Help! My 10mo has turned into a grazer...

[Gloria42]

DS used to wolf down plates of food I'd made for him (purees at first then mashed), now he barely picks at them before turning his head away. He used to love pasta stars and sauce, but not any more

There's nothing wrong with his appetite as he will graze all day long on bits of banana, toast, biscottti, and don't get me started on the joys of Organix corn puffs, but I'm running out of ideas for more healthy stuff to give him. He seems to eat constantly but no proper meals like before. Any suggestions?

In the past he had a really strong gag reflex with big bits of toast etc which lead to many meals vom-ed up all over the floor but he seems to be getting past this now, it's just me that neds to get more confident!

[forkhandles]

bumping for you

[Jojay]

TBH, he's probably not that hungry at mealtimes because of all the snacks he's having.

I think I'd try and be strong willed and hold back on the snacks until he's back on track again.

Make a few meals that he has enjoyed before, and back off with the snacks, and I'm sure he'll be back on track soon (I sound optimistic don't I ?!)

[gigglewitch]

suppose you have to decide whether to leave him doing his 'grazing' thing for a while longer (and i don't suppose a ten-month-old is doing any of this to be "awkward" as it were), just let him get over his worries of being sick and then start reducing the snacks for an hour or two before meal times and increasing his meal portions.
My DS2 and DD are rubbish lunch-eaters and i find that giving them small amounts of a variety of things - a small sandwich, rice cake, few crisps, few grapes and a yogurt works well.
They don't get to snack between 3.30 and their evening meal which is 5pm or 5.30, though my lot love anything potato(!)mash, chips,potato cakes, roasties, and vegetables, so whatever goes with it is usually eaten. yes it is wierd but hey who cares

[Gloria42]

Thanks for your comments.
I don't want you to think I feed him snacks all day long, what I meant was that (as a panicky first time mum) when he refuses to eat the "proper" food at meal times, I'm so eager to get something into him that I resort to things I know he will always take.

[Jojay]

Firstly, I would try not to worry about the amount of food he eats - I know that's easier said than done, but as long as he still drinks a fair quantity of milk, he'll get all he needs from that - food is just experimentation at that age.

Does he dislike being fed from a spoon?

Does he do better when he can feed himself?

Maybe he'd do better on food that's not chopped so small, so he can pick chunks up and eat it himslef?

I've heard of a few babies who won't eat lumps within a puree type meal, but will happily eat finger food.

If that's the case, maybe try looking at his food a bit differently. I make my ds a ratatouille, with aubergine, courgette and peppers and a tin of tomatoes and a few herbs and garlic and he loves it. The chunks are big enough for him to pick up and eat, but soft and easily chewable.

Other things that he likes are adult sized pasta with pesto or other sauces, skinless sausages sliced lengthways, fishcakes broken into chunks, little sandwiches etc etc.

My ds is 11 months and has recently really gone off jars and mashed food, and eats much more 'proper' food now - maybe give it a go with your ds too??

HTH and good luck!!