Parenting can be a easy as well as difficult task especially if we talk about Toddler, being as a single mother of 3 kids I find it very challenging experience yet I also enjoy it too well Toddlers are known for their distinct food behaviors, which can be sometime very challenging for a parent we don’t understand what a toddler wants to eat as they throw away many things.
They are very picky in eating, refuse food, show tantrums at meal time and fluctuating appetites are all common experiences that many parents face as they navigate their child’s development. However it is quite difficult but It is important to understand their behavior and know how to manage their picky behavior well. In this article, we’ll explore common food behaviors for toddlers, the reasons behind them, and practical strategies to encourage positive eating habits
1. Picky Eating: A Normal Stage of Development
One of the well known behaviors of a toddler is picky eating. At this stage, mostly toddlers begin to develop a sense of taste and personal preference, which convert into presence for specific foods and rejection of other foods. Some toddlers also just eat a small section of food for a long period of time.
Why Do Toddlers Become Picky Eaters?
Well the answer is it is very normal behavior for a new toddler to be picky eater at their sense development stage and it can be at peak from 2 to 3 years of age. There are several reasons of this picky behavior some are as follow:
- Autonomy: It is a learning stage in which toddlers learn to make choices based on what they eat.
- Sensory Sensitivity: Toddlers are very sensitive when it comes to food taste, texture and smell, which can lead to a strong preference for certain foods and rejection of others.
- Neophobia: Many toddlers get scared when they try new food items. This is a very common phase among these things called food neophobia. This can be a survival instinct, as they learn to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar (and potentially unsafe) foods.
How to Handle Picky Eating? Tips to follow
Many parents face difficulty and search for this question about how to manage picky eating well. As an Experienced mother I can help you out with this. Here are some tips you should do.
Try to offer your kids a variety of different foods even if you toddlers reject it initially. At a certain point they will eat whatever they want if they have multiple varieties. It can also confuse them that why they pick a food trick right?
Another thing is that toddlers are very adaptable during early age between 2 to 3 so they mostly likely copy their parents. Make mealtime a family activity, eat food items in front of kids and offer them too, they will surely eat too after seeing you eating that.
Make fun meals like in different shapes as well in with different colors as it can also attract kids to try something unique and non-familiar. Avoid pressuring your kids, especially a toddler to eat as it can create a negative impact on them and they behave more picky.
2. Food Refusal: Not Hungry or Just Testing Boundaries?
Another common food behavior for toddlers is food rejection. Sometimes, a toddler refuses or refuses to eat at all, even when the food is the same as they ate yesterday, which they eat normally. As a parent you can find it quite frustrating but you can’t control it as it is in toddler nature.
Why Do Toddlers Refuse Food?
Food refusal in toddlers can occur for a variety of reasons:
- Developmental Stage: As toddlers grow, they start developing taste sense and they become more aware of their body hunger which leads to food refusal as they don’t feel hungry all the time.
- Power Struggles: At this age, toddlers are also testing boundaries and asserting independence. Refusing food can be a way for them to exercise control.
- Overwhelmed by New Foods: A toddler may refuse if they get irritated by different varieties of food with different texture or a food they already eat and they don’t want to eat more. It is a challenging thing for parents yet it is considered normal behavior of a child at this age.
How to Manage Food Refusal?
While food refusal can be concerning, it’s usually a temporary phase. Here’s how you can handle it:
The first thing you need to do is not force a toddler for any time whether it is eating or drinking as it can cause a negative impact on their brain and they become more rebellious and reject food.
In order to understand your toddler hunger cycle, try to set a time for daily meals as well as for snacks, this can help to develop a routine in your toddler and you may also notice if they are hungry or not.
Toddlers have very small stomachs so They find it difficult to digest food in large portions. That can be a reason they reject food so try to provide them with small portions.
You have to keep calm when you are dealing with a toddler as children can sense negativity and frustration. This can cause a bad impact on them.
- Avoid Pressure: Pressuring or forcing your toddler to eat can create negative associations with mealtime and exacerbate picky eating. Encourage them to try new foods but respect their autonomy.
- Make Meals Fun: Present food in fun shapes, colors, or combinations. For example, use cookie cutters to make sandwiches into fun shapes or arrange fruit and vegetables in a colorful design on their plate.
