serving the variety.