18 to 24 months · Food refusal at the table
Food refusal at 18 to 24 months
Quick answer
What should I say when food refusal at the table at 18 to 24 months?
You're not into that today. That's okay, it's still on the table if you change your mind.
What's happening developmentally
A widening streak of pickiness (neophobia) is a well-documented, normal phase around this age, often about the newness of a food more than its actual taste.
Three scripts to try
“You're not into that today. That's okay, it's still on the table if you change your mind.”
“Would you like it plain, or with the dip?”
“This broccoli is a tiny tree. Should we chomp down a whole forest?”
These are a starting point, not a transcript. Read when to reach for each type.
What not to say, and why
- “"You'll sit there until you eat it."” — Turns mealtime into a standoff and tends to build a negative association with the exact food you want them to like.
- “Making a separate "safe food" meal every single time refused.” — Can accidentally teach that refusing gets a preferred food instead, reinforcing the pattern.
When it usually passes
Repeated, low-pressure exposure (offering the same food again on a different day, without a fight) is what usually opens the door, often over many tries.