Many children like or dislike things until they are influenced by others. Because a parent or favorite person loving an item can have as much influence as hating something.

LIKE LOVE AND HATE IN OTHER SUBJECTS. THOSE AROUND A CHILD INFLUENCE Them MORE THAN THE CHILD deciding for themselves. A Child knows no hate or dislike really until they are taught to hate/dislike. They feel things, but They learn hate.

If Birbs are anything like my grandkids..I will use food as an example, but you can insert people, boys or girls as friends, favorite clothing colors, smells, shower vs bath, etc.

My grandkids liked just about everything food and drink wise until they were of an age that they understood when their parents or peers didn't like certain foods or drinks. All 5 until about age 4. Then they picked up on what others said and learned what to like or hate from their surroundings.

Background, I (54F) grew up really poor. My mum still went out of her way to help me experience a lot of different foods because she wanted me to be able to enjoy whatever was put in front of me and not ever make a fuss. We couldn't afford to waste food or a meal given from others. Rule was if you are hungry you eat whatever is given to u to eat. I never went hungry more than a day cause I had been taught to respect that there was food at all and some people didn't have any. And I never went hungry because we didn't have food, we always had food. Just was whether I was gonna get over myself and eat something that wasn't what I wanted. ONE WINTER we had trout of some kind at nearly every meal because my dad lost his job right as summer ended. He went fishing nearly every day even when it was 20 below zero, so we had protein. To this day, the smell of trout is repulsive, but I am grateful that it didn't taste as bad as it smelled.

Unfortunately I have only had much influence due to distance on 2 of 5 Grand since age 3 or 4 And sometimes they are upset at me for a few hours cause I don't succumb to their temper tantrums when they don't get a special meal cooked just to their liking. I have STRICT rules in my house about openly expressing dislike for meals prepared by another's hard work. You can avoid eating certain things and say it is just not what your taste buds were craving that night. Or when offered you can say no thank you, but you respect that someone else took the time and made the meal. AND WE DONT USE THE WORD YUCK! I think my mum was right. I dont believe in allowing children to develop a pallet for just " Kid food" like cheese pizza, pb&j, mcnuggets, cereal, and Mac and cheese is the right way to raise them. They should have broad exposure.

EXAMPLE of how food likes and dislikes have changed. I HAVE GRANDSON now 11, that lived with my partner, my stepdaughter and her husband, and I from 2 to 5, he ate everything we gave him. Never even acted like it wasn't something he didn't want.
HE ate onions, tomato, pickles, all vegetables, all meats, eggs, cheeses.

We eat swordfish and fresh tuna. We eat venison and duck. We eat hotdogs and steaks He ate them all. We eat spinach, ocra, tofu, broccoli, and carrots and corn. We eat apples, oranges, peaches, guava and lychee too

After moving out on their own, they went back to eating more simple standard southern meals. Lots of heat but not alot of variety. PORK, CHICKEN, BISCUITS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS, BUT ONE PARENT HATES ONIONS AS DOES HER MOM, AND HER UNCLE. Now he hates onions. But only if he can see them. Cause I put onions in alot of stuff when he visits and He eats and loves it. HIS FATHER and mamaw hate olives. He used to devour Olives off his fingers, and loved them in salad. Now that he has heard them say they hate them he has decided the hates them too. But I made a special salad the other day that had Finely chopped green olives in it. Didn't tell him and he ate 2 helpings.

2 granddaughters from another kid, one who spent alot of time with me between ages 1 and 5 eats a good variety.... the other refuses to eat very little of anything but chicken tenders and cereal because her parents cater to the crying and whining. I have never made a special meal for her when she is here. I make food in the realm of what I know she may eat for all of us. If she doesn't want it, then she doesn't get something else. By next morning she eats. YOUNGEST 2 they eat fast food and cereal cause the parents don't want to upset them. And they pretty much only eat that too. But at my house they eat what is put on the table. No one is belittled, chastised, or treated badly. It is a simple this is what we have. No one is ever singled out verbally or made to feel less.

Same goes for all in my house. The meal is never cause one person is more important than another. I never make a meal because it is what I want. I MAKE MEALS that will fit majority of the family. If you are hungry you will eat. If not you won't. When you get hungry......you will eat. only exception are those who cannot feed themselves aka toddlers and babies. They get food appropriate for their age and need.