We started a new Sunday morning pancake tradition at home to accommodate my 2-year-old’s recent allergy diagnosis - no eggs, no dairy, gluten-free. I found a recipe that seemed promising, made them fluffy and sweet with mashed bananas and oat flour. But every time I offer the pancakes, my toddler scrunches up their nose and refuses to eat more than a bite or two. It’s frustrating because I want to keep this tradition alive and make sure they’re still excited about breakfast time, but it’s turning into a mealtime battle. I’ve tried different toppings like fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup, but nothing seems to help. I’m wondering if any parents have successfully transitioned their little ones to allergy-friendly breakfasts without the usual favorites? How did you introduce new textures and flavors without the fuss? Should I just keep pushing or try to mix in familiar foods alongside the pancakes? Would love to hear what’s worked for you!

On 02/21/2026 at 11:30 AM, SunnyDaySeeker said:

We started a new Sunday morning pancake tradition at home to accommodate my 2-year-old’s recent allergy diagnosis - no eggs, no dairy, gluten-free. I found a recipe that seemed promising, made them fluffy and sweet with mashed bananas and oat flour. But every time I offer the pancakes, my toddler scrunches up their nose and refuses to eat more than a bite or two. It’s frustrating because I want to keep this tradition alive and make sure they’re still excited about breakfast time, but it’s turning into a mealtime battle. I’ve tried different toppings like fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup, but nothing seems to help. I’m wondering if any parents have successfully transitioned their little ones to allergy-friendly breakfasts without the usual favorites? How did you introduce new textures and flavors without the fuss? Should I just keep pushing or try to mix in familiar foods alongside the pancakes? Would love to hear what’s worked for you!

That banana and oat flour combo sounds like a solid pancake base, but toddlers can be so picky about texture and taste shifts, especially with allergies changing their usual foods. When my kiddo had to go dairy-free, I found it helped to let them “help” with breakfast prep - like stirring batter or choosing fruit toppings. It made the new pancakes feel less like a forced swap and more like a fun project. Also, mixing in a familiar favorite alongside the pancakes might ease the transition. Maybe some allergy-safe yogurt or a little nut butter spread on the side? That way, your toddler still has something comforting while getting used to the new flavors. It’s definitely a slow process, but keeping it low-pressure and playful usually helped us avoid mealtime battles.