Fussy eaters - Babies and Children Pack

The information provided on these pages is intended for patients already under the care of the Healthy Family Team.

 

Food refusal

Food refusal (either the refusal of new foods or the refusal of foods that were once eaten without any fuss) reflects a basic fear response. This fear response is actually a normal part of a child's development, and the majority of children go through this phase, which tends to peak around 2 years of age.

 

Fussy and faddy eating in toddlers

Most toddlers have good and bad days with feeding. Food refusal is a normal part of many toddlers' development while others may have a more extreme reaction to new foods or touch, taste and smell.

 

Fussy eaters

It's natural to worry and assume something must be wrong when your child seems to lose interest in food.In fact, this is a stage that many toddlers go through. Up to a third of children around the age of two could be described as fussy eaters.

 

Fussy eaters (NHS)

It's natural to worry whether your child is getting enough food if they refuse to eat sometimes. But it's perfectly normal for toddlers to refuse to eat or even taste new foods.

 

When should you worry about a fussy eater?

We all want our children to thrive. And one way to help is by making sure they're eating a healthy diet. But what happens when a child starts to refuse certain foods? What can we do to help, and when should we seek professional support?

 

BabyCentre - How to cope with feeding a fussy toddler

Many parents find that mealtimes become more difficult as their toddler starts to gain his independence. Although this can be very frustrating, fussy eating is a normal phase in your toddler's development. It will get better with time.