Introducing food to your baby can be so much fun – especially when you place new food after new food in front of them and they reach for each one, devouring it with enthusiasm!
Maybe you attribute your “good eater” to the equivalent of winning the lottery.
Or maybe you pat yourself on the back, feeling like you’re a superstar mom who has this feeding thing in the bag.
But then toddlerhood hits and your whole perception of reality is altered forever!
Suddenly, this baby who ate EVERYTHING starts to reject seemingly EVERY FOOD!
Panic sets in and you ask yourself “why is my toddler suddenly a picky eater?!”
Take a deep breath- what we’re about to tell you may shock you but… this is 100% normal.
We get countless DMs on Instagram from baffled parents just like you writing in to ask why their adventurous baby is no longer eating all the same foods they did before.
As you’ll discover by the end of this article, there are several reasons why this is a very normal phenomenon! Sit tight as we share with you five reasons why your toddler is suddenly a “picky eater.”*
*While we don’t recommend using the label ‘picky eater’ when addressing your child, we recognize it’s a common term that we all understand. So, for simplicity’s sake, we’re using it in this article. But please, don’t call your child or any other child for that matter, picky.
Reason 1: growth velocity changes
From the moment your baby was conceived to their first birthday earthside, they were making HUGE strides in the growing department. If you compare your baby’s birth weight to what they weigh at twelve months, you’ll notice that it’s tripled (approximately)!
We remember quickly getting used to the fact that our baby would only wear that super cute outfit for a grand total of five minutes before I had to go and dig out the bigger size. Then when toddlerhood hit – they started to coast and would actually fit clothes for a couple of years!
That’s because while babies put on an average of 15 lbs in the first year, that growth goes down to 5 lbs in the second year, and 3.3 lbs in the third year.
What’s required for growth? Energy! So when growth slows down, energy demands (aka calories) slow down too!
Essentially, that means that toddlers can physiologically afford to be a bit more choosy!
Certain nutrients are pretty key during the toddler years though. While your toddler is being a bit more “choosy”, learn which foods to focus on to ensure they’re getting enough of these critical nutrients. We teach you this in our e-course, Feeding Toddlers Confidently.
Reason 2: independence
If growth needs were the only factor causing kids to become more selective about their food choices, then you’d probably also see a corresponding expansion in accepted foods during growth spurts. But, unfortunately (fortunately?), humans are much more complex than that! We have brains and personalities!
As your baby, who depended on you 100% to keep them alive, becomes a toddling toddler who’s able to explore the world more on their own, they have an innate need to become more independent.
Historically, this makes sense. If your baby was living on the land (vs inside your cozy safe house), they would need to be a bit more critical about what they put in their mouth! Not every plant would be safe to eat!
I know what you’re thinking: “but if I fed my baby tofu as a baby, why wouldn’t his brain already know it’s safe?”
Good point, but you can’t say “touché” just yet! Here’s the thing – taste buds regenerate every ten days or so. That means that the set of taste buds your baby had two weeks ago are ancient history. The taste of tofu is now completely novel to this new set of taste buds.
It’s the brain that has to do the interpretation of the taste. It goes something like this.. As a baby who needs to depend on mama for survival, the brain will explicitly trust that whatever she’s feeding is safe. But as the toddler brain now has this need to start to be a little skeptical of the world, it needs to determine for itself if this taste is safe!
And toddler brains are wild…
Suggested reading: Our Number 1 Strategy to Manage Picky Eating
Reason 3: neophobia
Neo = new
Phobia = fear
Neophobia = the fear of anything new!
Along with a need for autonomy and a reduced growth rate, it’s very typical for toddlers to begin to lean into foods that are familiar and comfortable, and reject foods that are novel. This tends to peak between the ages of 2-6.
In our e-course, Feeding Toddlers Confidently, we show you how to capitalize on a toddler’s need for familiarity, while also encouraging them to be open-minded about new foods! Win-win!
Reason 4: pressure to eat
If you’ve ever found yourself saying “Just take one bite!” or “You can have dessert if you finish your veggies,” you’re not alone. As parents, it’s natural to want our kids to eat well, and sometimes, we unknowingly put pressure on them to do so. But here’s the surprising part—pressure often backfires, resulting in even more food refusal.
For many toddlers, the pressure to eat—no matter how subtle—gets internalized as stress. Instead of helping them feel comfortable around food, it can make mealtimes feel like a test they need to pass. The more they feel pushed, the more they instinctively resist.
When a child experiences pressure, mealtimes become less about exploration and enjoyment and more about control and compliance. Over time, this erodes the trust between a child and their caregiver—turning the table into a battleground instead of a place for connection and joy.
If you needed a gentle reminder to pause on the pressure, here it is.
Pause.
When children feel safe and in control of their eating, they’re more likely to stay curious about food and build a lifelong healthy relationship with it.
In our Feeding Toddlers Confidently Ecourse, we explore all the different types and ways pressure can show up and how to shift mealtimes from stressful to smooth!
Reason 5: sensory sensitivities
For some toddlers, picky eating isn’t just about preference—it’s about how their brain processes sensory input. Eating is a full sensory experience, involving texture, smell, sight, and even the sound of food being chewed. If a child has sensory sensitivities, certain foods might feel overwhelming or even unpleasant.
Some common signs of sensory-related food aversions include:
- Texture sensitivities – Gagging at mushy foods like mashed potatoes or yogurt
- Strong reactions to smells – Refusing foods with intense aromas like eggs or fish
- Visual preferences – Rejecting foods based on colour, shape, or how they’re served
- Sound sensitivity – Disliking the crunch of certain foods or even the sound of others chewing
- Taste sensitivity – What might taste mild to you might be super potent to a super taster!
This list certainly isn’t exhaustive!
If you suspect your child’s picky eating is linked to sensory challenges, know that you’re not alone! A feeding therapist or occupational therapist specializing in sensory processing can help your child feel more comfortable exploring new foods at their own pace.
Red flags to keep in mind
While picky eating is a normal part of toddlerhood, there are times when extra support can be helpful. It’s never too early and never too late to seek guidance if mealtimes feel overwhelming. Consider reaching out to a registered dietitian, occupational therapist, or feeding specialist if:
- Your child is eliminating entire food groups and their diet feels extremely limited
- Mealtimes are consistently stressful for both you and your child
- You’re feeling unsure or uncomfortable with your feeding approach
- Your child’s growth, energy levels, or behavior seem to be affected
Final thoughts
Toddlerhood is a wild ride—full of growth, independence, and yes, plenty of surprises at the dinner table! If your once-adventurous eater is suddenly saying no to everything, know that you’re not alone and that it can be better. Trust us. We know. We’ve come out of the toddler years thriving with our four boys.
With patience, an endless amount of trust, and the right strategies, you can help your child build a positive and lasting relationship with food.
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Here are a few items we love that can help promote curiosity in food with our little ones who are more hesitant to try new foods!
