Can we talk about meal time?

Litgirl77 · December 2013

Sam was always a really good eater when it came to purees and finger foods, and now all of a sudden he is super picky. I get that this is probably normal as babies become toddlers, but he's starting to have full out tantrums almost every meal time. Last night, he freaked out because he put a green bean in his mouth (no idea why - he put it in there and then just started crying hysterically). The night before, he was eating green beans like they were going out of style.

This happens with a variety of foods randomly. One day he loves it, the next, it's like he stuck soap in his own mouth. And the sippy cup - dear God, don't get me started on the sippy cup! He has figured out how to hold it himself, but he gets super frustrated with it and freaks out if I try to offer it to him.

I feel like the kid is barely eating anything anymore. I know food before a year is just for practice, and he's still doing 24-28 oz of formula a day so that's his main source of nutrition. But we're getting closer to the 1 year mark and I'm nervous that he's becoming a mealtime disaster. Is this pretty normal behavior or something I should worry about?

Also, my whole meal time approach has been to offer a variety of foods - if he eats them, great; if not, then I don't really offer other stuff because I don't want to fall into the trap of him holding of for the stuff he likes. The kid would subsist completely on noodles and toast if I let him. Good plan? Or other suggestions?

nanabanana06 · December 2013

It's normal. Kids go through phases. I'd keep offering variety of foods at every meal. At this age it should be 3 meals and 2 snacks daily. We offer and once he's done, he's done and we don't push it.

kjsmith9 · December 2013

Yeah DD randomly flips out during meals too. We usually try to distract her for a minute or two, because she often will go back to eating if she can pull herself together. But like Nana said, if she's done, she's done - we don't force it. They'll eat if they're hungry.

TheEditor · December 2013

Litgirl77, I could have written your post word for word, including the part about toast and noodles. Thanksgiving dinner favorites? Nope, not for our LO. Grandpa offers noodles? Yay!

We've decided to just go with the flow. If he eats, great. If he doesn't eat, he's getting other foods throughout the day. I don't like that as much, but I'm not going to force-feed him like my parents did to us. I'd prefer he grow up with a healthy relationship with food.

So no advice, just sympathy. It's frustrating.

Litgirl77 · December 2013

Thank you ladies - it's good to know I'm not alone!

This morning he refused bananas...maybe he's just practicing having an opinion? LOL.

jsoubel · December 2013

I feel like DD is just going through a fussy phase right now with everything, including eating. Sometimes she just melts down. The other day, I took her back out of her high chair, waited 15 minutes, put her back in and she gobbled all of her food up. Who knows! I just try to be patient and figure, like PP said, she'll eat if she's hungry.

peacelove&mama · December 2013

The other night, DS2 put a piece of broccoli in his mouth and had a meltdown. He wouldn't eat anymore until I took all the broccoli off his tray, then he happily finished his chicken, potatoes, cauliflower and carrots. The next day, I gave him broccoli at lunch, and he double fisted it. Just keep offering, kids are weird.

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