How early does 'fussiness' start?

[Sixofone]

And should I indulge my underweight (18lbs) almost 12 month old???

She will eat a tiny amount of finger food (bits of cheese, fruit, or crispy things like bread sticks and rice cakes) but not meat, veggies unless it's peas, or anything else, including toast and bread.

She is more likely to eat savoury jar food than home-cooked (can't remember when she last ate anything I'd made) and even then only if it's stage 2 (she won't do lumpy food). This is getting very diffcult at nursery.

Things she WILL eat: fruit, yoghurts, milk, puddings. Weetabix.

I really don't want to get into a pattern when she holds out for sweet food and is given it, but she is all skin and bone and not giving her her pudding doesn't seem to be a viable option.

It's driving me nuts!! Any advice? x

[elsieanjoanne]

keep trying offer her what you are eating! i put a portion for my dd 1soon on my plate knowing she will eat it thinking its mine!
try not giving her a sweet as she knows she getting something nice for not eating i very rarely give dd a sweet if she has not eated as if she hungry she wil eat what you offering!

[ruddynorah]

try cheese sauce on veg. keep the veg chunky so she can pick it up. think cauliflower cheese.

[belgo]

Has she been diagnosed as being underweight? If so, maybe she needs to see a paediatrician?

The food you descibe that she eats is actually reasonably good.

Carry on offering her the finger foods, and what you are eating.

Try and keep mealtimes stress free and relaxed, and be careful that she doesn't get full up on snacks.

Eating fussiness often goes in phases IME, and you'll probably find in a couple of months her eating habits will change.

Both my dds were low weight at this age (DD1 18lbs; DD2 16lbs), but growth spurts at around 18 months of age have made them both put on weight.

[Sixofone]

Hi, thanks for the advice and especially the reassurance! She hasn't had an official diagnosis, the HV says that as long as she is developing normally (which she is) then they are not normally concerned about weight. She has got 12 month long legs, but a 6 month size stomach with no fat on it at all!

Not her with a baby that clamps their mouth shut when you put any 'proper' food near it tho!

I suppose the weight is an issue for me, but I am more concerned that I'm starting her into bad habits very early and am actively encouraging her to be fussy.

The difficulty with not offering her any dessert is that she'll stop eating, but I know she will eat more if I give her something sweet, so I do because I want to make sure she gets enough, and that's the bit that's driving me nuts!

Thanks Belgo for the reassurance, I suppose you tend to look at what you're NOT doing rather than what you ARE doing. I'm also making up a batch of cheese sauce and freezing it so I've got it to hand for adding to those veggies!

[redbeki]

Maybe concentrate on what she will eat for now,and not what she doesn't.
If you are aware of bad eating habits ,then you can be conscious of it.If she only eats a few things,make sure they are the best quality,organic if poss foods you can give.

[belgo]

carry on offering dessert, she needs the calories at this age.

Agree about good quality food.

[ruddynorah]

don't try to put the 'proper' food anywhere near her mouth. just put it on her tray as you're eating some and let her play with it. then she isn;t having to clamp her mouth as you say.

[oaktree]

me too!! dd is 11 months & a very determined little madam. will eat ......weetabix, fruit puree toast & rice cakes. nothing else at the oment for the last week. just sits in her high chair & screams.
lentil wedges from BLW website.. screamed.
gievnher own spoon... screamed.
finger foods - frozen veg, cut up sauasge.. screamed.
mummy trying to get sppon in mouth whist distracting her.......more screaming.
am at my wits end. she is only 18.5 lb & non too keen on milk either - that almost has to be forced in too.after a 30minute screaming seesion at teatime today i feel ready to scream myslef.!!!

[elsieanjoanne]

my step sister used to give my nephew spoon pudd spoon savory spoon pudd that worked for her!

[ruddynorah]

oaktree- try a picnic tea instead. ditch the highchair for a while.

[Sixofone]

OH phew. Thank the Lord it's not just me! that's partly why I love MN so ruddy much!!

We had another tricky day. 1/2 a weetabix (I always use Jersey cream milk now) for breakfast, 1/2 Rachels yoghurt for lunch, 1/4 babybel, a whole tablespoon's worth of frozen blueberries. Wouldn't eat the savoury food, any bread, her avocado. Tea - half a jar of organic egg custard as refused savoury food AND home-made egg custard AND finger food. However she has also had 18oz milk split over 3 bottles, so there's a good few cals there.

I am beginning to see a dairy pattern emerging.....As you say Belgo, I have decided that it's probably better to give her whatever she'll eat - she is still little, and worry about the sweet thing when she's a little older Thanks heaps - Oaktree, if you want to swap horror stories, PM me? x

[oaktree]

yep that's why I love MN too!! where did you buy egg custard? I gave her custard tonight but it was horrible bright yellow stuff.
so today she's had half a weetabix, a tablespoon of veg & cheese sauce, teh thinnest slice of apple ever, a few rice cakes, a teaspoon of lentils and about 2 tbs banana & custard. Iam just so temtped to give up on cooking & finger food altogether adn buy jars - far less effort & certainly less soul destroying!

picnic idea not really an option for us as have wilful 3 year old to feed at same time.

[oaktree]

yep that's why I love MN too!! where did you buy egg custard? I gave her custard tonight but it was horrible bright yellow stuff.
so today she's had half a weetabix, a tablespoon of veg & cheese sauce, teh thinnest slice of apple ever, a few rice cakes, a teaspoon of lentils and about 2 tbs banana & custard. Iam just so temtped to give up on cooking & finger food altogether adn buy jars - far less effort & certainly less soul destroying!

picnic idea not really an option for us as have wilful 3 year old to feed at same time.

[Twinklemegan]

How long does fussiness last, does anyone know? My 10 month old used to be brilliant with food and eat anything. Now he's really stubborn. He loves brocolli but won't eat it. I had to give him his favourite soup out of a cup at lunchtime because he wouldn't be spoonfed. Everything goes on the floor after a few measly mouthfuls. GRRR