15 month old now refusing food....

[silverspider05]

My DS is 15th months. I stopped breastfeesing at 12 months, he has about 7oz whole cows milk before bed and again at around 5am. Was having breakfast lunch and dinner of solids, basically whatever we are having. He is now over the past few weeks refusing to eat a lot of things apart from his 'favourites' that he is only meant to have as a snack/treat not as a main meal; i.e. crisps, biscuits and yoghurt. He even used to love peas and he won't really eat those anymore. I am trying to offer any of his treats only as a last resort but i am worried he is not getting enough food in him, and at the same time i don't want him to think that if he refuses everything else he will get what he wants in the end? I am wasting so much food offering him loads of different things all the time that just end up getting binned. I eat the same things as he does so he can see that i am eating it too and even offer him my stuff but it's a nope. Anyone else had this?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes, I’ve had this and here’s my best advice

Give him what you are having.
Cut down on snacks so that he’s genuinely hungry.
Don’t offer any alternatives, ever.
Put one thing on his plate that you know he’ll like, like the peas, so at least you know there is something he will eat.
Leave it until after about 10 minutes after you’ve finished and if he’s not eating, clear away.
Benignly ignore any protests.

There’s some good tips in this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust. It also shows what sort of portions and foods to aim for.

Good luck

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

OH and definitely stop the biscuits and yoghurt, unless it’s natural yoghurt that is

[silverspider05]

Yeah the yoghurt is natural. So basically carry on giving him what we are having and ride it out, and no biscuits at all (he would only have one maybe every other day or so normally, but will stop that now!) Thank you ☺

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry if it’s not what you wanted to hear. Did you find the guide useful?

[JenniferTa]

If you're worried that he doesn't get enough vitamins and minerals you could mix nutrigen vitamixin sprinkles into his yoghurt. They really don't change the taste of the food. I realise that it doesn't solve the problem entirely, but it could at least weigh up for a lack of a varied diet.

[Owletterocks]

I agree with jiltedjohnsjulie keep giving him the same as you with something he will eat on the side. I remember crying over my ds’s eating at that age I was so worried. As long as he is happy and has plenty of energy he will be getting enough. My ds is now 6 and still has times when he doesn’t eat much and then you can’t fill him on other days.