Tips for Managing Fussy Eater Toddlers

The timeline for growing out of picky eater behaviour is different for every child. By the age of 5 or 6, most children are willing to try new foods. Some get there much faster, and others take longer.

Dealing with a fussy eater toddler can be a challenging experience for parents and caregivers. Patience, positive reinforcement, and our other tips can help you stay calm while they discover healthy and varied foods.

Most children are ready to eat solids by around 6 months, and research suggests that the wider variety they’re exposed to, the less likely they are to become fussy toddlers.

The ‘Children in the 90s’ study by Bristol University discovered that babies who were only introduced to lumpier solids after 10 months of age were more likely to be fussy eaters. This period is often referred to as ‘the window of opportunity’ when introducing solid foods to your baby. 

Missing this stage when your toddler was a baby, doesn’t mean your child will never accept lumpier, textured foods. However, they will require more time to become familiar with, try and accept these foods. This will also require your support and patience. It may also be beneficial to engage the support of healthcare professionals experienced in childhood feeding challenges. For more information, read our guide on introducing solids to your baby.

• Get your child in the kitchen: Whether it is baking, cooking, learning about the ingredients, picking herbs from the garden or just being in the kitchen while you cook, children are more likely to eat meals that they prepare or help prepare.
• Make food fun and appetising: A picky eater isn’t just thinking about taste. Colours and shapes are the first things a toddler will notice. Make food fun by arranging sliced fruits in the shape of a smiley face on a plate. Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches and vegetables into hearts, stars or animals. We have more ideas of what to make below!
• Keep the plate simple: Large amounts of food can overwhelm a toddler and cause them to refuse to eat anything. Make it easy to see everything that is on the plate.
• Prepare familiar food on the same plate when introducing a new food: Serving new foods alongside their favourites can reduce the caution-response that adds to fussiness.
• Offer foods that you dislike: Your picky toddler might actually like the foods you are fussy about. Don’t like brussels sprouts? Maybe your child will love them!
• Prepare foods differently: For example, baking broccoli gives it a different taste and texture to steaming, boiling or stir frying.

Mealtimes with a picky eater can be stressful to say the least. Easier said than done — but we have some tips on how to keep things calm and even fun:

• Division of responsibility: This is a method that encourages toddler independence. It’s your role to provide the food, while your child will decide how much they eat of that food. 
• Be a role model: Your child’s willingness to experiment with new foods will depend partly on their environment, so try to remain calm. Your toddler is likely to copy your behaviours, so aim to eat a wide variety of foods around them.
• Social time: Meal times are a chance for your picky eater to witness others eating a variety of foods, develop social skills, and a healthy relationship with food. Eat together and with friends and family as much as possible.
• Keep meal time short: Remember, the key is to prevent overwhelming your fussy eater. Creating scheduled eating events will help punctuate the day and provide some predictability. Set a time limit for each meal and snack (20 minutes is ideal) and stop offering food once the mealtime is over – you can offer more food at the next eating event.
• Stay calm and don’t buy in: If toddlers receive attention from their picky eating behaviours, they’ll be more likely to repeat them. It’s essential to hide your frustration, and instead focus your attention on your toddler’s good behaviours and celebrate their breakthroughs.
• Let your fussy eater pick at your plate: Served them the exact same thing you’re eating? It can still be more exciting and adventurous for them to eat from your plate. Even better, they might pick at something they’ve never tried before. 

For more mealtime strategies for your picky toddler, see the Better Health Channel website.

Allowing toddlers to feed themselves fosters a sense of empowerment and autonomy. When they have control over their food choices and can explore different textures and tastes at their own pace, they may feel more inclined to try new foods and become more open-minded eaters.

We recommend allowing your child to make some of their own food choices. This is along the lines of the Division of Responsibility, where it’s your role to provide the food, but it’s up to your child how much they eat.

According to the Division of Responsibility: 

• You are responsible for what, when and where.
• Your child is responsible for how much and whether.

Here are some ideas of how to divide the responsibility and empower your fussy eater:

• Offer 2-3 options and ask your toddler which one they would prefer. For example: “would you like the cucumber or carrot sticks today?”
• Have healthy snacks available to encourage your child to eat when they are hungry.
• Let your child decide how much they eat by letting them serve themselves.
• Get your child to help prepare a meal.

While it can be stressful to see your fussy eater refuse food, they are probably eating enough if they’re healthy and have enough energy to play, learn and explore. Contact your GP or dietitian if your child eats only a very small range of foods or won’t eat entire food groups for longer than a few weeks.

Worried that your picky eater isn’t getting a wide range of nutrients in their diet? Here are some nutrient-dense foods that toddlers enjoy (even the fussy ones):

• Finger foods: Offer bite-sized fruits like berries, sliced avocado and small cubes of cheese.
• Smoothies: Blend fruits and a2 Milk® creates a nutrient-packed drink. Try our Banana-rama Shake, or Berry Smoothie with added a2 Platinum® Premium toddler milk for extra nutrients.
• Yoghurt: Opt for Greek, plain or flavoured yoghurt with no added sugars. 
• Eggs: Scrambled eggs or omelettes can be appealing to fussy eaters and provide protein.
• Fish: Try our recipe for Mighty Mashed Potato and Chunky Tuna which contains extra nutrition from a2 Platinum® Premium toddler milk drink.
• Nut butters: Spread peanut butter or other nut butters on whole grain toast or use as a dip for fruits.
• Baked goods: Homemade muffins or pancakes can be easy ways to sneak in fruits, vegetables, and milk drinks for added nutrition. Our Puffy Pikelets recipe contains a2 Platinum® Premium toddler milk drink. 
• Soups: Offer vegetable-based soups or purees that are easy to eat and are packed with nutrients.