12 month old does not eat much

Re: 12 month old does not eat much

• arcook0307 member

  January 2013

  My DD is just 9 days shy of 13 months but is just the same as far as the food goes.  It's really hit or miss.  Some days I just want to cry.  Other days she'll eat one good meal and pick at the rest.  I think the most successful is when I put food in her walker tray and let her scoot around eating it at her leisure.  It seems to take the stress out of eating for us both.  I try to offer whole grains in the form of oatmeal/bread, protein in the form of cheese, beans, egg, yogurt (aside from WCM), a vegetable such as sweet potato "cakes" or fries, spinach "pancakes (which is the only way she'll eat her green veggies, and I think that's it.  I try to make sure she gets a little variety but some days if all she'll eat is bread and cheese I just try and be thankful for that.  I never really understood the reference to picky eaters and how stressful it was until now!  A friend of mine that I trust (as a mom of 7) told me that as long as they are drinking their milk not to worry too much.  I have another friend whose DD is almost 2 and she seems to eat less than my DD.  Try not to stress....and I will try to take my own advice.

  

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• dairygirl19 member

  January 2013

  It's pretty normal.

  She'll grow into it. It'll also ebb and flow. She'll have streaks where she'll down everything in sight for a week and then nothing for 2 more.

  Don't stress or force it. Keep offering and encouraging.

  She's still so little. Toddlers don't take that much food.

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• mrsdugger

  January 2013

  We went through it...and from time to time continue to go through it.  I had to learn the problem was me and not her.  The first step is to chill out It isn't as big a deal as it seems and it's completly normal.  Once I calmed down about it and accepted I was not in charge of how much she consumed life (and especially mealtimes) became a lot more pleasant.

  Here is the advice I got from my ped. and it works for us.

  *Offer the food. All grown up food is fine at 12 mos.  If she wants it she will eat it. 

  *If she doesn't eat anything or appears to hate the specific food you're offering try something else.  At 12 mos it's ok to give a couple options, it won't lead to you being a short order cook.

  *Ignore her and let her do what she's going to do.  Don't praise for eating, beg her to eat, or appear overly interested in her eating. Let her eat to please herself.

  *Offer much smaller portions at a time than she will actually consume. This allows for a sense of accomplishment when she actually finishes. Then you can replenish whatever you'd like her to eat more of.

  *Give her what you know she likes and introduce little twists that she may or may not notice (pesto on her pasta, small veg in her rice etc)

  *Feed her often.  Kid's are grazers and don't like to eat a whole lot in one sitting. Offer small healthy snacks frequently ( we consider veggies a snack...anything small to tide her over is a snack in my book)

  She will eventually start eating a little more, and as you will hear over and over she will not starve herself.  Just be patient and try to realize it's all just part of being 12 mos old. Good luck

  

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• papillon21 member

  January 2013

  Thanks ladies, I feel so much better

  

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• FabulousMrs.P member

  January 2013

  I find its hit or miss with my daughter with eating. If she is teething, then she wants nothing to do with food. If she is feeling well, then she will eat pretty well.

  I have been feeding her snacks in between meals just to try to get some food in her. She loves cheerios, grapes, apples, goldfish, chicken, full fat yogurt, etc. Sometimes it is more like she eats 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones. Sometimes she just doesn't want to eat.
  

   At her 12 month appointment my DD was in 70% for height and 17% for weight. The doctor wasn't concerned. 
  

  After 2 years of TTC, our daughter was born on Oct 31, 2011!
  7lbs 13oz  20 inches long
  
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