A SURVEY, launched by Dorset's award-winning baby food brand Organix, reveals that one of the biggest barriers to introducing new foods during weaning, is a baby's facial expression in response to new tastes.

Evidence shows that it can take between 10 and 15 times to introduce a new food or flavour and that learning about food is all about familiarity and repetition.

But around more than half of parents questioned in a study for the Bournemouth-based company, say a baby’s facial expression puts them off trying to encourage their little ones to like a new taste and flavour.

In response to the research, Organix has commissioned Vivien Sabel, clinical psychotherapist and body language expert, to help parents interpret and understand their little one’s facial expressions.

She explains: “Just as we learn to interpret our baby’s signals when they’re sleepy, hungry, happy or windy, we can also read what those eye, brow, mouth, lip and tongue movements say about a new taste too.

“For example, what mums and dads might interpret as a look of shock or disgust, doesn’t necessarily translate as not liking the taste, what’s more likely is that baby is puzzled by the intensity of a new flavour. A surprised expression could be curiosity about the depth of flavour, the chances are they think the flavour is good but it’s very different to what they’ve eaten before – it’s all part of them experiencing and learning new tastes on their weaning journey.”

Anna Rosier, managing director at Organix, says: “Introducing your baby to a wide range of tastes during weaning will give a strong foundation for their future relationship with food. We make weaning and finger foods to help take babies on a journey from simple first tastes to more adventurous foods and flavours as they grow.”

Vivien Sabel has compiled the following tips to help parents through the baby weaning process:

• Look out for all of your baby’s non-verbal cues and expressions, they can support your baby and you through weaning and trying new foods.

• Observe your baby’s expression and mirror it back to your baby as a way of saying you understand their communication.

• Remember babies do what babies see! They are like sponges and soak up everything you do, if you look like you’re enjoying the food, your baby is likely to copy you.

• The more time you spend observing your baby the more you’ll understand what they’re communicating.

For lots more weaning advice, weaning recipes - from purées to finger foods - and to download your free copy of the Organix Little Book of Weaning please visit organix.com or follow #realfoodface