What Next?
Please continue to use all the strategies we have provided including going to the Stay and Play sessions at the Children Centres. Remember that progress with eating can take time and it is important to use these strategies regularly.
Fussy Eaters
Fussy Eaters
The East London Foundation Trust NHS Specialist Children’s and Young People’s Services (ELFT NHS SCYPS) are very excited to welcome you to our Fussy Eaters web page!
This page has been created by the Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics and Occupational Therapy teams from ELFT NHS SCYPS.
Please note that it is normal for some children to present with ‘fussy eating’ behaviours when weaning onto solids. Please contact your Health Visitor for advice around weaning onto solids.
However, if your child is presenting with persistent ‘fussy eating’ behaviours, a restricted diet or a small range of ‘safe’ foods and/or sensory feeding behaviours, your child may benefit from daily use of the strategies below.
This page is for parents of children and young people (CYP) who are fussy with food, have a restricted diet of ‘safe’ food and/or present with a range of sensory feeding behaviours which impact the range of food that they eat. This page is also aimed at school and nursery staff who work with these CYP as the strategies can be easily applied in educational settings. The strategies below are applicable for children and young people of all ages.
On this website, you will find fun and creative resources such as information sheets/handouts, videos and advice to try at home or at school with your child.
First step
Here we have a bank of resources containing important strategies for you to try at home. Please try these everyday for at least 3 months as it will take time to see improvements in your child's relationship with food. We also recommend that you access stay and play sessions at your local Children's Centre where staff will be able to give you more guidance and support.
Video file
Meal Time Positioning: '90,90,90' for posture and stability
Video: Supportive Positioning For Feeding ∗NEW!∗
What should I offer my child at Meal Times and Snack Times?
Top Tips: Creating a Positive Food Experience
Screentimes and Mealtimes
Video: Decreasing Screentime During Meals ∗NEW!∗
Top Tips for Food Play
Messy Play: Fun with Food
Introduction
Part 1 - This video shows you how to introduce play with food to your child.
Exploration
Part 2 - This video shows you how to have fun with food with your child.
Dry and Firm
Part 3 - This video shows you how to play with dry and firm food textures. Only move onto this video if your child is comfortable with the activities demonstrated in Part 2.
Wet and Mixed
Part 4 - This video shows you how to play with wet and mixed food textures. Only move onto this video if your child is comfortable with the activities demonstrated in Part 3.
Family Messy Play Games
Race to the Goal: Dry Messy Food Play
Hit the Target Game :Firm Messy Food Play
Noughts and Crosses: Wet & Dry Messy Food Play
Build a House: Wet & Dry Messy Food Play
Newham Local Offer
Newham Children Centres
Here you can find a list of Children Centres in Newham. These Centres provide Stay and Play sessions which will help your child become more comfortable with different food textures. Please try these strategies at home on a regular basis.
Health Visitors
Please contact your Health Visitor for more information and support for fussy eating. You should have already been assigned a Health Visitor for your child but if you are unsure of who this is then please ring the telephone number provided.
Please contact: 0203 373 9983
Useful Links
BBC How to handle Fussy Eating
Please also check our Twitter and Instagram pages for extra OT information and tips.
Dietetics
The Newham Community Paediatric Dietetics service sits within the Children’s Community Nursing Service, part of East London Foundation Trust’s Specialist Children and Young People’s Services (SCYPS).
Their website has helpful videos on Fussy Eating that you can watch to support your child's eating whilst on a budget.
This webpage has been designed using assets from Freepik.com 90,90,90 what should I eat Health visitor Family Meal Messy Play