Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Toddlers’ appetites change from day to day, especially as their growth slows and their independence kicks in. As a parent, this can be confusing—and sometimes frustrating! Instead of stressing over one meal, focus on regular meal routines, offering a variety of foods (including favorites), and letting your toddler decide how much to eat. Pressure tends to backfire, but consistency and patience go a long way. Below, we break down why a toddler won’t eat, how long it can last, and when it’s time to get support.
If your toddler refuses to eat, you’re not alone…and you’re definitely not doing anything wrong. One day, they’re devouring blueberries, the next, they won’t touch anything except crackers. When a toddler won’t eat, it can feel baffling, stressful, and even personal, especially when you’re doing everything you can to offer balanced meals.
The truth? Picky eating and food refusal are incredibly common in toddlerhood, especially around age 2. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s easy or that you don’t have questions. Many families wonder: Why won’t my toddler eat? How long will this last? And when should I worry?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are uniquely trained to support feeding and swallowing skills in young children. In this article, our feeding experts answer the most common questions parents ask when a toddler refuses to eat. We also share practical, evidence-based strategies to help make mealtimes less stressful and more successful. Let’s dig in!
Connor's story
At age 2, this adventurous eater suddenly started refusing most foods. Feeding therapy helped him and his family get back to stress-free meals.
Read Connor's storyWhat to do when a toddler refuses to eat
If your toddler refuses to eat, take a deep breath—this is common, and it’s often a normal part of development. Many toddlers don’t eat consistently from meal to meal. Changing appetites are expected as their growth slows and independence grows.
The most helpful approach is to focus on structure, exposure, and responsiveness:
Structure: Offer regular meals and snacks at predictable times.
Exposure: Include a variety of foods (especially at least one familiar “safe” food).
Responsiveness: Let your toddler decide whether and how much to eat. Avoid forcing bites, bargaining, or turning meals into power struggles. Pressuring your child can actually make them more likely to refuse food over time.
Instead of worrying about a single meal (or even a single day), look at patterns across the week. Is your toddler growing, active, and meeting developmental milestones? If so, they’re likely getting what they need, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
In the sections below, we explain why toddlers refuse to eat, how long picky eating can last, and when it may be time to get professional support.
Why won’t my toddler eat?
When a toddler refuses to eat, it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong, says Marina McKeown, M.Ed, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and feeding expert at Expressable. In fact, there are several common and developmentally normal reasons why toddlers suddenly seem uninterested in food.
Slower growth and changing appetite
A toddler’s rate of growth slows quite a bit after they turn 2. This means your child is likely eating less food overall, and they’re more likely to fill up on smaller amounts of food. So they’re probably perfectly satisfied with the piece of cheese and yogurt pouch they had today!
It’s also common for toddlers to eat well one day and barely touch food the next. These appetite fluctuations often balance out over the course of a week.
Too much milk or grazing between meals
Many toddlers love to drink milk. But if they drink too much milk, they’re less likely to want to eat because their hunger is already satisfied. Try not to let your toddler snack all day or fill up on milk, so they’re hungry when it’s mealtime.
Note: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the recommended daily serving of milk in children over 2 years of age is 16 to 20 ounces per day.
Offering frequent snacks or allowing all-day grazing can also interfere with hunger cues. Spacing out meals and snacks helps your toddler come to the table feeling ready to eat.
Developmental independence and control
Another thing to keep in mind is that toddlers are beginning to develop their own thoughts and opinions. They’re also trying to assert their control and test their boundaries.
This behavior is developmentally normal and appropriate. One helpful strategy is to offer structured choices: You decide what foods are available, and your toddler decides which ones (if any) to eat. This gives them some control without turning meals into power struggles.
Sensory sensitivities to food
Some toddlers are sensitive to certain textures, smells, temperatures, or mixed foods. For example, a child might eat plain pasta but refuse pasta with sauce. Or they might eat crunchy foods but avoid anything soft or wet.
These sensory preferences are common in toddlerhood, and they can affect what (and how much) your child is willing to eat.
Fatigue, illness, or distractions
A tired, sick, or overstimulated toddler is much less likely to eat. Mealtimes that happen too close to naps, bedtime, or after a long day can be especially challenging. Screens, toys, or other distractions at the table can also pull a child’s attention away from eating. Creating a calm, predictable mealtime routine can make it easier for your toddler to focus on food.
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Feeding therapy helps make mealtimes safer and more positive. Our feeding program supports your family from the comfort of your home.
Get startedHow long is it OK for my toddler to refuse to eat?
As we’ve mentioned, it’s not uncommon for toddlers to go through periods of reduced appetite or picky eating. Their eating patterns will vary, and their appetites can change from day to day. In many cases, this is a short-term issue tied to normal development, rather than a true feeding problem.
Many toddlers may:
Skip meals entirely
Eat very small amounts at one meal and more at another
Go through “food jags,” where they eat the same foods for days or weeks and then suddenly stop
These patterns are usually temporary and may be influenced by illness, teething, fatigue, growth spurts, or changes in routine. One or two days (or even a week) of reduced eating usually doesn’t mean a problem.
Just keep an eye on your toddler’s overall health and energy levels, McKeown says. “If they seem healthy and active, and they’re meeting growth milestones, a brief period of not eating may not be cause for concern.”
However, you should talk with your pediatrician if your toddler consistently refuses to eat for a long period of time, if they refuse more types of food, or if mealtimes become more stressful. You should also contact your doctor if you have concerns about your child’s overall health and growth.
5 expert tips that can help if your toddler won’t eat
Here are our feeding experts’ top tips for supporting your toddler during mealtimes:
1 Serve a range of foods
Provide a variety of nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy. Small portions are best to allow your toddler some control over how much they eat. They can always ask for more!
