Toddlers and fussy eating (merged)

bryal99

I wouldn't worry too much - although I think I did when my first went through this stage. I have 4 kids and all at some point have had self imposed restricted diets. I have never pandered to their whims but have alternated days of what they will eat with a day of something they probably would refuse. Encourage them to smell and lick new food/declined food and if poss to taste - give lots of encouragement and praise even if they don't eat it and just smell. Try not to get too stressed at meal times. my eldest who was a real pain with food eats virtually everything now.
I have always let them have desert even if they haven,t eaten main - but only fruit or a yoghurt/fromage frais. Because if they are hardly eating their stomache will start to shrink down in size and they will have less of an appetite. Also do not let them fill up on juice just before a meal, and limit milk to 1/2 - 1 pint daily.
Above all stay calm. It will pass!

mandrose

I remember clearly refusing to eat any vegetables/fruit when I was young and my parents accepting it!Consequently I still have that bad habit and have to force myself to eat anything remotely heathy!I had a battle when I had my first son by insisting my parents put vegetables on his plate and not to make an issue over whether he ate it or not.I also ALWAYS had veg on my plate in front of him but I admit I just shuffled it around the plate then scraped it away.I now have 2 sons who eat every veg and fruit going and what I find amazing is they love them!They just accepted it was normal food and never turned their nose up (although I did!). Try and plate up a meal which includes a variety of food and although he might pick out his favorites at first, he will soon try the other not so familiar food.It is hard to keept calm when you are worried but see it as part and parcel of being a parent!Believe me it is the most rewarding job ever. Mine are now 18 and 22 and I wouldn't change a second!

happymoneysaver79

My daughter who is 15 months now has been difficult with food from the weaning stage. For me the problem was made worse by her refusing food, then me giving up and giving her formula milk (which she still has twice a day). Of course this was filling her up and taking the edge of her hunger (silly me). Decided to take action and just give her a bottle before her afternoon nap, to settle her down and one before bed. I also try to relax myself before feeding time because i am sure that she sensed my anxiety and would play up more because of it. I used to feed her first, now we eat and chat as a family and she just has to fit in, I would make a big deal (the aeroplane is coming open wide etc...) now I put her plate down in front of her and let her feed herself with her fingers or spoon. She has just started throwing her juice on the floor during her meal, before I would have picked it up straight away and it would have been on the floor again in seconds, now I leave it until I have finished eating - and you know what? I think she is getting the message. I think that sometimes actions speak louder than words. It is the hardest thing in the world to not react when your child is not eating for whatever reason but it is probably the best thing to do.
P.s. I found that she prefered slightly spicy food rather than the bland stuff that you would presume they would like, try raw yellow or red peppers (not chilli!!!!!!) as a snack or mild curry or a small amount of spicy sausage.
hope this helps - good luck.

ailuro2

Our DD was the same, I was always fussy as a child too- and I wholeheartedly believe in the supertaster idea. I disagree with if you don't eat it for tea you'll get it for breakfast- that's what I was told throughout my childhood,and still didn't eat the food I considered disgusting.:mad:

Don't make not eating an issue.

Put down food they like alongside something new.Let them dip it in tomato sauce the first few times if s/he wants to and likes it.Don't ask if they like it, just get on with showing them you eating your dinner of exactly the same thing, and enjoying it. Making chicken nuggets from chicken breast,sipping them in egg then in lightly crushed cornflakes makes fantastic nuggets- maybe they could help crush the cornflakes?

