When it comes to feeding a toddler, it can be hard to keep up with what they do and don’t like, and nothing is more infuriating than when your toddler won’t eat. If you have a picky eater on your hands, these top tips will help to get them back in the routine of eating what you give them.

Relieve the pressure

You can’t force your child to eat when they don’t want to, just like you can’t force them to eat something they don’t like and you shouldn’t try. Accept their changing taste buds simply without making a big deal out of it and your child won’t feel so stressed.

Change the food

Unfortunately when your toddler won’t eat, a lot of it comes down to their constantly changing taste buds. Being over sensitive to certain kinds of foods and textures is entirely normal at this age and so it’s best to just go with the flow of what they’re taste buds are telling them.

Modify the routine

It might be worth taking a closer look at the routine you’re currently in and how many snacks your child is eating throughout the day. It could be that they’re filling up on snacks and aren’t hungry by the time dinner comes round.

Turn off the TV

If you’re in the habit of sitting down to dinner with the TVon, then this could be the reason behind why your toddler won’t eat. Too many distractions at dinner time could have a negative impact on eating. Let your child concentrate on the food in front of him first and they can go back to watching TV or playtime afterwards.

Visit the doctor

It can be hard to spot, especially when your toddler goes through a number of phases where they do and don’t want to eat, but a persistent issue could be telling you something else. If you suspect your toddler is unwell, then take them to the doctor and seek medical advice, there could be an underlying reason why they’re pushing their food away.

Provide alternatives

If your toddler won’t eat the food you put in front of them, don’t take it to heart. Provide alternative meals they might like or ensure the house is filled with healthy snacks. It might be that right now they don’t feel like eating, but that doesn’t mean they should go without.

Embrace it

Unfortunately toddlers are very temperamental and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Don’t get angry or mad, and definitely don’t tell them off; you don’t want to create a negative impact around mealtimes. Just accepting whether or not your child wants to eat won’t be easy but will go a long way to helping your toddler overcome their current food problem.

Resources:
http://jillcastle.com/preschooler-nutrition/12-reasons-child-wont-eat/ 
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/carlos-gonzalos-my-child-wont-eat 

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