Is harsh caregiving effective in toddlers with low inhibitory control? An experimental study in the food domain

•Two types of caregiving control have been studied: Harsh and Gentle control.•Both types of control are efficient to reduce toddlers' resistance to taste new foods.•Caregivers gentle control is more efficient than harsh control in eating context.•Toddlers' level of inhibitory control mediates the effect of gentle and harsh control.•In food domain, high inhibitory control and gentle caregiving have cumulative effects.