I can't seem to get my infant to eat vegetables. Any helpful ideas?
San Carlos, California

If you drink coffee, you probably remember the first time you took a taste. It was horrible! How could anyone like that disgusting stuff! Many baby foods that we consider very bland have the same impact on children. Children have extremely sensitive taste buds. Their vision may have slightly soft focus, but their sense of taste and smell is much sharper than ours. When it comes to introducing new foods, breast fed babies have an advantage since the taste of mom's milk varies depending on what she has eaten. Formula fed babies get the exact same taste every time they drink a bottle, and the introduction of new foods can be particularly difficult for them.

The best way to get your infant to eat any new food is to desensitize them to the taste. You can accomplish this by using the new food for their first bite of solids each day for ten days straight. The first day, they may take one mouthful and spit it out. The second day, they will usually swallow the first mouthful, but may refuse any more of that food. The third and fourth days, they will probably take a few bites, but will undoubtedly want a food to which they are already accustomed. If you continue this pattern for ten consecutive days, most children will acquire a taste for the new food -- even vegetables!

• Tip: While your child is in the process of learning to eat a new food, try scooping a small portion of it into a bowl and serving your child from the bowl. If you dip a "used" spoon into food, you can't store it for later use. Never force a child to eat more of a new food than they are ready for, but always be ready to scoop up more if they are still interested!