Dear Mum, it’s Charlotte Stirling-Reed: The truth about fussy eaters, high-chair battles, and the one rule that changes everything
Dear MumShow Notes
If mealtimes in your house feel like a daily battle, this one’s for you.
For Episode 3 of Dear Mum, I’m joined by Charlotte Stirling-Reed - NHS-trained child nutritionist and an actual guru of weaning, toddler food and everything in between. And we’re getting into the thing that sends so many of us over the edge - fussy eating!
We talk about why “fussy eater” is a label that can make things worse, what’s actually normal (spoiler: loads of it), and how our reactions - even the well-meaning ones - can accidentally turn food into a power struggle.
Charlotte shares the practical stuff you can try straight away: why tiny portions help, how to pair safe foods with new foods, the truth about the 10–15 tries rule, and why sitting with them and eating the same meal can be more powerful than any “one more bite” negotiation.
We also cover high-chair refusal, kids getting up and down mid-meal, when siblings start copying each other’s fussiness, and how to make the table feel like a calmer place to be - without turning dinner into a circus (even though yes, we’ve all tried).
If you’re deep in the trenches and thinking “I’m doing this wrong” - this episode will give you reassurance, a plan, and that exhale you’ve been needing.
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Blog posts mention in the pod:🥣 Fussy eating help for toddlers - https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2025/12/fussy-eating-help-for-toddlers/ 🥣 Fussy eating advice - https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/factsheets/coping-with-fussy-foodies/ 🥣 Help my child won’t stay in their highchair - https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2024/09/how-to-get-my-baby-to-stay-in-their-highchair/
Follow Charlotte IG - https://www.instagram.com/sr_nutrition/ FB - https://www.facebook.com/SRNutrition Website - https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/
Follow me (Charlie!) IG - https://www.instagram.com/charlielaunder And get to know my business, Bumps & Burpees - https://www.instagram.com/bumpsandburpees www.bumpsandburpees.com
Produced by Bear Lane Productions 🎙️ Music licensed via PremiumBeat - 4WJJ2ROAVKXSJCGW
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