When Weaning Feels Hard: Finding a Path Through the ‘Picky’ Phase

Weaning is often described as a journey of discovery, but for many parents, that journey can feel more like a series of roadblocks. If your little one has started turning their head away, refusing foods they once loved, or if mealtimes have become a source of dread rather than joy, you aren’t alone, and it isn’t your fault.

At Bibado, we’re always on the lookout for resources that make the feeding journey smoother. We recently came across the Picky Eater Parenting course, which begins this month, and felt it was an ideal option for any of our parents looking for structured, expert-led support to navigate selective eating.

Understanding picky eating: what’s normal and when to pause

Picky eating is incredibly common in babies and toddlers. What can feel like a sudden refusal or regression is often a normal part of development rather than a sign that something has gone “wrong”. 

As babies grow, their awareness of taste, texture, smell and control increases. A food they happily ate last week might suddenly be rejected, not because they dislike it forever, but because they’re learning independence, responding to new sensations, or even reacting to changes in routine, teething or tiredness. Toddlers, in particular, are wired to be cautious with food – it’s a natural developmental stage linked to safety and autonomy.

While this phase is common, it can still feel exhausting and emotionally draining for parents. Mealtimes may become tense, with pressure creeping in on both sides of the table. It’s understandable to worry about nutrition, growth, and whether you’re doing enough – especially when advice online feels conflicting or unrealistic.

Some gentle principles that can help during picky phases include:

• Consistency without pressure: Offering regular meals and snacks, even when intake feels minimal, helps build trust around food. 
• Repeated exposure: It can take many (sometimes 10–15+) calm exposures for a child to feel comfortable with a food.
• Modelling enjoyment: Children learn a huge amount by watching us eat, react, and enjoy food ourselves.
• Separating eating from emotions: Removing praise, bribery or pressure can actually help children tune into their own hunger and fullness cues.
• Focusing on the bigger picture: Looking at intake across a whole week, rather than meal by meal, often paints a more reassuring picture.

That said, some families find themselves feeling truly stuck – especially when food refusal starts to dominate daily life or when anxiety around eating grows for both parent and child. In those moments, having clear, expert guidance can make all the difference, not just for what’s on the plate, but for restoring calm and confidence around mealtimes.

Expert advice for the ‘stuck’ moments

The course has been developed by Lucy Upton (also known as The Children’s Dietitian), a leading Specialist Paediatric Dietitian and Feeding Therapist. Lucy’s approach is rooted in clinical expertise but delivered with a deep, personal understanding of the real-life stress parents face. Whether you’re dealing with a baby who is struggling to transition to textures or a toddler who has suddenly entered a ‘food jag’, her Picky Eater Parenting course is designed to meet you where you are.

The course focuses on shifting the goal from ‘getting them to eat’ to helping them learn to love food, using evidence-based strategies to build a roadmap back to calm family meals.

For parents seeking a clear, step-by-step path, the program offers a comprehensive support system:

• 6 Weekly Sessions: Led by Lucy herself, these sessions guide you through the practical shifts needed to change mealtime dynamics.
• A Private Facebook Community: A safe space to share worries and find encouragement from other parents who are going through the exact same challenges.
• On-Demand Parent Portal: Access to all course resources and materials, so you can revisit the lessons whenever you need a refresher.

Having seen thousands of families in her clinics, Lucy created this course specifically to bridge the gap between specialist clinical support and the everyday challenges parents face at the kitchen table.

"In my years of clinical practice, I’ve seen firsthand how heartbreaking and draining it is for parents when their child struggles to eat. It’s a fundamental instinct to want to nourish our children, and when that feels impossible, the worry is overwhelming. I founded this course because I wanted to take the proven strategies I use in my clinics and make them accessible and cost-effective for every family. My goal is to empower you with the tools to lower the pressure and rediscover the joy in feeding." — Lucy Upton, Paediatric Dietitian & Course Founder

A Special Offer for Bibado Readers

To help as many families as possible access this specialist support, Lucy is offering the Bibado community an exclusive £65 discount on the Picky Eater Parenting course.

How to claim:

1. Visit www.pickyeaterparenting.com
2. 2. Sign up for the course.
3. 3. Use code BIBADO65 at the checkout to save £65 off the total cost of the course (code can also be redeemed when paying in instalments).

Note: This exclusive code is valid until 23:59pm on 27th January 2026. The first session of the course begins on Wednesday 28 th January at 8pm, and runs at the same time every Wednesday until 4 th March 2026.

If you’re ready to move away from the "one more bite" battle and toward a more adventurous, happy eater, this is the perfect place to start.

DISCOUNT T&Cs The BIBADO65 offer entitles the user to a one-time discount of £65, redeemable against the full cost of a ‘Picky Eater Parenting’ course, priced at £390. Offer code is valid until 23:59 on 27 Tth January 2026 and must be entered into the checkout at the time of booking your place to be valid.  Unfortunately, we are unable to apply the discount code retrospectively to places already booked. The offer code cannot be exchanged for any other service or product sold by Lucy Upton or the Children’s Dietitian Ltd. There is no cash alternative. The Children’s Dietitian reserves the right to change or remove the offer at any time, and without prior warning.