Help please toddler wont eat anything :(

Destiny33

Please, i am looking for help not recrimination. Sadly i am getting so used to "oh my son does this doesnt yours" or "oh my daughter has done that for months but so nice yours finally has"

So my problem or maybe just some support to help me look and do things a different way?

My 2 year old is wonderful, gorgeous and the joy of my life. So whats wrong?

All he eats is wheetabix morning, noon and night and apart from toast and cereal that is his diet. I have made everything, given him what i'm having and just total failure. I guess being a single mum i might be soft on him and thats why i say please please be nice as i'm feeling very fragile and just want to do whats best for him.

He is healthy and lively and a total handful so i know some would say thats ok i just want to give him the best start in life and try to help him enjoy his food.

Thank you for any help in anticipation
D
xx

quietheart

You should find ideas in this earlier thread
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=61595
good luck!

Bossyboots

You are right to tackle this now and try to steer him towards a more balanced diet. Can you tell us a little bit about what you eat and what you have tried giving him? That way, you won't get lots of answers for things you have tried and we might all be able to be more constructive.

I can't see why anyone needs to be anything but nice to you. I am sure there is not a parent on these boards who has not made a mistake in their parenting somewhere.

Destiny33

Thanks bossyboots i'm just feeling a bit useless but i think i should get some shares in wheetabix :S

I think i have tried everything, usual baby stuff like pasta with tomato/cheese sauce, fish, pizza, eggs in every way shape and form.

I just want him to enjoy food and it breaks my heart as although he is healthy and happy he is quite thin (doesnt take after me :)lol)

The only good thing i guess is that he doesnt eat chocolate (not encouraged it but he's never asked ) but the one thing he will eat apart from wheetabix is crisps.

Guess ive answered myself and i'm too soft. I just want to see him eat and cant bear to think of him hungry

I'm sorry waffling on. He is in bed now so i am going for a nice long bath.

Thank you and goodnight all
D
xxx

Little_Miss_Winner

Hiya Destiny,

I promise I won't be hard on you. Your'e a mother, and doing a great job!
You say yourself that he's healthy and lively, so somethings right.

I would click on the link that rovers suggests, there are some great posts there with lots of helpful advice, and some great suggestions.

The one thats at the top of my list (mum to 3 under 5), is let him help you make something for lunch. Pizza for example, doesnt have to cost a fortune, tell him he's making it for you today! He will be really enthusaistic. :T

You don't even have to be a good cook. You can buy pizza base already made, (about 79p) and let him load it up with tomato puree, cheese, ham. Doesnt have to be exotic, then sit down together, and don't watch him or make a fuss if he's playing up, just tell him you are going to enjoy yours as it looks/tastes lovely. Bet he will try........he won't be able to resist, if he's made it!
And if he doesn't like it etc, try again with something else another day!


Finally, don't beat yourself up about it, I commend you for being a single mum (I couldn't do it!). A mothers job is always hard. But you are doin' just fine!

pot x

Bennifred

Hi!
I know you are really worried about your boy, but he sounds completely normal to me! He knows what he likes, and is far too young to know or care about variety etc. Have you tried mixing a little bit of something else in with the weetabix - a tiny bit of stewed apple, or mashed banana, not too much so that the flavour isn't overwhelming, but he has the texture he is familiar with? That could be a start....

On a reassuring note, I know a boy who wouldn't eat anything except chips :eek: literally! His mother even used to take him home from school at lunchtimes for his chips. We couldn't believe it when she even turned up at the school camp every evening with, yes! chips for her boy. He's nearly nineteen now, over six feet tall, huge feet and very bright. Don't know what his diet is like now, but the chips-only diet obviously didn't restrict his growth :rotfl: I reckon your boy is off to a better start than that.

I'm sure you'll get lots more advice in a minute........

Yoga_Girl

Try not to get too anxious, all children go through stages that cause us worry , there are some good hints & tips on the link that rovers posted to a previous thread. You are not alone!

Try and make food fun, on "Little Angels" they did an exercise where they had a fun picnic that involved the parents smearing food on their faces to try to get their son to see food as nothing to fear. They would also give loads of praise if he even tried something new (even if it was just a tiny bite).

Getting children involved in food preparation, cooking or baking, or growing a few veg in a tub, can help as well. The cooking bit can be simple things, such as decorating a pizza base (get them to make a funny face with tomato sauce, peppers, mushrooms, cheese) or making "healthy-ish" biscuits (oats, currents). As he likes toast you could make a toast face (cut the toast into a circle and use chopped veg/tomatoes to make a face with). Taking kids fruit picking is also a fun thing and they usually eat more than they put in the basket!

mountainofdebt

My nephew (5) is a nightmare to feed....not that he wants to eat all the bad stuff - he hardly eats at all!

My sister has been to the doctors and the nephew has been given a clean bill of health so I guess its a case of patience!

One idea that my mum used when she looked after the nephew for a week was to do a smilely chart....for every meal that he ate she put a smiley face on the chart...boy was he pleased to show it to my sister at the end of the week1

mountainofdebt

My nephew (5) is a nightmare to feed....not that he wants to eat all the bad stuff - he hardly eats at all!

My sister has been to the doctors and the nephew has been given a clean bill of health so I guess its a case of patience!

One idea that my mum used when she looked after the nephew for a week was to do a smilely chart....for every meal that he ate she put a smiley face on the chart...boy was he pleased to show it to my sister at the end of the week!

Becles

Do you eat the same meal with your little boy?

We've always eaten the same food altogether at the dining table. My stance is here's your dinner, it's the same as everyone else and if you don't eat it - tough!

My two now eat most things. Sometimes they whinge when they sit down, like the other night when I made a rogan josh and I got "uuurrgghh I don't like curry". I told them it was a Indian casserole though, and they cleared their plates :rolleyes:

If your son sees Mammy having different foods at the table, he might be more willing to eat a variety of things.

carpool72

Hi Destiny,

Please don't let anyone else's comments get you down. For some reason it's very easy for people to get competitive about their children, but at the end of the day any parent who does their best is a great parent, and you get double stars for doing it on your own.

Rovers link is to a really good thread - have a look and remember, you're not on your own!

Good luck & a big hug
xx