At my wits end with non eating 16 month old

[Eminybob]

Can anyone please provide some words of wisdom, I'm in a constant 3 times a day battle with my DS and food.

He's had a cold for the last few days so is literally refusing to eat most things but even when he's well he's rubbish and I never know what he's going to like from one day to the next. He throws more on the floor than he eats, refuses any veg and most meat. He will eat most fruit but even then sometimes he's hit and miss. Previous favourites like sweet potato and eggs are being refused recently too. He's had strops, tears, the works when I've tried to get him to eat.

The most annoying thing is when he's at nursery 2 days a week they always say he's eaten really well, including veg and even while he's not been well.

I've tried letting him feed himself with hands, with his own spoon and fork (as they do at nursery) and tried spoon feeding him but no joy.

We did blw which was ok but I did find it stressful, we have had the odd week where he's been really good and eats anything and I think he's turned a corner then we are back to this. I'm worried now he's started to lose weight (admittedly more so since he's had this cold so to be more expected)

Any wise words please? I'm sooooo frustrated.

[Etak15]

I had this with dd2 - she ate nothing and I mean absolutely nothing till she was 18 months maybe bit older. she was ebf but would drink cows milk in a bottle from 11 months ish when I returned to work, seemed to just prefer bf when I was around to anything else, when she stopped bf she started eating - and she's never stopped since! She will try anything and eats a varied diet. So I know it's hard - but don't worry about it.

[Eminybob]

Thank you. I keep telling myself that this too shall pass and he'll eat it he's hungry but I can't help but worry. He seems fine in himself generally, he just doesn't seem hungry ever.

[Eminybob]

Anyone else go any ideas on what I can do? Just had another battle

[Kanga59]

I wouldn't worry too much and wouldn't relax your thinking about food and eating. If he is eating well at nursery then we know he can do it and he will do it for you in his own time. If you're still bf this could explain a lot. He will be getting all his vitamins and a lot of protein for growth in the breast milk. Hence he's choosing fatty food to eat by mouth when he is with you.

What about trying some milkshakes. Banana, avocado, almond milk, will provide a good balance of nutrients and flavour.

I personally would present him with the food that you have chosen for him, and let him take it or leave it. Milk in the morning and evening. No snacks, just meals.

This website was recommended by my dietician and I found it very informative.

www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/

The general upshot is that our job as parents is to select and provide the food. It is the child's responsibility to eat it or not. We shouldn't apply pressure or have an opinion on what the child chooses to do.