By Katie Prouty
Picky eating. Not my favorite phrase but this is normal. Yes, normal and a temporary part of childhood development. Fussing over eating broccoli? Normal. Doesn’t want carrots but happily ate them yesterday? Normal. Only drinks from that one, dang green cup? Normal. I love [this] article by pediatric feeding specialist Melanie Potock, fellow SLP. She mentions red flags that may warrant a discussion and/or referral to a specialist (speech or occupational therapist). If any of these stand out to you, definitely consult with your ped.
- Consistent avoidance of particular foods
- Extreme pickiness when deciding what to eat
- Gagging when presented with certain foods
- Anxiety around trying new foods
- Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing
- Weight loss/slow growth
- Extremely limited range of “safe” foods
