Spot the signs of your toddler’s independence

5 October 2016

It turns out your toddler may not as fussy as you think when it comes to food.

Parenting on Female First

Organix has conducted some research found that 46% of mums think that their toddler is a fussy eater, according to clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin, the chances are they're actually just becoming more independent, rather than fussy! She says: "The toddler years are a time when little ones want to start taking charge, and it's a crucial stage in their development. For parents that can be hard, and especially when it comes to food, as mum tries to do her job of feeding her little one well, and her toddler is doing their job of showing they have their own opinions".

Organix has asked clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin for some tips to help spot the signs of your toddler becoming independent;

They say NO : Toddlers quickly learn the word 'no'. this means, for the first time they can vocalise their views.

Body language : Toddlers also talk with their bodies - they can turn their head away, run away - these are all ways of telling you they don't agree with what's happening or like a certain food.

Toddlers becoming independent is great here's some tips on how you can encourage and support them;

The two No's: it's important to learn when your toddler says No and means it or saying no because they are tired or hungry.

Communication: keep your toddler in the loop, tell them what they are eating! This will help develop their language but also help them form opinions.

Let them choose: Give toddlers choices this teaches compromise, helps them feel informed and able to assert their independence. Use the "Two Choices" approach. For example, at tea time tell your toddler they have two choices, they can either have carrots or broccoli.

Portion control: ask them how many mouthfuls they think they could eat. You can negotiate around this, but often what they say will be a true indication of how much they want.