Neophobia & Eating Disorders

What is neophobia?

“Picky eater”, picky with food, food refuser, selective, neophobic - dear child has many names. Children often become a little fussy with their food between the ages of 18 months and 2 years. Being picky is actually a misleading term. Pickiness is not about defiance but is due to a completely natural and often transient phase in the child's development. Some believe that the behavior is rooted in our genes, that it is an evolutionary behavior intended to protect the child from toxic substances in nature. Neophobia means "fear of the new" and better describes what picky eating is about. At this age, the child also begins to explore his surroundings and decide for himself what he wants to eat, a first expression of self-determination and control (no wonder that many children's first favorite word is "no").

Eating Disorders, Pfd and Arfid

In some cases, pickiness is not a passing phase. Neophobia that lasts for a long time and does not improve may have other underlying causes that may need to be investigated by healthcare professionals. Children who eat only a few foods for a long time may have selective eating disorder, PFD (Pediatric feeding disorder) or ARFID ( Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) . PFD and ARFID can be caused by various factors, such as reflux, a fear of choking or vomiting, illness or trauma in childhood. It can also be a sensory hypersensitivity to taste, consistency, temperature or texture. Many children with NPF diagnoses also experience eating difficulties.

If your child is a picky eater, it is important to be patient and encouraging. Do not force the child to eat something they do not want, as this will only make the situation worse. Contact BVC if you are concerned about your child's eating. Help is available from dietitians and speech therapists who specialize in eating disorders.

Read more about neophobia , Pediatric feeding disorder (Pfd) and Arfid, as well as the difference between Pfd and Arfid here .

10 signs that characterize selective eating disorder

  • Eats fewer than 20 foods
  • The child eats slowly, it takes a long time for the child to finish eating
  • The child gets “fed” quickly
  • The child does not want to sit at the dinner table
  • Doesn't want new food on their plate
  • Chaotic and stressful meals with conflicts and arguments
  • Foods and dishes “disappear”, the child gets tired of food without new dishes being added.
  • Only eating food from specific brands, such as only nuggets from a certain chain.
  • Refuses to eat entire categories of food, such as meat, vegetables, or sticky foods.
  • The child does not eat better at preschool