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- Have an understanding that taste buds can change all the time, and acknowledge that it might just be a phase the child is going through. Don't solely focus around foods child isn't eating, provide them with options/choices.
- have consistent meal times that are regular and keep them fun by making colour options with fruit and veg.
-be their role model, eat with them what they are eating and get other member of the family to be supportive and do the same.

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- Her taste buds may be changing and that should be acknowledged
- introducing the method of providing options to her whether it'd be vegetables or protein source and ensuring she chooses one
- having someone (maybe her brother or parent) sitting at the table while she eats
- not having her brother be having 'play time' while she is at the table eating because jealousy may arise from that and may be causing her to lose focus when eating
- having set meal times
- practising the Satter's division of Responsibility

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Have at least one parent present while the child is eating who is actively engaged and encouraging.

Play to the toddlers desire to be independent and offer (a limited number) food choices for the toddler to decide.

Let the toddler be involved and party to the preparation of foods.

Make meal times short, regular, fun and engaging without screens or other distractions.

Make foods attractive to eat with a wide range of colours.

All family members eat the same meal and show positive role modelling without giving attention to the toddlers dismissal.

Continue to offer these foods and do not be discouraged by the child's disinterest or rejection. This is normal, the child will eat if she is hungry, the parent provides, she decides.

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1. Understand that being picky is a common behaviour that children go through. It is unlikely that this phase will be permanent and your child will likely resort back to their regular eating habits. She is going through an adjustment phase to her new role as an older sister.
2. Repeated exposure is recommended as it allows the child to learn to enjoy these foods.
3. Limit the choices you give your child. They can feel like they are still having a choice in the matter as well as encouraging them to branch out and try new foods.
4. Be their role model. Try to eat the same foods as the toddler as well as reassuring with positive language around mealtimes.
5. Have a routine and let your child get involved! Having this time together creates a positive, educational environment for some quality one on one time. This routine allows your child to establish a healthy relationship with food.
6. No screen time and no bribery

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Children/toddlers can often change their eating habits as a way of acquiring attention from their caregivers when the caregivers attention is focused on something/someone else. An important thing to note is that this will not be permanent and  a child/toddler will eventually go back to their regular habits. In order to help solve the problem some boundaries need to be put in place.

Firstly it is best not to reward a child for good behaviour with food as it sets up a bad association with food. Secondly reduce their fluids near meal time to allow for a full appetite. Especially avoid non essential drinks like cordials, soft drinks flavoured milks and only provide water and regular milk.
On this note ensure to limit milk consumption to 500 ml a day to avoid child/toddler feeling too full for food.
Be consistent with meals and have a routine- make sure they're eating in a chair and you are engaged with them.
-Ensure with these consistent meals that you have a plan in place -ie 3 meals and 3 snacks a day at regular times.

Thirdly - do not pressure you child into eating if they're are full they are full and will let you know, children want to be Satiated when it comes to hunger. Ellyn Satter- kids say how much | caregivers say when, where, what

Lastly offer choices- let them feel like they are making the decision- first offer 3 foods and then let them pick 1.

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- Consider impact of the newborn and try to establish that the newborn does not impact eating times e.g. one parent always stays with 2.5y/o throughout meal, consuming the same thing, while the other parent tends to the newborn. This may help to establish the childs feeling of recognition by parents.
- Limit/don't allow the use of screens during meal time. Although they may be a good distraction, ultimately they construct a negative relationship with food.
- Establish a routine with meal times, and try to get child involved with the preparation of food, so they can see how what they are eating is prepared.
- Limit intake of fluids and other foods prior to meal and snack times to ensure adequate appetite will have been developed
- Allow the child to eat when hungry, and stop eating when full, don't pressure child to overeating.

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Firstly, understand that this is very common behaviour in a toddler of this age and be comforted in the knowledge that this will not significantly impact on your toddlers growth or nutritional status long term. (If really concerned do speak with the maternal health nurse or another professional)
Some strategies which may be helpful are:
Make an effort to have a significant other eating meals and snacks with your toddler giving them company and attention.
Try to have a routine for meals and snacks each day and have a time limit on each session so your toddler will feel secure knowing food will be supplied regularly.
Supply only a few choices of foods e.g. 3 veggies or at snack 2 different pieces of fruit. Your toddler can then feel they have autonomy  by choosing what they will sample or not. If they are hungry they will eat!!
Try and limit fluid intake just before meals as this can fill your toddler up and supress their appetite.
Continue to cook nutrient rich meals (variety of veggies, meats, whole grains etc for your family and eat them. By doing this you are being a role model.
Allow your toddler many opportunities to encounter the foods they may initially seem to dislike as it may take them multiple times of experiencing the food to finally appreciate it.
Lastly take heart that you are a good parent who is providing for your toddler, and as you allow them to exert their growing independence they will decide what you provide and they will not have long term negative consequences.

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·       Consume 3 meals and 3 snacks a day.

·       Have these at fixed and structured times each day so a routine is established.

·       Have child seated in a high chair or seat.

·       Have a parent seated at every meal by being a positive role model.

