Many young children go through the stage of not liking certain foods or textures.  The trick is to keep this from becoming a power struggle or a habit.  For any child we want to promote trying new foods and eating healthily.  Below are some suggestions to help weather the ‘toddler storm’ of picky eating.  But first you want to be sure that your child is not rejecting foods for a physical reason.  It is common for infants with Down syndrome to be late in developing a co-ordinated swallow and some infants will have problems with reflux and/ or aspiration.  If unsure, consult your doctor or a speech and language therapist. 

Some children, particularly those who have endured a lot of medical interventions, can develop an acute sensitivity to touch in their mouths.  These children often do not like to be touched in the mouth, tooth-brushing, and lumpy foods.  This is a sensory issue and an occupational therapist can help your child desensitize.

Here are some general ideas to help promote good eating habits:

• Let them see you trying new foods and approaching new foods with a positive attitude.

• Introduce one new food at a time.

• Let your child get involved in preparing the meal or the new food to be eaten.

• Make family meals a calm and pleasant environment.

• Keep trying!  It can take a child 10 attempts before they come to accept a new food.   If they reject something don’t say “Oh, you don’t like that?” as that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Instead, say “That was great tasting; I’m proud of you.”  Promote the positive rather than the negative.

• Don’t allow meal times to become a power struggle.  Bribing and coercing children to eat or try new foods can backfire.  Introduce new foods in a matter-of-fact way and ignore any big scenes your child may create to get your attention.  Scolding or “discussing” the issue often just rewards the behavior and you are more likely to see it repeated in the future.

• Have a regular meal schedule or policy.  Have set times to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.  This can’t always be followed, but regular times to eat will facilitate anticipation and routine. 

• Make sure that your children don’t fill up on snacks in between the meals.  Children should arrive at the table hungry enough to eat otherwise they are more likely to pick at their food and refuse to eat.

• Give children a warning about when it will be time to eat.  Sometimes children have difficulties leaving their play activity and this can set the scene for problems.

• Don’t allow your child to get up and down from the table.  Children who pick at their food and then get down and play and come back for another little tidbit learn that they are in control and can become picky if their behavior is challenged.  Keep the control by setting limits about appropriate table behaviors.

One of the best things you can do is make mealtimes more about family and togetherness than food. 

The food is then seen as something to augment the occasion rather than being the focus.

© Ann Haig Wheeler, DSC 2009

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