129 - Why Your Toddler Suddenly Hates Everything: Food Rejection & What to Do About It (with OT Rachael Smith)

It can feel frustrating (and confusing!) when your toddler suddenly starts refusing foods they used to love, especially when you’ve followed all the advice to raise an adventurous eater.

In this episode, we’re joined by paediatric occupational therapist Rachael Smith to explore the common (and completely normal) reasons for food refusal, as well as signs that it might be time to seek extra support. Whether your child is going through a phase or there’s something deeper at play, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate advice to help bring more ease to your family’s mealtimes.

For those who don’t know Rach, she is a mum to her daughter Olive and son Teddy, a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, and the owner of Therapy Time, a private practice based in Brisbane.

Even before having her own family, she has always been passionate about taking a big picture approach to child development. Rach strongly believes that what we eat has a huge impact on everything and sees this everyday in her clinical practice (and at home).

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why toddlers often start rejecting food around 12–18 months
• How to tell the difference between typical fussy eating and a feeding difficulty
• What to do when your child suddenly stops liking a previously loved food
• Signs your child may benefit from extra feeding support
• How to respond calmly to rejection without reinforcing it
• The concept of food jagging and how to avoid it
• Practical strategies to get you through this stage
• What not to do 
• ... and so much more

Today’s episode was brought to you by Bio-First. Bio-First is an Australian Family brand, who wanted better options for their family and to help as many people as possible. All products are manufactured locally within Australia. Their products are genuinely natural with no nasties like phthalates, petrochemicals, synthetics or chemical solvents, as well as being free of irritants and designed for little, hypersensitive skin and dermatologist certified. 

We love BioFirst, especially their Ultra Sensitive Skin Rescue Lotion which is a staple in our homes during the cooler months. It’s steroid-free, safe for kids, and packed with natural but active ingredients to soothe irritated, dry, or eczema-prone skin (including our own tired winter hands).

You can use the code BOOBTOFOOD for 15% OFF the entire range. Visit www.bio-first.com.au

Follow us on instagram @boobtofood to stay up to date with all the podcast news, recipes and other content that we bring to help make meal times and family life easier.

Visit www.boobtofood.com for blogs and resources, to book an appointment with one of our amazing practitioners and more.

Presented by Luka McCabe and Kate Holm

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