So your baby, who was happily slurping purée yesterday, just turned their head away and looked absolutely offended at their meal today?

Or maybe your toddler’s in the “tiny food critic” stage: one minute they’re obsessed with pasta, the next it’s a crime to have it on their plate.

If you’re experiencing whiplash from you’re little one’s unpredictable relationship with food, don’t worry! It’s not just your kid. 

Fussy eating happens to nearly every little one, and usually, there’s a reason behind it (even if it feels like chaos in the moment). Sometimes they’re:

• just not that hungry (they had milk or snacks too close to mealtime),
  
  

• tired or overstimulated,
  
  

• craving familiarity and refusing anything new, or
  
  

• simply figuring out independence, especially if they’re in their toddler years.
  
  

Whatever the cause, it’s a completely normal stage and it’s not a reflection on you, your cooking, or your patience (which, by the way, deserves a medal).

If you’re feeling a little worn out by the daily dinner drama, here are some real, parent-tested tips to make mealtimes a bit calmer. 😋

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🥄 1. Keep portions baby-sized

New eaters don’t need full bowls. At 6 months, a spoon or two is plenty for your baby. Tiny amounts feel manageable and help avoid waste when baby says “no thanks” after one bite.

🥛 2. Protect their appetite

For babies under 12 months, breastmilk or formula should still come first, so offer purées or soft foods for them to try out after milk feeds. However, for older babies and toddlers at 12 months or older who are eating more solids, try leaving about an hour between milk or snacks and main meals to help them arrive at the table a little hungry (but not starving).

🥕 3. Re-offer foods regularly

Refusal doesn’t mean “never”! Babies and toddlers often need 10–20 tries before accepting something new. That’s quite a few tries. 😅 If your little one refuses a food, try again next week without pressure or big reactions. You might be surprised how often they can change their minds.

🍌 4. Mix the new with the familiar

If your baby has a hard time taking to new flavours, pair a new food or texture with one your child already likes. It helps them get more easily accustomed to newer ingredients, without feeling like they’ve lost their favourites.

🥣 5. Give them a few choices

Especially for toddlers, where independence is a big deal, giving them a choice helps smooth over their food resistance. But too many options can overwhelm them. The solution: give them only two options. “Would you like carrot or sweet potato?” 

It’s the same for babies! Even at this stage, you can let them choose which purée spoon comes next during mealtimes.

🖐️ 6. Let them get hands-on

Exploring food is part of learning. Let babies touch, squish, and self-feed, mess and all. For toddlers, invite them to stir, pour, or pick veggies at the shops. This helps satisfy their curiosity about food.

🍜 7. Have backup meals ready for toddlers

If your child is in the independence-asserting toddler stage, let’s face it: some days, nothing works. 😅 And that’s alright! As long as you keep a couple of safe backups that you know your child enjoys. Mashed banana, scrambled eggs, maybe even their favourite dino nuggets… whatever it is, if you keep a stash in the freezer, you’ll feel less stressed about their pickiness. 

😅 8. Relax about what they eat elsewhere

Many babies eat better at daycare or Grandma’s. It’s normal! New environments and role-modelling from others help. Keep home mealtimes calm; they’ll balance it out over time.

🥦 9. Skip the pressure

Avoid “just one bite” negotiations, as this can backfire. Offer food, model eating food through your own actions, and let your little one observe you. The goal is to communicate that food is safe, not stressful.

🌞 10. Adjust for the seasons

Hot days? Offer cool fruit purées, yoghurt, or frozen veggie cubes! Winter? Try warm, hearty textures like mashed pumpkin or lentil soup. Babies’ appetites naturally shift with the weather.

(Tip: Speaking of hot days, the Chill’n’Chew Feeder and Tray are the perfect way to safely introduce new flavours as soothing frozen treats to your teething baby.)

🍽️ 11. Eat together, even for just a few bites

Whether it’s purée or a family meal, sit and eat together. Babies watch everything; seeing you enjoy your food teaches them how to enjoy theirs.

❤️ Final thoughts

From that first suspicious spoonful to toddler tantrums over toast, fussy phases are part of learning to eat. Keep offering, keep calm, and remember that this is just part of how they figure it all out. One day, that “no” will turn into a “more, please,” and you’ll barely remember the mealtime stand-offs. 😋