A Growing Together Guide for Parents of 12–24 Month-Olds
Mealtime with a toddler can sometimes feel like a tiny food fight with very little food actually eaten. One day they love sweet potatoes. The next? They’re treating them like poison. Between 12 and 24 months, toddlers are testing boundaries and asserting independence—and food is one of the first things they realize they can control.
If you’re in the thick of the picky eating phase, take heart: it’s totally normal, developmentally appropriate, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. This article will help you handle it with patience, a bit of strategy, and a lot of encouragement.
Why Toddlers Get Picky
Between their first and second birthdays, toddlers are:
- Gaining independence
- Experiencing natural slowdowns in appetite
- Becoming more sensitive to textures, temperatures, and smells
- Developing preferences—and the ability to say “no” to things they don’t like
This isn’t a failure—it’s a phase. And like most phases, it passes with time, exposure, and support.
What Patience Looks Like at the Table
DO:
- Offer without pressure. Serve a variety of healthy options, and let your toddler decide what (and how much) to eat.
- Stick to routines. Offer meals and snacks at consistent times to regulate appetite and expectations.
- Keep portions small. Toddlers have small stomachs. A tablespoon or two is a perfectly reasonable portion size.
- Always include a “safe food.” Offer at least one food your child usually accepts alongside new or less-favored options.
- Be a model. Toddlers learn by watching you. Eat the foods you want them to try.
- Stay consistent. A food may need to be offered 10–15 times before it’s accepted. That’s normal.
DON’T:
- Don’t bribe, pressure, or force-feed.
- Don’t use dessert as a reward.
- Don’t label your child a “picky eater.”
- Don’t panic if they don’t eat a full meal. Think about food over the course of a week, not a day.
Playful Ways to Build Curiosity
- Let them help in the kitchen. Stirring, sprinkling, or pouring makes them part of the process.
- Use fun names. “Rainbow carrots,” “power peas,” or “superhero soup” make food more engaging.
- Read books about food. Try Rah, Rah, Radishes! or Eating the Alphabet.
- Let them explore. Touching, smelling, and playing with food is part of learning—not bad behavior.
- Keep calm. Stay relaxed, even if dinner is left untouched. Mealtime should feel safe, not stressful.
When to Seek Extra Support
Talk to your pediatrician if your child:
- Is consistently losing weight
- Refuses entire food groups (like all protein or all fruit)
- Has difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Is always anxious, upset, or distressed at mealtimes
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Local Resources for Westchester Families
Here are some excellent local programs that offer nutrition guidance, parent support, and developmental help:
Westchester County Resources
1. Westchester County WIC Program
Nutrition support for low-income families with infants and young children.
Website: https://health.westchestergov.com/wic
Phone: (914) 995-6350
2. Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD)
Offers pediatric feeding therapy, early intervention evaluations, and parent education.
Website: https://www.wihd.org
Phone: (914) 493-8150
3. Child Care Council of Westchester
Provides parenting resources, nutrition workshops, and referrals to services.
Website: https://www.childcarewestchester.org
Phone: (914) 761-3456
Bibliography
- Carruth, B. R., et al. (2004). Prevalence of picky eaters among infants and toddlers and their caregivers’ decisions about offering a new food. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104(1), 57–64.
- Zero to Three. (2021). How to Handle Picky Eating.
https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/how-to-handle-picky-eating/ - American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Feeding and Nutrition: Your Toddler.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Infant and Toddler Nutrition.
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided by our nonprofit is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns. We make no guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information and are not liable for any decisions made based on it. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical care.
