How do you know they're eating enough?

WinesNotWhines

Kids will eat if they're hungry, right? Lately M had decided he's over purees and only wants to feed himself finger foods. That's fine, but it means he's eating significantly less now. He used to eat 4-5 oz worth of purees in a sitting, but he eats much less than that if he feeds himself. Dinner is maybe 5 bites of foods plus a few cheerios. He likes to play with the food, throw it on the floor, throw it to the dog, etc. Is this a normal transition to finger foods?

He also has a definite preference for carbs. The kid will happily eat cheerios and crackers for every meal if I let him. I guess he goes after his mama.

Hey Jellisy

Totally normal.  The pediatrician told me to not mind the individual days, but to make sure DD ate enough over 2 weeks - and they really do ebb and flow with their amounts.  That's still true at 2 years of age.  Try offering both for a while, although once DD realized she could eat on her own, she wanted nothing to do with me feeding her - with the exception of yogurt because she loved it so much.  If you are concerned about the kinds of food - you can always bake veggie purees into mini muffins for your LO.   

DCtoLowcountry

I got the same advice to look not at individual meals but over a whole of two weeks. I remember having the same concerns switching to finger foods, but my brain dimly remembers reading something that said not to be worried because they're probably eating a similar volume of food.

tracy042206

Ditto pp advice.  If he is still on formula or BM he is getting all the nutrition he needs.  I always freak out between 18mo and 2yo when they drop off in eating because they just don't need as many calories anymore (not growing as much).

LMH1209

He's still young enough that eating solids is more about being exposed to a variety of foods and learning to eat than actual nutrition. If he's still drinking plenty of BM, is pooping and peeing regularly and is growing, I wouldn't worry. Just keep presenting him with food and giving him the opportunity to eat.

emack

Until the age of 4, kids are MUCH better at regulating themselves than adults are. The rule of thumb is that it is your job to present him with healthy options and that it is HIS job to decide how much to eat, if at all. Mine has gone through many stages where she eats probably 100 calories a day and then makes up for it later.