In shortPicky eating is common in toddlers and usually normal. Judge by steady growth on a chart, not by single meals, and avoid pressure at the table.
"He only eats rice and biscuits." "She spits out anything green." If this sounds like your dinner table, take a deep breath. As a pediatrician, I see picky eating nearly every day, and in most children it is a perfectly normal phase, not a sign that something is wrong.
Why do toddlers turn picky?
After the rapid growth of the first year, a toddler's appetite naturally slows down. At the same time, they discover independence, and food is a wonderful place to say "no". Many toddlers are also cautious of new foods. This food fear usually peaks between two and five years and fades.
How do you know your child is growing well?
Do not judge by one meal, or even one day. Judge by growth. At our visits we plot your child's weight and height on a growth chart. What matters is that your child follows their own curve steadily.
What helps at the table
What helps
- Regular meal and snack times, with a short gap in between
- Small portions, and let them ask for more
- Offer new foods many times, 10 or more
- Eat together and let them see you enjoying vegetables
- Let them help to wash, stir or choose
Please avoid
- Forcing, bribing or punishing
- Screens or phones at meals
- Constant snacks, milk or juice that fill them up
- Making a separate meal on demand
- Talking about food as good or bad
Follow the 'division of responsibility': you decide what is offered, when and where. Your child decides whether to eat and how much. This one rule ends most mealtime battles.
When should you worry?
- Weight loss, or a child who has stopped growing along their curve
- Very few foods accepted, such as fewer than 10 to 15 in total
- Gagging, choking or pain with eating
- Tiredness, pale skin or frequent infections
If any of these sound familiar, please bring your child to see us. We will check growth and look for causes such as anaemia, constipation or a nutrient gap.
See a doctor in HSR Layout, Bangalore
CARE Speciality Clinic offers pediatrician in HSR Layout for growth and feeding concerns with Dr. Mahima Shetty KR, open Monday to Saturday. Patients come from Agara, Koramangala, BTM Layout, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur and Haralur. Book online or call 96320 71178.
Book appointment Learn more about our care
Consultant Pediatrician, MBBS, MD (Pediatrics). Sees patients Mon–Sat at CARE Speciality Clinic, HSR Layout.
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This article is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation.