September 2015 Moms
lmbrandt
member
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Picky Eater
lmbrandt
member
Our son is 10.5 months, and his eating seems to be all over the place. Overall, I'd say he's a pretty picky eater. One day he decided he no longer wanted any purees on a spoon, this went on for a good two weeks. But, he would suck puree out of a pouch. I figured he was ready to feed himself, and offered more finger foods.
Problem is, I put finger foods down and he will eat some, but mostly plays with it, drops it onto the floor piece by piece, etc.
He is no longer protesting the spoon as badly, but some meals I have to totally distract him by tickling his feet or legs while trying to spoon feed him!
Things he loves: cheerios, puffs, yogurt chips, havarti cheese, blueberries, bananas, strawberries (sometimes), waffles, some breads, most purees (veggie or fruit) in a pouch
Chunks of food we try ALL the time, but he will hardly eat OR completely refuses: chicken chunks, peas, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, noodles, avocado (sometimes), squash, etc.
I go through this every day, put it down on his tray, he may take one taste and then just sits there and fusses after awhile, or will start dropping the food onto the floor. I feel like he is so stubborn sometimes he would just sit there and refuse to eat. Eventually I give in, and offer something I know for sure he will eat. Like a puree pouch, or some yogurt.
What do you ladies do when your LO refuses the food? Is that all you offer and don't give them other options? Am I giving in too soon and offering things I know he likes, so he just waits for it?
It can just be SO frustrating...never thought eating would cause such stress sometimes! I figured after I offered each food several times he would get used to it, but for the most part he isn't willing to try it, or does and then gets upset. I was hoping at 10.5 months he'd be eating more of the food we eat at meals, just baby friendly versions.
Problem is, I put finger foods down and he will eat some, but mostly plays with it, drops it onto the floor piece by piece, etc.
He is no longer protesting the spoon as badly, but some meals I have to totally distract him by tickling his feet or legs while trying to spoon feed him!
Things he loves: cheerios, puffs, yogurt chips, havarti cheese, blueberries, bananas, strawberries (sometimes), waffles, some breads, most purees (veggie or fruit) in a pouch
Chunks of food we try ALL the time, but he will hardly eat OR completely refuses: chicken chunks, peas, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, noodles, avocado (sometimes), squash, etc.
I go through this every day, put it down on his tray, he may take one taste and then just sits there and fusses after awhile, or will start dropping the food onto the floor. I feel like he is so stubborn sometimes he would just sit there and refuse to eat. Eventually I give in, and offer something I know for sure he will eat. Like a puree pouch, or some yogurt.
What do you ladies do when your LO refuses the food? Is that all you offer and don't give them other options? Am I giving in too soon and offering things I know he likes, so he just waits for it?
It can just be SO frustrating...never thought eating would cause such stress sometimes! I figured after I offered each food several times he would get used to it, but for the most part he isn't willing to try it, or does and then gets upset. I was hoping at 10.5 months he'd be eating more of the food we eat at meals, just baby friendly versions.
Re: Picky Eater
I have a picky toddler in my dayhome, and he doesn't starve. Kids eventually eat the least objectionable items... he's also a big guy (34lbs at 15mo) so I've completely cut out the junk he likes at home (cereal, crackers, etc) to encourage balanced eating. I seat him first, and give the veg or fruit, then when everyone else is seated and served I go back and serve him the other half of his snack (like bread or cheese) or the rest of his meal. By that time he's usually eaten what I gave him first.
Everything I've read and everything my very experienced friends and our occupational therapist says that this is normal for toddlers and not to make a big deal out of it and basically go with the flow and eventually they grow out of it. My DH was super picky as a kid, even when I met him, he had a long list of food he didn't like, but he eats most of that stuff now.