Bedtime Battles: A Routine That Works
How to end bedtime battles: a simple, consistent routine, how much sleep children need by age, handling stalling and night wakings, and screens before bed.
Picky Eaters: What Actually Helps
Why young children are picky eaters, the division of responsibility at meals, how many tries a new food can take, what backfires, and when to see a doctor.
Key takeaways
- Picky eating is common from toddlerhood and usually improves with time.
- You decide what, when and where food is served; your child decides whether and how much to eat.
- Offer new foods repeatedly without pressure; it can take many tries.
On this page
A toddler who happily ate everything at 12 months and now lives on pasta is one of the most common parenting frustrations. Picky eating is normal, and pressure usually makes it worse. Here’s what helps.
Why children get picky
- Growth slows after the first year, so appetite drops.
- Wariness of new foods (food neophobia) peaks in the toddler and preschool years.
- Control: food is one of the few areas where toddlers get to decide.
- Texture sensitivity varies between children.
The division of responsibility
A widely used approach splits the jobs:
- Parents decide what food is offered, when and where.
- Children decide whether to eat and how much.
This removes the power struggle and lets children listen to their own hunger.
What helps
- Serve family meals at regular times and sit together when you can.
- Include one “safe” food your child usually eats alongside new foods.
- Offer tiny portions of new foods: a single piece is less intimidating.
- Repeat exposure: children may need many tastes before accepting a new food.
- Involve them: washing vegetables, stirring, choosing between two options at the shop.
- Model enjoyment: eat the foods you want them to try.
- Keep snacks planned, not all-day grazing, so children arrive hungry.
What backfires
- Bribes (“eat your broccoli and you’ll get dessert”), which make vegetables seem like a chore and dessert a prize
- Forcing “one more bite”
- Cooking separate meals on demand
- Praising or scolding the amount eaten
- Screens at the table; see screen time by age
Stay calm at the table
Mealtime battles are often really about control. The calm, consistent approach from our toddler tantrum guide works here, too.
When to talk to your pediatrician
- Weight loss or poor growth
- Eating very few foods (for example, fewer than 15–20)
- Gagging, choking or pain when eating
- Extreme distress around food
Frequently asked questions
How many times should I offer a new food?
Keep offering without pressure. Many children need numerous exposures before they’ll eat a new food.
Should I hide vegetables in food?
It can add nutrition, but also serve vegetables visibly so children learn to accept them.
Is it OK if my child skips a meal?
Usually, yes. Healthy children balance their intake over several days. Talk to your pediatrician if you’re worried about growth.
Sources
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