·       Not have an authoritarian parental approach, but rather an authorative approach.

·       Limit excessive snacking.

·       Ensure appetite isn’t being fulfilled through milk consumption.

·       Avoid unfamiliar foods, have limited choices.

·       Have repeated exposure.

·       Recognise when enough food has been consumed.

·       Limit fluids around food times.

·       Avoid screen time, to establish good relationship with food.

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1.Encourage food preparation, get the child involved in preparing there food

2. Have one on one time with the child, having feeding time during a period were the baby is sleeping as it seems that the child is not happy with the brothers presence, making it more of a time for one on one with the parent, this may influence her to eat as it is just them with no distractions of the baby
3. Repeating the exposure that the child has with certain foods, if the child doesn't like it one day be inventive and prepare this in another way, don’t give up on giving a food after one time trying different taste exposures
4. Prepare foods in fun and exciting ways, this may be and sandwich being cut into little stars with a cutter as child are very visual.
5. Ensure positive language about food is being used around the child as well as the parents modelling good food behaviours, alot of behaviours of children during growth are learnt from there parents. Example of this is not using words such as yuck and consuming healthy foods like fruit and vegetables
6. Do not use find as a bribe, as this will only start to associate food with certain behaviours
7. Limit screen time during mealtimes, this allows the chid to focus on what they are consuming rather than whats happening around them
8. Putting in place a routine that works for you child, making sure that there is a pattern to there mealtimes, having a clear difference between meal and snack time.

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The 2 ½ year old is not used to the sudden lack of attention and is conveying this through not eating and refusing food. Re-establishing previous eating habits can be done by first ensuring to give the child more attention and allowing for one parent to focus on her at a time. This can allow for her to feel happier and more welcomed, which can also help her become used to the presence of her new-born brother.

Exposing her to food repeatedly approximately 8-10 times to encourage familiarity is good and will allow her to slowly accept the food provided.

Limiting food choices set at mealtimes allows for limited meals which encourages her to try new foods set out in front of her.

The importance of management strategies includes showing positive language and being a positive role model to her by giving her the required attention during mealtimes and tasting the food before offering it to her.

Satter’s Division of Responsibility can be used to allow for the parent to not take full responsibility around mealtimes. The parent is responsible for what, when where. The child is responsible for how much and whether. The parent chooses and prepares the food, providing regular meals and being considerate about the likes and dislikes of certain foods for the child. Children have the job to eat the amount that they need and learn to eat the foods that the parents eat which allows them to grow predictably.

Limiting screen time and allowing her to focus on the food set out at different mealtimes ensures she is able to interact with her parents and will increase her ability to taste new foods. Allowing for her to get involved with the preparation of meals allows her to get excited over what is being organised and ensures she learns within the practical preparation of meals. This allows for the child to gain a sense of understanding and skills about healthy eating.

Limiting fluid intake (i.e. no juices and approximately 500ml/day of milk consumption) will ensure she eats at mealtimes without feeling full.

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1.     For guidance you may speak to a nutritionist, child psychologist or paediatrician as they can all provide ways to help your child.

2.     Repeated exposure has successfully changed liking and intakes for a variety of tastes. Involve repeated taste exposure, in association with an additional positive experience. Also, repeated taste exposure and taste-based conditioning strategies for re establishing food.

3.     Limited choices, only providing a specific amount of choices can change the child’s mind on the food/re establish old habits.

4.     Positive language and role modelling, A mother should say that vegetables, fruits, etc are better for the child and can help with growth. A child will see that as a positive aspect in their life.

5.     Avoid screen time while eating as they may be preoccupied in what they are watching, rather than what they are eating

6.     Don’t bribe the child as they will want a reward. it will also make the situation worse as they may start to dislike the bribe, or they may want something better

7.     Meal preparation involvement, when a child is involved they learn best when they get to explore with their sense’s meal preparation is an important aspect of practical life. As children prepare food, they get to observe, touch, smell, taste and listen. This activity also provides an opportunity for them to learn about healthy eating and develop a variety of skills from early childhood.

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Encourage toddler to get involved with food preparation. Put a positive spin on it (she is now an older sister, who has new responsibilities). This also represents time with a parent one-on-one that will make the toddler feel valued/appreciated.

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While eating, ensure one parent is focused on the toddler and the other on the newborn

Otherwise the 2.5 year old may feel like she isn’t getting enough attention so she will start to make a fuss over the food provided

It may take around 8-10 times before a child actually accepts the food therefore repeated exposure of foods such as certain fruits, veg, meats etc. is useful

Ensure she has set meal/snack times each day to help establish a routine

For example, 3 meals + 3 snacks per day

Use a more permissive orauthoritative parenting style rather than an authoritarian style

Do not force her to finish everything off her plate if she doesn’t want to

Division of Responsibility- trust children to decide how much/whether to eat

Do not use food as a reward

Lead by example/role model

Positive language

Avoid giving her excessive consumption of milk (~500ml/day) as it may make her full therefore, she will not feel like eating food provided during meals

Try to avoid screens eg. iPads, TV during mealtime