Fussy Eating Help for Toddlers

Has your child recently started refusing all of their favourite foods? Do you feel like mealtimes have become a battleground in your house? Does it feel like your child is surviving on a diet of beige? If this sounds familiar, this blog is for you! There is lots of fussy eating help for toddlers out there as fussy eating is an incredibly common, and stressful, phase of child development. I’m here to help you navigate this difficult phase, and also know when to look for additional support. 

Here are some of the most common questions I get when it comes to fussy eating.

1. Why has my child suddenly become so fussy?

It’s such a common experience for families where a previously ‘good eater’ starts refusing foods, including firm favourites, seemingly out of nowhere. Fussy eating (or ‘neophobia’ – a fear of new foods) often peaks between 18 months and 3 years. Slower growth rates and a search for independence are also two reasons – so it’s very normal. I have a huge amount of support for this on my website, including my Fussy Eating Course, My Fussy Eating Factsheet and multiple free blogs too! 

Just remember: 

It can be a totally normal developmental phase, and it’s NOT a reflection on your parenting. 

2. Is there anything I can do to avoid fussy eating happening? 

There are so many reasons why fussy eating may occur – it’s often multifactorial and to do with genetics, personality, eating experiences, parental eating habits and so much more. Therefore, because there is no definite “cause” it’s very hard to avoid fussy eating starting, especially because it’s also a very normal part of childhood when they start to search for independence. While there’s no single magic wand for avoiding fussy eating, there are many strategies for reducing it’s likelihood and also reducing fussy eating once it’s started too. I talk about a lot of these in my course and also in my Fussy Eating Factsheet. 

3. How can I get my child to try new foods?

The secret? Patience and no-pressure exposure.

There’s a concept called ‘The Division of Responsibility,’ which can be really helpful to take the pressure off everyone. 

This framework clearly defines your role and your child’s role:

• Your job as a parent: You decide WHAT food is served, WHEN it’s served, and WHERE it’s served (e.g., at the table, at lunchtime and it’s spaghetti bolognese).
• Your child’s job: They decide WHETHER to eat, and HOW MUCH of the food to eat.

This means no pressuring, no bribing, and no “just one more bite.” Your job is simply to provide a balanced meal; theirs is to decide what to eat from what’s offered.

There are plenty of other strategies that work to help your little one’s explore foods too…but this one is key! 

4. I’m worried they aren’t getting enough nutrients. Should I give a supplement?

This is one of the key things families worry about. As a first step, I often advise taking a look at their intake over an entire week, not just one day. You’ll often find food intakes balance out. 

However, the UK government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years take a vitamin supplement containing vitamins A, C, and D, regardless of how well they eat. So, this is a good safety net to have in place.

For more about which nutritional supplements your child needs, head to this blog, where I cover what to do if your little one is a bit fussy and you’re worried they aren’t getting all they need. Additionally, I have my own range of vitamin drops designed specifically for little ones, so check those out too.  

5. My child eats EVERYTHING at childcare, but refuses food at home. Why?

Another REALLY common experience for families. There can be many reasons why this happens, and none of them mean you’re doing something wrong. Some of the reasons why children might eat better when they’re in a childcare setting are:

• Predictable routines – most of the time in a childcare setting, mealtimes are happening at exactly the same time, every day. Children thrive off predictability, and this can help support their appetite regulation. 
• Other role models – children will usually be sitting together with other children, and sometimes caregivers when eating their meals at childcare. This means plenty of other role models to copy from. 
• No alternatives – childcare settings aren’t able to offer alternatives to children as a general rule. Children usually understand that they have one option, and there won’t be anything else on offer until the next eating opportunity. 

It’s also quite typical behaviour for children to ‘act out’ more when they’re in a more comfortable, familiar environment. They’re less likely to refuse foods or demand other foods when they’re in a childcare setting, even if that’s exactly what they do at home. 

6. My child refuses their main meal and then demands a snack. What should I do?

This is where having a predictable mealtime routine can really help. When kids know when to expect food, it makes it easier for them to regulate and follow their internal appetite cues. It also makes it easier for YOU to resist constant snack requests and say “it’s not time for a snack right now.” For more mealtime language tips for fussy eaters, check out my blog.

I always advise making sure that snacks are balanced and filling, to ensure that they are doing the job of keeping them satisfied until the next meal. Often snacks can be quite small or unbalanced – for example a single piece of fruit, or a plain cracker. Instead, think about making a snack into a ‘mini-meal’ to help to keep them going for a little longer. 

Check out my blog on snack recommendations for young children, for tips on making a balanced snack, as well as plenty of inspiration for WHAT to offer. 

If you’re looking for more advice on managing tricky mealtimes, these blogs on managing behaviour at mealtimes and language tips for fussy toddlers have plenty of practical advice. 

7. When should I worry that it’s MORE than fussy eating?

Whilst fussy eating is a typical stage of development for many children, it’s so important to know when it may be more than that. 

Some signs to consider include:

• Faltering growth: If your child is losing weight, or not gaining weight appropriately over time (you can check their growth chart in their red book). 
• Extreme restrictions: Their range of accepted foods is very small (e.g., fewer than 15-20 foods) and shrinking, or they are cutting out entire food groups.
• Physical symptoms: They frequently gag, choke, or vomit when eating, or complain of pain or difficulty swallowing.
• Intense fear/anxiety: Mealtimes involve extreme emotional distress, such as screaming, crying, or panic at the sight or smell of new (or even familiar) foods.
• Social impact: Their eating habits prevent your family from eating out or stop your child from attending parties or eating at school or nursery.

If any of these sound familiar, I’ve got a more detailed blog on when to worry about your child’s fussy eating, which includes where to go if you’re looking for further support. 

I hope you’ve found this blog helpful to help with managing some of those stressful mealtimes. My book How to Feed Your Toddler has plenty more information on WHY fussy eating happens and WHAT to do about it. You can also check out my free Fussy Eating Factsheet for more tips on how to cope!