Tackling Fussy Eating in Toddlers by Lucey Barclay & Victoria Rose

Top Six Tips for Tackling Fussy Eating in Toddlers

1. When introducing solids consider a ‘Baby-Led Weaning’ approach. Research has shown that babies who are introduced to solids from 6 months with a BLW approach, eating foods in their real form, learning what they look, feel and taste like by exploration and self-feeding are growing up into toddlers who aren’t described by parents as “fussy eaters”.

2. Trusting your baby/toddler is key to tackling and preventing fussy eating. Happy, healthy children will take the calories they need. It might not be what you “expect” them to be eating but by allowing them to stop eating when they show signs of being full or of having had enough, staying relaxed, respecting their decisions about which foods they eat from their plate and which they leave will actually promote positive eating habits longer term.

3. Try not to cut “unliked” foods out of your child’s diet too quickly. Many parents stop giving children foods they know they won’t eat. My advice is to continue to give them opportunities to eat a range of foods. Research shows that exposure to foods is key to acceptance, so if you give up on the green vegetables then your fussy eater is even less likely to eat them in the long run. Have it on the plate, eat these foods in front of your little one and it’s likely they will start to try and enjoy these in time.

4. Many parents resort to using a food as a reward for eating other foods. This approach won’t get you your desired outcome. Actually it teaches that the non-desired food (broccoli) is not as good as the desired food (yoghurt). This serves to reinforce your fussy eater’s lack of interest in some foods.

5. Avoid distractions at mealtimes. Distractions like screentime, food tricking games (“here comes the airplane”) etc. are not beneficial in the long term and can create other food-related issues due to children not observing/feeling when they are full and not gaining pleasure from the tastes and sensations of eating. Eating meals together, sitting next to your child will not only help them with positive eating habits but can also encourage them to try new foods too.

Finally, your choice in highchair can be crucial in how well your little one takes to weaning.

Using the new iCandy MiChair has really enhanced and helped my life around mealtimes. Sienna finds the chair extremely comfortable, so even if she isn’t eating, she’s very happy to sit in it and play with a toy or look out of the window at passersby. The iCandy MiChair is also so easy to keep clean with just a quick wipe down after use and believe me it gets pretty messy.

In addition to all of these benefits, the great thing about the iCandy MiChair is that it has a footrest. Victoria advised that these are incredibly helpful when babies are self-feeding. When babies are in a highchair without a footrest they have to put energy and concentration into balance whereas having a footrest can help increase their motor skills therefore allowing them to focus on weaning. 

For further ideas on weaning products to help support you and your family on your weaning journey, check out our suggestions on iC recommends here!

For further support and guidance on your own weaning, parenting or sleep journey, please visit Victoria’s website (Allaboutbabies) here.