While periods of fussy eating are quite common in the under-fives, early years practitioners can face a range of different issues in trying to support families through these times.
Early years consultant Penny Tassoni says, 'Parents often report that their child starts to become a fussy eater at two years. This is also an age when sometimes children are starting to exert independence, and preference over food is part of this.' She adds that from two years onwards, children's growth slows down, which can impact on how hungry toddlers feel.
There can be other reasons why a young child is reluctant to eat, says Sue Chambers, an early years consultant and senior LEYF (London Early Years Foundation) associate. For children on the autistic spectrum, she says, 'There are certainly issues around fussy eating. They may find certain textures very unpleasant. Some children may not eat food of a particular colour or may hate different things touching on a plate.' Children with poor oral-motor skills can have problems eating too.
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