Introduction
As parents, we want the absolute best for our precious little ones, and their health and well-being are at the forefront of our minds. However, when it comes to their eating habits, many of us face unexpected challenges that can cause a significant amount of stress. But fear not! Understanding when and why fussy eating starts can provide valuable insights and help you better manage and support your child’s eating behaviours. With this knowledge, you’ll be well prepared to navigate the fussy eating journey with confidence. So, when does picky eating start?
When does picky eating start?
The headlines are that understanding picky eating in your child is crucial to start to manage it. It can often start in infancy, but experimentation with food is more common at this age so it’s less common. Toddlerhood brings neophobia and changing preferences so picky eating can rear its head then. It also can start and persist in older children due to medical issues, negative experiences, or emotional factors. Sorry, it isn’t the simple answer you might have been looking for. Read on to learn a little more…
Picky eating in babies
Fussy eating often starts in toddlerhood, but it can also rear its head during infancy and there may be a reason for that! Lots of parents find their children eat very well as babies and are open to trying different flavours and textures during the early stages of introducing solid foods.
Babies are curious little explorers, and when it comes to food, they’re no different. As they start solid foods for the first time, babies are often in a phase of experimentation. It’s normal for babies to spit out foods, make strange faces, and change their preferences from one day to the next. Gagging is also very common as they learn to move food around in their mouths. While these behaviours may seem alarming to some parents, rest assured that they are very normal.
However, if your baby is significantly struggling with food, it may indicate underlying reasons such as medical or sensory factors. Medical issues like reflux, food allergies or intolerances, colic, or oral motor difficulties may cause discomfort or pain during feeding, leading to fussiness and food refusal. Sensory sensitivities, such as heightened gag reflex or aversion to certain textures, smells, or tastes, can also affect a baby’s willingness to eat, or touch foods.
When does picky eating usually start?
If you’ve made it through the first year without hiccups, don’t count your lucky stars too soon! Fussy eating typically starts in toddlerhood between the ages of 1 and 2 years old. While it’s considered a normal part of their development, it can be challenging for parents to deal with. It can be especially worrisome when it catches you off guard and your little one suddenly becomes more cautious about trying new foods.
Around 18 months, toddlers may develop “neophobia”, a natural aversion to new foods. It’s also common for them to reject foods they used to like. This is believed to be an evolutionary mechanism to protect them from consuming potentially harmful substances as they become more adventurous and independent. So, if you notice your child being picky with food during this stage, know that it’s a natural response and not something you’ve done wrong as a parent.
There are loads of other changes that happen in toddlerhood that can lead to food preferences changing. Toddlers go through changes in taste preferences, appetite, physical and social development, and the growing need for autonomy can also contribute to fussy eating in this age group. Toddlers are exploring their independence and asserting their preferences, which may well play out at mealtimes as they express their likes and dislikes. It’s important to remember that these behaviours are usually a normal part of toddlerhood and tend to improve over time as they grow and develop.
Sticking to a regular routine, and responding calmly to food refusals without any pressure can help prevent this phase from developing into a bigger issue. Also, knowing that toddlers only need to eat a tiny amount of food can help you feel reassured when your little one wants nothing to do with the meal after one or two small bites.
Of course, just like in infancy, fussy eating in toddlers may also be influenced by other things like medical conditions and sensory sensitivities. Fussy eating usually happens for a combination of different reasons. It’s so helpful to understand all of the factors that have contributed to your child’s individual eating behaviours. Encouraging a positive and patient approach to feeding, while considering your child’s individual needs and circumstances, can make the fussy eating journey smoother for both you and your child. So, if you’d like to explore your child’s unique profile check out Sprout’s Picky Profile Tool.
What if fussy eating starts in older children?
As children grow older, some may become more selective about their food choices, and fussy eating behaviours may persist or even get worse. What may have been mild picky eating earlier in childhood could become more noticeable over time, or your child may become more self-conscious of it as they get older.
Many of the factors we’ve already mentioned can also trigger limited food preferences in older children. Medical issues like illnesses, digestive disorders, or food allergies can affect a child’s appetite or tolerance for certain foods, and these can develop later in childhood – so it’s always worth ruling out any medical issues with your family doctor.
Negative food experiences, such as vomiting, or choking, can also have a lasting impact and affect a child’s willingness to try new foods or certain textures. If a food has been associated with a negative experience like a stomach bug or food poisoning, it’s understandable that a child may drop it from their list of preferred foods. We all know how off-putting it can be – even as adults we tend to avoid a restaurant if we felt unwell after a meal there.
If your child’s eating gets significantly worse later in childhood, it’s also worth considering emotional factors, such as stress, anxiety, or changes in the child’s environment or routine, as these can also play a role in the development of fussy eating behaviours in older children. While parents are always trying to do their best to support their child, sometimes the way parents respond may add unnecessary focus to the child’s eating and lead to fussy eating behaviours continuing.
So what does this mean?
To sum up, understanding the development of fussy eating and when it typically starts can be reassuring for parents suddenly meeting these unexpected changes in toddlerhood. Knowing what to expect can help parents approach fussy eating with less concern and stress, which can prevent it from becoming more of a problem in the long-term.
However, if fussy eating starts or becomes considerably worse in early infancy or later childhood, it may be worth considering other potential underlying reasons. Knowing if any underlying factors are playing a part in your child’s eating preferences can also help you know how to go about it to support them.
There may be specific approaches that are more suitable for your child than others – as we know that there is no one-size-fits all approach to fussy eating! Use the picky profile tool to understand 7 common reasons for fussy eating behaviours, whether they play a part in your child’s eating, and lots of ideas of next steps that are tailored to your child’s individual needs. Or you can start by completing the free picky eating quiz to find out more about the degree of your child’s fussy eating and how it’s impacting your family. Hopefully you now feel more empowered to answer the question, “When does fussy eating start?” and maybe you have an idea for when it started in your child.