My dh and I were talking the other night about how our DD was a nightmare on holidays- 'this food doesn't taste the same as at home' was the daily cry.Even the old staple of chicken nuggets didn't taste right to her and she lived mostly on sandwiches and cereals for a fortnight.
Thankfully,she is now 8yo and the best decision we ever made was to put her to hot school dinners.Thankfully their schol has a varied,healthy menu, and they get lovely puddings too- wish I had a canteen like it!
Even in the first year, there were days when she came home telling us she hadn't eaten her lunch, we'd give her a healthy tea with no treats after. Peer pressure showed her that different food can be eaten and enjoyed.She still has food she doesn't like, but now eats most meats, fresh pasta,rice and curry:D Although now when I put down something from the school dinner menu she tells me 'this food doesn't taste the same as Irene's'(the dinner lady)

Keep at it, and remember not to give them daily sweets-they can get loads of energy from sweets and be happier to turn down food.

brummiebabe

Hi all

I recently posted a thread about my DD's dislike for solids and got some great support & advice.:A

However, am struggling still with her!!!! She won't really eat any 'meals' that I cook for her (then puree) - have tried eg chicken casserole, various pasta sauces, fish dishes etc etc.....I'm getting really stuck as to what to do!! She won't eat any jars/packet food either (except porridge!)

She will eat eg sweet potato/butternut squash & apple/pear, carrots & parsnips, peach, apricots, fromage frais etc..... I have begun to give her finger foods which she seems to enjoy & manages well - I give her rice cakes, rusks, crunchy carrot sticks, pear, banana, toast fingers etc and she will eat some....but not loads. What's worrying me is that she's also cutting back her milk intake .

I am still trying various recipies but am getting very disheartend with the whole thing. Haven't been able to see my H/V as yet, but hope to go this week.

I realise my DD obviously has a small appetite - she is still sleeping through the night despite not eating much and appears to be physically well (she started crawling this week!!:T ). The most she does eat is at breakfast - she loves her porridge!!

Anyhow, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what I can give her as finger type foods that will help give her a balanced diet - I just don't think she's going to be a girl that, at the moment anyway, likes 'meals' - I feel she's just going to eat bits & pieces. Meat is my main concern (for protein) - how do I get her to eat it? I do put chicken in with sweet potato & apple etc, but if there's too much in it - she won't eat it at all!!

I don't think she likes being spoonfed (except breakfast/yogurts) and have looked at a babyled weaning site, but feel very confused as to where to go from here . Anyone got any ideas/suggestions???

Counting_Pennies_2

I can only suggest getting Annabel Karmel's cookery book, it is packed full of ideas to feed little one in the first few years, and if nothing in that book will tempt then I don't think anything will.

Although I have to say it sounds like she is doing very well on what she is having. Don't fret about meat, my son was never in to it, some just don't like the texture and all the time you are giving finger foods and other foods that have some texture you will be fine.

Eggy bread was my son's favourite

laurz

OMG you are describing my son at that age. he's 17 mnth now and still like that, i posted a thread as 'toddler eating problems' i got some good posts back and they'll all apply to you too. have a look.

jamjar,

About 8 months of age my dd decided that she didn't want any food from a spoon, unless it was pudding, and then only if she had a spoon in her hand as well.
What I did was cook her a selection of veg, eg potatoes, carrots, parsnips, squash. I cut them into half inch or so cubes, and put a selection on the highchair tray in front of her. I also gave pieces of chicken, cheese, fish, cod roe (dry fried). I found that she ate lots. She was really good at feeding herself these meals.
I also was worried at first that she wouldn't eat enough, but she really did eat plenty, as long as she could feed herself.
You could try this way, some ends up on the floor though!

heather38

my 8 month old loves eggy bread as well.
have you tried not giving purees at all, and just giving finger foods and lumpy food? my DD isn't keen on purees but wolfes back lumpy food. if your DD wont eat puree maybe she dosn't like the texture and would prefer proper food. at 8 month she should be capable of eating lumps so that might help.

brummiebabe

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

I can only suggest getting Annabel Karmel's cookery book, it is packed full of ideas to feed little one in the first few years, and if nothing in that book will tempt then I don't think anything will.

Although I have to say it sounds like she is doing very well on what she is having. Don't fret about meat, my son was never in to it, some just don't like the texture and all the time you are giving finger foods and other foods that have some texture you will be fine.

Eggy bread was my son's favourite

I have 2 Annabel Karmel books - those are the ones I've been following.:D

Eggy bread - now there's an idea!!! We all love that, may try it tomorrow!!!

Thanks for the quick response:A