![\"\"](\"https:\/\/global.g8education.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/how-to-deal-with-picky-eater-toddler-1335x732-1-1024x561.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Eat with your child<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to sit with your child and share the same food together. If your child sits in a corner, away from the rest of the family during mealtimes, they associate these times with being away from you. It will impact their appetite and willingness to stay in their high chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also normal for toddlers to only want the food on your plate, even if they were offered the same food, so if it\u2019s possible, try offering them from your own plate. This helps creating a positive experience for your child, and they will gradually learn how to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Don\u2019t get stressed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep a happy face and refrain from showing that you\u2019re upset, stressed or angry. If you act upset, your child will associate mealtimes with negative emotions and will be even less likely to approach food with an open mind. Rewarding picky eating with too much attention sometimes encourages your child to keep behaving that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Try to offer more new foods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It is very normal for your child to refuse foods that they are not familiar with. Keep including that food (without forcing) – it can take up to 15 times before a child will try a new kind of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, it\u2019s important to keep offering a good variety of nutritious food from all food groups. Offering them in different shapes and textures is also a sensory experience in itself \u2013 let your child embrace the novelty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Start a routine \u2013 and stick to it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Children love to know what to expect. Routines help to establish boundaries and habits, so make them count. A good rule of thumb is to leave 2 \u00bd to 3 hours between each meal or snack during the day. If your child does not want to eat at a meal or snack, make sure that they understand that there is no food for their tummy until the next scheduled meal – if they think they can wait that long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By this age, they should be eating the family meal, perfecting their skills, practising with cutlery, and practising their social skills. Remember \u2013 you provide, they decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All their best eating is done in the first 20 \u2013 25 minutes, so don\u2019t drag it out. Before ending a meal, give cues such as a 5-minute warning to finish up and wash their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping the mealtimes fun helps create positive experiences for your child, but don\u2019t over do it. Keep the screens and toys aside – meal times should be fun, but not so fun that your child is too distracted to give the food a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most toddlers grow out of the picky eater phase eventually. However, your child might need professional help if they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice any of these behaviours, seek the advice of your GP and discuss the suitability of seeing a paediatrician and paediatric dietitian for further investigation and support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Has your dinner table become a battlefield? Would your child rather eat rubbish off the floor, than the nutritious food on their plate? Have you ever slaved over for hours creating the culinary masterpieces for your growing toddler, only to be treated with a solid \u201cno\u201d?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-post","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/global.g8education.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/how-to-deal-with-picky-eater-toddler-2-1335x732-1-1024x561.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n7. Keep meals short and fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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