Picky eating in toddlers: Why bribes and pressure backfire and what parents can try instead

Toddlers may need 10 or more tries before accepting a new food. Check out mealtime habits that ease picky eating, from family meals to food bridges, without pressure or bribes.

New Delhi: Picky eating is common in toddlers, and mealtimes can turn into a daily standoff when a child pushes the plate away. Pressure, punishment and bribes often make things worse, as they can make children dislike foods they might otherwise enjoy. A calmer approach built on routine, patience and variety works better.

A toddler may need to taste a food 10 or more times before accepting it, so one refusal is no reason to stop offering it. Here is how parents can handle picky eating in toddlers, from sharing family meals and involving children in the kitchen to making food look fun and pairing new flavours with familiar ones.

Tips to handle picky eating in toddlers

1. Family-style meals

Eat together as often as possible, without TV or phones, and use the time to model healthy eating. Serve one meal for everyone and do not cook a separate dish if the child refuses, as this encourages picky eating. Include at least one food the child likes and keep the meal balanced, whether or not it gets eaten.

2. Use hunger as a........

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