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How to Tackle Fussy Eating in Toddlers

By September 10, 2024 Article

How to Tackle Fussy Eating in Toddlers: Practical Tips for Parents

Author Charlotte Stirling-Reed, @sr_nutrition, Founder Charlotte Stirling-Reed, The Baby & Child Nutritionist and Best Selling Author , will be a speaker at The Baby Show www.thebabyshow.co.uk, which is returning to London Olympia from 25 – 27 October 2024  

The toddler years can be a tricky time for parents, and fussy eating is one of the most common challenges that SO many of us go through!

Whether they’re refusing meals and demanding snacks all day, loving a meal one day and then totally ignoring it the next, favouring ‘plain’ or simple foods only or totally refusing to try new foods, it can be a really frustrating phase.

In this article, I wanted to share some of my top tips for dealing with fussy eating as although it can feel totally helpless, there ARE things we can do to make it easier for everyone!

  1. Focus on a Positive Mealtime Environment

Taking the attention away from what is or isn’t being eaten and trying to create a positive mealtime environment can really help to make mealtimes a little less stressful. Kids can quickly pick up on stress and anxiety and that can actually reduce their appetite and make them LESS likely to eat. Mealtimes are as much about connection as they are about food getting eaten. Whenever you can, eat together with your kids to role model you eating a variety of foods. This is why I love Stokke Tripp Trapp for making it so easy to get your baby involved in mealtimes as a family. Focusing on eating foods YOU enjoy also takes away pressure and attention from them, which in turn can make them more likely to eat and enjoy the foods with you.

  1. Don’t give up offering!

It may seem pointless offering your toddler a food they keep rejecting! But familiarity is one of the key predictors to kids eating and enjoying foods, and it can take MANY exposures to a food before they’re willing to give it a try. Sometimes simply offering a tiny amount of a food, or putting it in the middle of the table and letting them serve themselves can give them a little autonomy and control.

  1. Stick to a routine

Having a predictable and consistent routine helps toddlers know what to expect and can help them to regulate their own hunger throughout the day. If your toddler comes to you asking for a snack after they’ve just refused a meal, you can tell them that the next snack/meal will be at X time. Of course, expect a little pushback, but having a good routine can really help toddlers to know when their next meal will be and make them less likely to ask in between.

  1. Let them follow their appetite

Young children are very good at regulating their own appetite, and they know best how hungry or full they are. Offer small portions and allow them to ask for more if they’re still hungry. Similarly, if they’re not hungry, respect their decision not to eat. Remember that it’s our job to provide the food, and it’s their job to decide whether and how much they want to eat. It’s not our job to ‘get’ our children to eat.

  1. Patience!

Overcoming fussy eating is a gradual process, and toddlers are likely to go through multiple phases of food refusal, so it’s essential to be patient. Try to focus on small wins – maybe they didn’t pick out the peas from their sauce, or they tried a mouthful of a new meal. As much as you can, don’t focus on the ‘bad’ days and always try to look at what your little one is eating over the course of a whole week, rather than just one meal or day. It can take time, but fussy eating can get easier!

I hope these tips are helpful. I know first hand just how stressful fussy eating can be, and I speak to parents EVERY day who are finding it tough! Remember you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault! If you ever have concerns about your child’s growth or health as a result of their fussy eating or you feel like it’s ‘more’ than fussy eating, it’s important to speak to a health professional to seek specialised support for your child.

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Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.