3. Mealtime Tantrums: Navigating Emotional Responses to Food
Mealtime tantrums are another common food behavior in toddlers. These tantrums can occur for many reasons like frustration with food, feeling rushed, or simply being tired and hungry.
Why Do Toddlers Have Tantrums During Mealtime?
- Frustration: It is not only difficult for a parent to understand a toddler but also the toddler finds it frustrating as they lack the verbal skills to express their feelings.
- Hunger: Sometimes when a little child is hungry they don’t understand what to do to express their hunger so they start throwing tantrums to indicate hunger.
- Overstimulation: A noisy or chaotic mealtime environment can overwhelm toddlers, causing them to act out.
How to Manage Mealtime Tantrums
Don’t respond to their tantrums, try to keep calm as if you get angry. It will be difficult to control your toddler so understand them calmly.
Remove distractions like TV, mobile phones or any other noise material especially at meal time, this will make the toddler more focused on food rather than any other things which can lead to less tantrums.
Set a mealtime routine as It can help a toddler to feel less anxious during meal time. Once they get used to eating at that time It will be their lifetime routine.
4. Fluctuating Appetite: One Day Hungry, the Next Not Interested
Many parents notice and find it so frustrating that their toddler appetite is changing everyday. Like one day they eat everything on the plate but next day they refuse to eat at all or eat less on the plate while the item can be the same as yesterday.
Why Do Toddlers’ Appetites Fluctuate?
Fluctuating appetite is common in toddlers for several reasons:
- Growth Spurts: During growth spurts, You may notice the toddler eat too much then the normal day as they get very hungry. On the other hand after a growth spurt they refuse to eat at all or eat less. The main reason is their hunger decreases.
- Independent Eating Habits: In the developing stage toddlers learn to sense not only food but also listen to their body and recognize if they are hungry or not. Some days they may simply not be as hungry as others.
- Environmental Factors: Environment also plays an important role in toddlers life like change in place, routine or travel can impact on toddler appetite as they don’t understand what is going on. It could result in fluctuations in their eating habits.
How to Manage Fluctuating Appetite
If your toddler is not hungry and refuses to eat anything then don’t force them on it as it is very normal for childrens, If they are not eating a certain food today it might be possible they can eat tomorrow as they have appetite fluctuations.
If your toddler isn’t eating a full meal, offer small, nutritious snacks throughout the day to ensure they get the nutrients they need.
Also Read: How Much Protein in 8 oz Chicken? Nutritional Information Explained
5. The Role of Sweets and Treats: Managing Sugar Intake
Everyone gets attracted when it comes to sugary food items, even toddlers too. A main issue I faced with my toddler and other parents was to control the toddler’s sweet tooth. However it is quite natural for toddlers to have an attraction for sweeter foods as they find it tastes the best but as a parent it is our responsibility to provide everything in limit in order to establish healthy eating habits among our children in their early stages.
Why Are Toddlers Attracted to Sweets?
- Taste Preference: Sweet foods naturally attract children more as they love to taste something that is sweet in nature and provide instant taste of satisfaction.
- Cultural and Social Influence: As I mentioned earlier toddlers find it quite interesting if people are eating something around them especially if an adult or a child eating something toddlers also get influenced to eat it.
How to Manage Sweets and Treats
You don’t have to restrict a toddler when it comes to eating something sweet in nature, however all you can do is limit sweets and make sure that this can’t replace a balanced nutritious meal in your children’s life. Eating too much sugar can lead to unhealthy eating habits and some health concerns like cavities as well as obesity.
In order to avoid artificial and flavored sweet items try to add natural sweet foods like fruits based on your toddler choice, usually toddlers love bananas as they are sweet in nature with smooth textures.
Show your toddler that you enjoy healthy foods. When they see you eating nutritious meals, they are more likely to follow suit.
Conclusion: Common Food Behaviors for Toddlers
In conclusion of common food behaviors for toddlers: Food behaviors in toddlers are part of a normal developmental process. Picky eating, food refusal, mealtime tantrums, fluctuating appetites, and a desire for sweets are all common behaviors that parents face. While these behaviors can be challenging, they usually pass with time as toddlers grow and develop better communication skills and eating habits.
