Mumsnet Talk

Hi,
I'm after any advice you can give. My 15 month old used to eat everything I gave him until just recently. He now only seems to want to eat food that he can feed himself. What can I give him that's easy to eat and not too messy? Also, he seems to want to take food off our plates when we eat, even if he's had all his meal - any suggestions?
Thanks

'Sticky' foods are good because they don't fall off the spoon.... macaroni and other things in cheese sauce, for example. Things he can spear with a fork are also good... pieces of sausage, potato wedges etc. And finger foods can be anything at all... crusty bread with spreads on top, cooked/raw vegetables, whole new potatoes, wedges of cheese. Discourage him from taking food off your plate.

Thank you. Spend my entire life trying of think of food his elder sister will eat. Life is a constant menu plan!

If he's trying to get food off your plate when he's eaten...maybe he's still hungry? Or just wants to join in, are you all eating the same thing?

If appropriate food, offer him some, but on his own plate/bowl. But as Cogito says, you give it to him, don't let him take it

Think he wants to join in. He doen't seem to have a full button when it comes to food, he eats more than his 5 year old sister most days. We try to eat together as a family as much as possible.

Red, if he wants the food you are eating and wants to feed himself, have you had a look at the Baby Led Weaning recipes? He can have pretty much what you eat, spag bol, roast dinners etc as long as you watch the salt levels. You can get low salt stock cubes from most places now though.

has some great recipes for babies and toddlers too.

If the mess is a problem then putting a cheap shower curtain under his high chair may help.

To be honest though from what you've posted it seems like he can easily be sorted, its your DD that sounds like the problem.

He's started refusing things he used to wolf down, which is frustrating. Am trying to mix food he can hold and things he needs some help with like pasta in tomato sauce. Trouble is, he can't be left too much to his own devices as he just stuffs his mouth until it bursts and then can't swallow it all!
Also don't think he likes the high chair much and am thinking of feeding him on the floor until I can get a little table for him so that he is free to move round?
Have made tiny progress with DD since starting to reward every time she tries a new food, no matter how small the amount. She ate 5 sweetcorn pieces and 5 peas yesterday and liked them!!!!

My 13 month old refuses to be fed by me at all!

My number one discovery has been quail's eggs; they take 3 minutes to boil and are toddler sized. It may sound like an extravagance but one tray of 12 lasts a week and never fails to please.

Think refusing foods you once wolfed down sounds like normal child behaviour to me, sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear Red. Does he have a highchair with a tray? If he's not keen on that one maybe trying one of the highchairs that doesn't have a tray might help. I think Argos have a travel one that you can use with or without the tray and I know my SIL found it helpful with her two.

Well done with your DD .

Yes, use a travel one and am going to remove tray so he's at the table. Tea went well today after disastrous lunch. Seems to work if I mix finger food with other food he likes but needs help with. Was hoping not to have both my children as fussy eaters....no idea what we've done. We grown ups love our food! Eat wide range etc.....
Thank you Teresa for the quail eggs, may give it a try.
DD ate 6 each of sweetcorn and peas-very happy!