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they don’t want to eat, but there are many reasons toddlers may refuse food.You can help parents understand their toddlers by sharing these ideas:  \n1. Slower growth means appetite will vary  \nAt around 9 months, babies begin to grow more slowly than they did earlier. Slower growth means they don’t have to keep eating more and more each month. It is normal for toddlers’ appetites to change from day to day. It might take toddlers several days or a week to eat a variety of foods.  \n2. Toddlers like to “get to know” theirfood  \nToddlers learn by using all of their senses. They want to inspect, touch, and smell foods before they will eat them. While it is messy to let toddlers explore foods, it will make it easier to get them to accept new foods in the long run.  \n3. Toddlers can remember foods they like  \nToddlers get better and better at remembering people, places, and things in their lives. Toddlers remember foods that they like and they will want those foods all the time. It can make mealtime easier to keep preferred foods that aren’t on the menu out of sight.  \n4. Toddlers MUST use theirfingers  \nToddlers must learn to use their fingers to pick things up and to feed themselves. Sometimes toddlers will refuse to eat unless they can pick up the food themselves. It is a good idea to have healthy and safe finger foods ready when feeding toddlers.  \n5. Toddlers are easily distracted  \nToddlers are easily distracted by things going on around them, like by TVs or other children playing nearby. It can make meal time easier to remove distractions. Toddlers can focus on their food better when parents and other children sit and talk with them about what they are eating.  \n6. Toddlers want to learn and play  \nToddlers are learning all the time. They learn by exploring and looking at faces and listening to voices. Toddlers are more likely to try foods they see others eat and like. They must also practice new skills like standing and walking. Toddlers will eat more if they have time to play before mealtime and someone to sit and talk with them while they eat.  \nCopyright 2017 Regents ofthe University of California. All Rights Reserved.  \nCreated by the UC Davis Human Lactation Center. Funded by a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation  \nHelping Toddlers Eat Healthy Foods 9 Tips & Tricks from Fellow Childcare Providers  \nYou know that toddlers aren’t “Picky Eaters”just because they sometimes don’t want to eat certain foods. Toddlers may refuse to eat for many reasons. Here are some great ideas we learned from your fellow child care providers to help you encourage healthy eating.  \n1. Try the 2-bite club.  \nMake trying new foods a game by telling children that they can be in the 2-bite club when they take 2 bites of a new food. Share “membership” with parents.  \n2. At mealtime, put an older child who loves to eat next to the toddler.  \nToddlers love to watch what other children are doing. They will often imitate them as best they can. Encourage toddlers to eat by seating them next to older children who like healthier foods.  \n3. Talk about food with all ofthe children in your care.  \nTalk about food with toddlers and other children as you prepare and serve it. Ask older children about foods they’ve tried and liked. Tell the children about your favorite foods and foods that you know are good for you.  \n4. Show some excitement when serving foods.  \nChildren watch adults’ faces and listen to their voices to learn more about what is “good” and “bad” in the world around them. When you seem excited about foods, children will be more interested in trying them.  \n5. Discourage any negative food talk.  \nMake sure that your older children don’t say negative things about foods they don’t like. Discourage any“yucky” faces or dramatic talk about food.  \n6. Serve meals in courses so preferred foods are not visible right away.  \nTry serving fruit ","cbCaitMm0R6HjQkq","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitMm0R6HjQkq","pdf",115484,"English","# Helping parents when toddlers won’t eat\n## Why toddlers refuse food\n## 9 tips & tricks from fellow childcare providers\n### 1. Try the 2-bite club\n### 2. Sit an older child next to the toddler\n### 3. Talk about food with all children\n### 4. Show excitement when serving foods\n### 5. Discourage negative food talk\n### 6. Serve meals in courses\n### 7. Cut foods into fun shapes\n### 8. Use fun serving items\n### 9. Include everyone in food preparation","[{\"question\":\"Why might a toddler refuse food even if parents worry about “picky eating”?\",\"answer\":\"Toddlers may refuse food for many normal reasons, including slower growth that changes appetite day to day, and the need to explore and “get to know” foods using their senses before eating.\"},{\"question\":\"How can caregivers help toddlers accept new foods over time?\",\"answer\":\"Caregivers can make trying foods a game using the 2-bite club, serve preferred and less-preferred foods in courses, and create positive experiences by showing excitement and avoiding negative food talk.\"},{\"question\":\"What practical steps can make mealtime easier for toddlers?\",\"answer\":\"Prepare healthy, safe finger foods so toddlers can feed themselves, reduce distractions from TVs or nearby play, model eating by seating toddlers next to older children who enjoy healthier foods, and involve children in safe food preparation or serving foods in fun shapes.\"}]","Helping Parents When Toddlers Won’t Eat - 9 Tips & Tricks from Fellow Childcare Providers | PDF",1790578224]