Getting Pickier At Mealtime
Here's What To Do
Try to act like it's no big deal if I refuse food or even an entire meal. Try not to comment on the food I do or do not eat.
At each meal, try to offer one food I typically like. If I like applesauce, ketchup, or other dips, include that on my plate and invite me to dip.
Offer me tiny portion sizes of a variety of items (like: one piece of broccoli or 3 beans). Even if I don't try something today, offer it another time. My likes change a lot from day to day!
If I purposefully drop or throw food, I may be testing to see how you'll react. Tell me our mealtime rules in a matter-of-fact way, and remove the food if I keep "testing."
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Take a deep belly breath. It can be frustrating when I refuse food, and you'll be able to help me better if you're able to stay calm.
Engage:
- "Did you notice you have applesauce on your plate? You could try dipping the chicken into the applesauce if that sounds yummy."
- "It seems like you're not very hungry right now. Okay, let's clean you up."
Encourage:
- Remember that it's my job to choose what I eat from the plate. Encourage a healthy relationship to food by trusting my choices.
- Help reinforce our mealtime rules by repeating them in a calm way. Like: "No throwing food, food is for eating."
Reflect:
- Does it seem like maybe I'm less hungry than I used to be? It's typical that babies' appetites decrease between 12-18 months because we stop growing as quickly.
As your child grows...
They may begin to show more definite food preferences. Try to continue to offer a variety of foods, but try offering one preferred food at each mealtime.