{"id":"bf7d3e2b4a923e888e871d1c5be0fc14","slug":"why-wont-my-20-month-old-eat-soft-foods-he-used-to-like-after-getting-sick","question":"Why won't my 20-month-old eat soft foods he used to like after getting sick?","answer":"I don't see sources that directly address food refusal following an illness, so I can't confidently answer your specific question from the research provided.\n\nWhat I can tell you from the sources is that picky eating around this age is very common and often tied to eating habits rather than taste—which means those habits can shift again. The research emphasizes that pressure (\"just try it!\") tends to make pickiness worse, while repeated, low-pressure exposure to foods works better.\n\nIf your 20-month-old's reluctance to eat foods he previously enjoyed is new and connected to the illness, that's worth a quick call to your pediatrician to make sure there's nothing lingering—whether it's a sore throat, stomach sensitivity, or something else that's making eating uncomfortable. Once you know he's physically ready, the same gentle re-exposure approach applies: keep offering the foods he used to enjoy without pushing, and let his appetite lead.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"39275330\",\"title\":\"Food Neophobia in Children Aged 1-6 Years-Between Disorder and Autonomy: Assessment of Food Preferences and Eating Patterns.\",\"journal\":\"Nutrients\",\"year\":\"2024\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275330/\",\"score\":0.76}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"toddler-feeding","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-01T08:00:58.726Z"}