Fussy eating in toddlers and children

If your child suddenly refuses foods or only eats a few things, you are not alone. Many parents worry about this, especially if their child used to eat a wide range of foods.

‘Fussy’ or selective eating is very common in young children. It can feel frustrating, but it is often a normal part of development and doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. Eating is a skill that develops over time, and most children go through stages like this.

You might describe your child as a fussy eater if they:

• eat a very limited range of foods
• refuse foods you offer or push them away
• show strong dislikes or say food is “disgusting”
• only accept a few meals repeatedly

Sometimes this can feel like a behaviour issue. But what we call ‘fussy eating’ can also be your child:

• learning what they like and do not like
• responding to taste, smell or texture
• reacting to how they feel or their environment

Eating is one of the few things young children can control, and this is often part of why it can become a bit of a struggle.

There are lots of reasons why your child might become more selective at mealtimes. Changes in your child’s appetite for different foods are often not due to one specific thing.

Your child might just be going through a normal stage of development and exploring new preferences as they grow.

But they may also:

• have sensory sensitivities to taste, texture or smell
• find mealtimes overwhelming or stressful
• not feel hungry at that moment
• have had a bad experience with a particular food
• be copying eating habits they see around them
• be used to certain “safe” foods being offered regularly
• be neurodivergent

Sometimes physical factors can play a role too, such as difficulty chewing or eating certain textures. This is particularly true if you have a young child or toddler with missing or wobbly teeth.

It can be worrying if your child used to eat everything but now refuses to eat lots of foods. This is very common as children often start off trying lots of foods when everything is new and then as their tastes develop, choose what they prefer.

They may go through phases of eating or requesting the same food every day. Their list of desired or “safe” foods may become quite limited at times.

If this happens, try to take a calm approach. Keep offering other foods they have eaten before alongside their preferred choices. Avoid putting pressure on them to eat and accept that their appetite and tastes may vary day to day.

This is sometimes called “relaxed perseverance”. Over time, many children return to foods they used to like.

If your child refuses to try anything new, focus on making food feel safe and familiar rather than pushing them.

It can help to:

• offer small portions so they are not overwhelmed
• give them some choice about what is on their plate
• avoid forcing or pressuring them to eat something
• let them stop eating when they have had enough

You can also build interest in food by:

• letting them help choose food in the shop
• involving them in preparing meals
• talking about food in a relaxed way
• using food in sensory play

Children often need time to explore new foods before they feel ready to try them. Giving your child opportunities to touch, smell and taste different foods outside of mealtimes can help to build their confidence and familiarity with different textures.

Some children strongly dislike certain textures, like wet or mushy foods. This is often linked to sensory avoiding behaviours.

If your child is sensitive to textures in food, you can try offering foods separately instead of them mixed together. If serving a meal with a sauce, you could put the sauce on the side of the plate and let your child explore it gradually by touching or dipping food into it.

It is important to avoid forcing them to eat something they dislike. This can lead to stress around food and textures and make the problem worse.

If your child eats a range of foods overall, it may not matter if they avoid certain textures.

It can be stressful if your child’s preferred foods are not the healthiest choices. Rather than trying to force change, focus on building a positive relationship with food.

You can:

• keep offering new foods alongside familiar ones
• let your child explore foods without having to eat them
• involve them in shopping and cooking
• introduce small changes gradually over time

It also helps to be realistic about your situation. For some families, cost and food waste make it hard to offer lots of options. Small, manageable steps still make a difference.

Some children seem uninterested in food or eat very little at times. This can be worrying but it’s important to think about:

• their general wellbeing and if they may be sick
• whether they might genuinely not be hungry or just don’t fancy that meal
• how busy or overwhelming the environment feels at mealtimes
• how much they have eaten over the course of the day

It helps to look at patterns over time rather than focus on one meal. If your child is growing and developing as expected, they are usually getting what they need.

Some parents find it helpful to keep a simple food diary if they are concerned about their child’s appetite or patterns of eating.

Eating together is a great way to connect with your child and introduce them to foods in a safe, relaxed setting.

If your child eats selectively, you might wonder whether to serve them the same meal as you or if you should make them something different. Particularly if you know they are unlikely to try or eat the meal you are cooking for yourself.

There is no one right way to do this, but finding a middle ground can work well. You can try:

Serving everyone the same meal but keeping things separate.

For example, you could keep the sauce separate from the pasta until plating up. That way, your child can opt in or out of having sauce and you can still share the main element of the meal.

Or you could put vegetables in a separate bowl off to the side so that your child can help themselves, if they feel like trying something.

Including at least one food on the plate that you know your child will eat.

It’s good to offer new or less familiar foods alongside “safe” foods. This gives your child the chance to try new things without pressure.

For many children, they will become open to new foods and their tastes will change as they grow. They will experience more situations with food (like school or meals with others) and see family, friends and peers eating different things. As they get older, they may be more confident trying new foods.

Eating habits often change over time, and what feels like a big issue now is often a phase.

If you are worried about your child’s diet or eating habits, you can get support from:

• a health visitor
• your child’s nursery or school
• a school nurse
• your GP or doctor
• your local children’s centre

You can also talk to one of our Parent Talk parenting coaches for practical advice and support.

Date last reviewed: July 2026

Next review due: July 2029