Picky eating in preschool children: The predictive role of the child's temperament and mother's negative affectivity

•A population-based prospective study of children aged 1.5 to 4.5 was conducted.•Picky eating was assessed by maternal report.•A difficult child temperament at age 1.5 predicted picky eating two years later.•Mother’s emotionality and negative affect predicted increase in child picky eating.•Having siblings protected against the development of picky eating.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to describe the development and examine predictors of picky eating from 1.5 to 4.5 years of age in a community sample of children.MethodsMothers completed a questionnaire, assessing picky eating and a range of child and maternal factors, when their children were aged 1.5 (n = 913), 2.5 (n = 777), and 4.5 (n = 727) years.ResultsPicky eating increased significantly from 1.5 to 4.5 years. Lower maternal age, higher levels of child emotionality, and maternal negative affectivity at the child's age 1.5 predicted an increase in picky eating from 1.5 years to 2.5 and 4.5 years. Having siblings protected against the development of picky eating.ConclusionChild and maternal temperament at a very early stage in the child's life increase the risk for picky eating later on.