One Simple Tip for Picky Eating: Check Your Child’s Seating

If your child is a picky eater, one simple thing to consider is how supported their body is during meals.

Eating requires a lot of work from the body! Children need to sit with enough stability to focus on the food, use their hands, coordinate utensils, and manage the sensory and oral-motor demands of eating.

If your child is wiggling, sliding down in their chair, leaning on the table, sitting on their feet, or constantly getting up, they may be using a lot of energy just trying to keep their body supported.

Instead, try creating a stable and supportive eating position.

Ideally, your child should have:

• Feet supported on the floor or a footrest

• Hips and knees supported in a stable position

• Bottom and back supported by the chair

• Table or tray at an appropriate height so their arms can comfortably rest on it and reach food/drink/utensils 

Think of it as giving your child a strong foundation so they can focus their energy on eating and exploring food, rather than working to keep their body organized.

Try saying:

“Let’s get your body comfortable and ready for eating.”

You can also make small adjustments to your child’s seating and see whether it changes how they participate in meals. Sometimes something as simple as adding a footrest, added a pillow behind their back, towel around their hips or adjusting the height of the chair can make a meaningful difference!

A supported body can help support a more successful mealtime.

Small changes are still steps!

Want more support?

The Picky Eater’s Playbook is a parent-friendly program created by Kelsey, a pediatric occupational therapist and feeding specialist trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding.

The program walks families through the why behind picky eating and provides practical strategies for sensory challenges, oral-motor differences, food refusal, mealtime routines, reducing pressure, and helping children build a more positive relationship with food.

The goal isn't to force children to eat more.

It's to help them feel more confident, comfortable, and successful around food.

Learn more about The Picky Eater’s Playbook or reach out to learn whether it may be a good fit for your family.