Picky Eater SOS! Strategies for toddler food refusal (6-18 months)

Feeding & Sleep
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1

The transition from enthusiastically eating everything to suddenly refusing familiar foods can be baffling and frustrating for parents. Many babies and toddlers (especially in the 12-18 month range) go through phases of picky eating as part of normal development, asserting independence, or simply being less interested in food compared to exploring the world. It’s common for intake to vary daily. The key is to offer a variety without pressure, and remember that you’re in charge of what and when food is offered, but your child decides if and how much they eat.

What are your go-to strategies for dealing with food refusal or introducing new foods to a cautious eater? Any surprising successes?

2

We try the ‘exposure without pressure’ method. I’ll put a tiny piece of a new or previously refused food on her plate alongside familiar favorites, and I won’t say anything about it. Sometimes she tries it, sometimes she ignores it, but it’s always there. We’ve had surprising wins after 10+ exposures!

3

My secret weapon for getting veggies into my 15-month-old is ‘sauce’. Not store-bought sauce, but pureed sweet potato or butternut squash mixed with a little plain yogurt or cream cheese. I’ll put it on pasta, mix it into rice, or serve it as a dip for chicken nuggets. Sneaky but effective!