2 Offer your child their preferred foods every other day, instead of every day
This helps to avoid burnout, where your child gets tired of eating the same food.
Quick demo: Try this with your picky eater
Watch here3 Create a positive environment
Use positive, calm, and supportive language to reduce the pressure to try new foods. Avoid distractions like TV or electronic devices during meals. Focus on the social aspect of eating together as a family.
4 Get your toddler involved
Let your toddler help you while shopping and preparing meals. This may make them more interested in trying foods! (Check out this article for tips, including some easy, kid-friendly recipe ideas.)
5 Be patient
Toddlers are exploring their independence, and mealtime can easily become a power struggle. When in doubt, don’t pressure your toddler to eat.
McKeown states, “Keep in mind, it can take 10 to 15 attempts at trying a food before your toddler decides they like it!”
Should I be worried if my toddler doesn’t want to eat?
If your toddler doesn’t want to eat, you are not alone. Many toddlers go through phases of picky eating, food refusal, or reduced appetite. Most of the time, this is part of typical development. Still, it’s important to know when picky eating may be more than a phase and when professional support could help.
When picky eating may signal a feeding challenge
For some toddlers, food refusal goes beyond typical picky eating. It may be related to sensory food aversion, oral-motor difficulties, or learned stress responses around meals. In some cases, a feeding disorder could be present.
Consider contacting your pediatrician or a feeding specialist, such as a speech-language pathologist, if you notice any of the following:
Your toddler eats a very limited range of foods or relies on only one brand, texture, or type of food (for example, only McDonald’s chicken nuggets)
Your child consistently panics, cries, or shuts down when you give them new or non-preferred foods
Your toddler often gags, coughs, or throws up when trying new foods or textures
Mealtimes are highly stressful for your child or for you, with ongoing battles, pressure, or fear
Your child shows little interest in eating over an extended period of time
You are concerned about weight loss, slowed growth, or low energy levels
Some autistic toddlers may show strong food preferences. They may avoid certain food textures, gag with new foods, or eat a very small number of foods. While picky eating alone doesn’t mean autism, if your child also has communication or behavior differences, an evaluation may be a good idea.
A speech therapist with feeding expertise can evaluate your child and provide strategies to support safe, positive, and successful mealtimes. If feeding struggles are affecting your child’s nutrition and development, or your family’s daily routines, you don’t have to wait it out or figure it out alone.
Online feeding therapy can help
Expressable’s licensed speech-language pathologists specialize in pediatric feeding and swallowing. We support toddlers with sensory-based feeding challenges, food refusal, and mealtime stress.
Through convenient online therapy, our experts work with families to understand why a toddler is struggling to eat and provide personalized, evidence-based strategies that fit naturally into your daily routines. You can learn more in our feeding therapy guide. You can also take Expressable’s free online screener to see if a feeding evaluation may be helpful.
Most importantly, know that you are doing the best you can with the knowledge and capacity you have right now. You did not mess up, and if your toddler isn’t eating much, it’s not a direct reflection of you as a parent. Take it one day at a time, and don’t hesitate to talk with your child’s doctor or a speech therapist if you have questions or concerns.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why won’t my toddler eat?
When a toddler refuses to eat, it’s often due to normal developmental changes like slower growth, changing appetite, growing independence, or sensory sensitivities to food. Sickness, fatigue, and too much milk or snacking can also affect hunger.
What should I do when a toddler refuses to eat?
Focus on structure and consistency rather than pressure. Offer meals and snacks at regular times. Include a variety of foods (with at least one familiar option), and let your toddler decide how much to eat. Avoid forcing bites or bargaining, which can make your child more likely to refuse food. If mealtimes feel stressful or overwhelming, Expressable’s feeding specialists can help with personalized strategies.
When should I worry about a toddler refusing to eat?
It may be time to seek professional help if your toddler eats a very limited range of foods, shows distress or gagging with new food textures, loses weight, or has low energy, or if mealtimes are regularly stressful. You can start by talking with your pediatrician or taking Expressable’s free online screener to see if a feeding evaluation may be helpful.
What are the signs of autism in toddlers related to food?
Some autistic toddlers may show strong food preferences, avoid certain textures, gag with new foods, or rely on a very small number of foods. Picky eating alone doesn’t mean autism. But if your child also has communication or behavior differences, an evaluation may be recommended. A speech-language pathologist can assess their skills and help determine next steps.
What should I do when my toddler won’t eat anything but snacks?
If your toddler prefers snacks over meals, try offering structured meal and snack times instead of allowing all-day grazing. Serve snacks that include protein, fat, and fiber. Don’t offer snacks too close to meals. If your child consistently avoids meals or eats only a few types of snacks, a feeding specialist can help you build healthier routines.
What if my toddler is refusing to eat anything but milk?
Toddlers who fill up on milk may not feel hungry for meals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting milk intake to 16–20 ounces per day for children over age 2. Gradually spacing milk away from meals and offering water in between can help your child come to meals hungry.
Key takeaways
When a toddler refuses to eat, it’s often a normal phase linked to development, appetite changes, and growing independence.
Offer your child structured meals, expose them to a variety of foods, and give them some control, rather than pressuring them to eat.
Look at weekly eating patterns and your child’s overall growth and energy levels, rather than stressing over a single meal.
If meals are often stressful, or your child gags, refuses food for an extended time, or is extremely picky about what they’ll eat, your child may need support for a feeding challenge.
Feeding therapy can help toddlers build safe, positive eating skills and offer support and guidance for families.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
