Eating and drinking

It’s completely natural for parents and carers to feel concerned if their child has unusual eating habits, whether they:

• eat very little
• only accept certain foods
• seem to be constantly hungry

For children and young people who are neurodivergent, eating and drinking can sometimes present unique challenges.

This section help you understand what might be going on and offer practical guidance.

Whether your child is fussy, overwhelmed by mealtimes, or showing signs of more significant difficulties, we aim to support you before specialist help is needed and to help you know when more help may be required.

We focus on the difference between eating behaviours that are part of a child’s neurodivergent profile, and those that might be signs of an eating disorder or another underlying difficulty. We’ll also offer tips, strategies, and information about where to get further help.