if your child was picky at 2.5 y.o. how are they now?

candlequeen · March 2013

I am just wondering if there is light at the end of the picky eating tunnel? We barely get fruits and veggies into our son. He will chew up oranges, and then takes them out of his mouth and puts them back on the plate. He eats better at DC than at home (I work there and I've watched him eat without him knowing). The other night for dinner, he ate whole grain cereal and oranges (as I described above). The pedi doesn't seem concerned. He is 30 lbs. Last night he didn't even want dinner. Does it get better or worse?

LoveEeyore · March 2013

My oldest was always a great eater and now she is pickier. My twins were very picky until right about now, at 3.5. Now they're great and try things- and even like them. They are now developing a taster for Sri Racha- ha!

FWIW- DD#1 is 5 and 33 lbs. My twins are 3.5 and weigh 30 and 31 lbs.

neverblushed · March 2013

Hi -- mom of older kids who were picky eaters chiming in! You're going to hate my answer to this.

My kids were pretty picky at 2.5 but actually got much WORSE, peaking at around 4.5. Both of my kids at age 4 would pretty much only eat: hot dogs, applesauce, scrambled eggs, chicken nuggets, pizza, grilled cheese, and junk food. I mean that's not ALL they would eat, but that's all they ate willingly.

However, keep the faith! Right around age 5, both of my kids started to become increasingly flexible and open-minded about food. They have both continued to become less and less picky as they've grown older. Now, at 8 and 12, they'll eat all kinds of things that used to be on the "yucky" list, such as: most vegetables, fish, salad, chinese food, soups and stews, spicy foods (within reason), sushi, seafood prepared in a variety of ways, food where things are mixed together, food that has weird textures, etc. They're much more open-minded about trying new things, too. Don't get me wrong; they still LOVE chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and pizza, though!.

Just be prepared for it to get worse through the preschool years before it gets better.

memali26 · March 2013

Yep, it gets worse. DD1 was a fantastic eater until about 2-2.5, then she started getting picky. She's now 3, and some days are better than others, but it's still hard getting veggies in her. I am hoping she's over it soon, but I'm not holding my breath

azaretsky · March 2013

My son actually got better with eating!! So, there's clearly hope! He only used to eat chicken broth and the Russian version of meatballs (we're Russian

, but now he's a lot more adventurous. I think that daycare / preschool had a lot to do with that. He saw other kids eat, and so he would try foods that he always refused at home. Just lose hope, keep offering new things to him, multiple times and in some fun or interactive way. For example, my son never ate oatmeal, but then I had him help me make it (e.g., measure out the oats, pour the water, put the butter in, etc.) and he decided to try it and liked it. Good luck!

candlequeen · March 2013

Thanks everyone! Hoping he'll be more open to trying new things one day!

roxy_jj · March 2013

DD was super picky at 2.5 and she's 5 now and is still picky. She is definitely better about trying new things, but will usually only eat a bite or two. She also will eat veggies now and at 2.5 she wouldn't touch a vegetable. The types of foods she'll eat is very limited and it can get pretty frustrating.

ilovemygirls · March 2013

Mine started out eating anything, went through a (long) super picky stage, and now at 5 & 8 they are really pretty good about trying most new things. Younger one is a better eater in general, but they are both pretty good at new stuff. Just keep offering, someday it will get better. And remember that at his age, you need to look at what they're eating over a week, not a day or two. I remember at that stage wondering how they were surviving sometimes, they would ingest so little!

mammamia24 · March 2013

DS will be 5 on wed and he's still a very picky eater. I give him the pediasure shakes once a day for a snack to make sure he's getting good nutrients. I try to remember to give him a multivitamin before bed too.

SportyChic24 · March 2013

My DD has been picky since about 1 / 1.5 yrs. and she still is. This is just a concidence but at 9 months she got the rotavirus and would not eat anything she had been eating before. It has been rather fustrating and I keep hoping it will get better. Some days now it is but most it is not (she just turned 4) She ate her potatoes, steak, corn and asked for more potates last night and I thought she was sick! As everybody keeps saying just keep offering new foods and one day your LO will try it. I have let her decide on what is for dinner 2 or 3 days of the week and it has helped a little as well.

candlequeen · March 2013

ilovemygirls:
Mine started out eating anything, went through a (long) super picky stage, and now at 5 & 8 they are really pretty good about trying most new things. Younger one is a better eater in general, but they are both pretty good at new stuff. Just keep offering, someday it will get better. And remember that at his age, you need to look at what they're eating over a week, not a day or two. I remember at that stage wondering how they were surviving sometimes, they would ingest so little!

this is exactly how I feel. I know he's growing but I don't know how! lol

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