Weaning 14 month twins issues...

[LadyLourdy]

Hi there, so I have 14 month old twins and have had my fair share of ups and downs during the weaning process but all was going really well until the last 2 weeks. I am now at loggerheads with them both. They don't want to be spoon fed wet food any more (unless it's lasagna or fromage frais!) and my twin son isn't great at finger food meals unless it's something he absolutely loves like raisins or satsumas. My twin daughter has a crying tantrum pretty much every time I put her in her high chair as she thinks I am going to come at her with a spoon, and as I leave her to her own devices she eats tiny amounts before she gives up. Any practical advice like do I just leave them to not eat or try a million different options every meal time? Is this a phase? Is it because they are frustrated? Do I give them snacks in between mealtimes or should I not? Can anyone recommend a book that will make my meal times a pleasant experience???? Any advice will be hugely appreciated!!

[MilkRunningOutAgain]

Well, I wouldn't give lots of choices, I think that route leads to having a fussy toddler and makes lots of waste. I'd serve up their usual meal and leave them to it and clear up when they get frustrated or finish. If they don't want help feeding, let them manage by themselves, though I expect that will be messy! I did generally give small snacks mid way ish between meals at that age, fruit, rice cakes or breadsticks usually, plus a drink of water. If they don't eat at one meal, they are likely to eat more at the next. I'm not sure about books, perhaps someone else can advise, I think the best thing at meal times is to take all the pressure off and not to react whether they eat up or refuse and just keep calm. Though I did always take them out their high chairs and end a meal if they started food throwing, which did work and stopped them throwing quite quickly.

[LadyLourdy]

Thank you.... I get so worried if they don't have full tummies that I end up going mad trying to figure out alternatives. They are at such a funny stage at the moment. But I will definitely try just giving them one meal and not preparing a variety of meals for them if they don't eat the first. Thanks for the advice!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Great advice on here already, just wanted to recommend My Child Won't Eat by Carlos Gonzalez. How are things going now? Has there been any improvement?

[ceeveebee]

Have you tried letting them hold the spoon?
I also have 14 mo twins and since Christmas my DTD has refused to let me put any spoon in her mouth except yoghurt, she wants to feed herself. I load the spoon and keep a guiding hand on it - although after a couple if weeks she's now putting it in her mouth without too much spillage except flicking at her brother when she gets bored

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

I run a multiple spoon programme with my DTs (now 16mo) - they each have one, I have at least one, and they dig in/wave theirs around, while I shovel it in alternate mouths either from a shared bowl I hold, or one on each of their trays.

Tommee Tippee sucker things buy you a bit of time for sticking plates and bowls on the high chair. I am also very relaxed about reserving things that have hit the floor once (it's all good germs, right?!). I just bought some curved metal spoons and fork sets from Boots which help them angle the cutlery into their mouths and have been quite a hit.


It is bloody messy weaning twins though, because you can bet that once your attention is on one the other is wearing porridge on their head.

Mine seemed really slow to get finger food but now they do probably half of breakfast (toast, fruit etc), all of lunch (sandwiches, tomatoes, cheese sticks etc) and some of dinner themselves. I give them something like a couple of rice cakes/breadsticks to nibble on as soon as they go into their chairs to buy me some time checking the temp of food, dishing up etc Then they also get fruit, raisins etc at the end of meals while I clear up. Dishing out a small packet of raisins bit by bit can take ages if you try hard enough!

When I have the energy, I strip them naked and let them just work their way through their 'wet' dinners themselves too - not if they're tired or starving hungry though as then theyre likely to get frustrated. Yoghurt I normally get the majority of it into them using the multiple spoon thing, then give them the pots and a spoon each and run for cover.

Good luck!

[PrincessMononoke]

I just gave my 2 what we were having, slopped on to their tray. It is very messy but that's half the fun.
Have you tried having carpet picnics or something similar to make food and meal times informal and fun ?
They could well be teething or off colour, my 2 often went through phases of being off their food.

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

Sorry, got my time frames muddled up. I meant that was what I was doing a couple of months ago, now they can manage most meals themselves as long as we're not in public, or they're not famished/grumpy. So if you can get them used to manhandling spoons and forks it will all change quite quickly for hte better.

[PrincessMononoke]

Sorry by informal I mean more relaxed, if they have started to feel stressed at meal times.