Toddlers and fussy eating

Fussy eating is a normal part of development. Many children, especially toddlers, are picky eaters. It can mean that they won't try new foods or reject foods that are a particular shape. Up to half of all toddlers fit this description, so it is no surprise that food issues are a source of stress for parents.

Many Australian parents are concerned about their child’s eating habits and worry that their child isn’t eating enough.

Establishing healthy eating patterns is important to avoid problems such as obesity and eating disorders later in life. Various strategies can help your child accept a wider range of foods.

Don’t delay introducing ‘lumpy’ foods to toddlers

As part of their ongoing ‘Children in the 90s’ study, researchers at Bristol University in England discovered that delaying your baby’s introduction to lumpier foods may contribute to fussy eating habits. Lumpy foods are semi-solids like small bits of cooked, soft vegetables or food that is mashed with a fork.

The study focused on a group of babies who were not given lumpy foods until they were 10 months or older. Research found that one in five were fussy eaters by the age of 15 months. Compared to babies who were introduced to lumpy foods between 6–9 months, the fussy eaters were twice as likely to have firm food preferences and were more likely to insist on baby foods well after their first birthday.

This research suggests that giving your baby a wide variety of lumpy or chewy foods between 6–9 months will broaden their food appreciation and reduce the likelihood of fussy eating later on.

Don’t be put off by food rejection from toddlers

You may need to offer an individual food 10 times or more before your baby will choose to eat it. However, around half of parents only persist 2–3 times before giving up on that food altogether.

Parents may be fussy eaters too

Children learn behaviours from their parents. Research indicates that while 25–50 per cent of toddlers are fussy eaters, around 25 per cent of them have parents who admit to being fussy eaters too.

If you restrict yourself to a narrow range of foods, your child may notice and may copy your wariness. Don’t limit your child’s food variety to only those foods you prefer. It may be that your child’s tastes are different to yours and perhaps you are simply serving them foods they don’t happen to like.

Food and growth

Up to half of all parents are worried that their child isn’t eating enough.

If your child seems healthy and energetic, they are eating enough. If you are still concerned, keep an eye on how much food they eat over the day. Children tend to graze constantly, rather than restrict their eating to 3 meals per day like adults. You may be surprised how those little handfuls and snacks add up.

Toddlers are very busy and often don’t like to stop to eat! Make meals and mealtimes small.

For further reassurance, check your child’s growth and weight charts or see your doctor or maternal and child health nurse. Remember that your child’s growth rate is slowing, so their food intake may reduce.

Keep calm about fussy eating in toddlers

Parents who feel worried about their child’s eating habits may try to force or persuade their child into eating their meals. If your child resists, mealtimes can become stressful. Try to avoid food becoming a power struggle.

Suggestions include:

• Don’t delay introducing lumpy foods – most children will manage lumpy foods by 7-8 months.
• Remember that your child will never voluntarily starve themselves. Children are very good at judging their hunger and fullness signals.
• Keep calm and don’t make a fuss about whether your child is eating or not. Instead, concentrate on making mealtimes enjoyable family events. If an occasion is enjoyable, your child will want to repeat it.
• Be realistic about the amount of effort you put into making your child’s meals as their stomachs are still very small.
• Be calm when they refuse to eat, they may be tired or not very hungry.
• Threats, nagging or yelling will only upset them and you!
• Bribing using lollies, chocolates, biscuits, milk or desserts only makes them think that those items are better than the meal you offer.

Mealtime strategies for toddlers

Suggestions include:

• Be a good role model. Eat a wide variety of foods yourself and eat with your child.
• Eating is a very important social activity and children learn important social skills when eating with others.
• Ask your child to help prepare a meal. They are more likely to eat a meal they have helped to make.
• Set up regular habits for eating, such as always putting your child in their highchair or eating at the same table.
• Offer a range of colourful foods on the plate and allow your child to pick and choose what they will eat from there. Present food attractively.
• Encourage self-feeding and exploration of food using their hands from an early age. Don’t worry about the mess. Children learn about food through touch as well as taste.
• Offer alternative foods from every food group. For example, if your child dislikes cheese, they may eat yoghurt.
• At the end of the meal (no more than 20–30 minutes), take your child’s plate away without any fuss. If they haven’t eaten much, offer them a healthy snack a little later, or wait until the next mealtime.
• Encourage your child to feed themselves. Make sure you have healthy snacks available. Always supervise their eating, to avoid any risk of choking. Encourage them to eat sitting down, not running around.

Adapt to your toddler’s eating habits

Perhaps part of the problem may be trying to force your child to eat like an adult.

Suggestions include:

• Appreciate that your child’s stomach is small. Too many drinks of milk or other drinks may be filling them up. Some children prefer drinks as they don’t have to stop activities for very long to finish, so try to reduce the amount they drink. Juice, which is high in sugar, is not recommended (water or milk is healthier in a sippy cup).
• Serve child-size meals – they can always ask for more. This generally means three small meals a day, with a snack in between.
• If the family dinner is late in the evening, your child may be too tired to eat. Serve their meal earlier, before 5 pm if possible.
• Assess your child’s food intake over the week, rather than daily.
• Allow your toddler to identify when they have had enough – this teaches them to listen to their body.

Other factors for fussy eating

Other factors that may be putting your child off food may include:

• illness – check with your local health professional
• tiredness – settle your child to sleep and try food again after rest
• emotional upset – comfort your child and try food again later.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Maternal and child health services
• Parentline
• Tweddle Child and Family Health Service Tel. (03) 9689 1577
• Queen Elizabeth Centre Tel. (03) 9549 2777
• O’Connell Family Centre Tel. (03) 8416 7600