To feed toddler this way?

[ScarlettScout]

Hi everyone, I had a friend comment on this and I know I shouldn’t listen but I’d just like a little reassurance if it’s wrong or not.

I have a 16 month old who is constantly eating which is why friend pointed it out but here’s the thing. She won’t eat meals if they’re a mixture of foods on one plate. So say it’s a sandwich, bread with ham on and cheese on the side, shell only focus on the cheese.

Therefore I only give her small snacks, one at a time over say an hour or so as she’ll only eat one type of food at a time. For example today, she woke up and had ham rolled up, 20 Mins later had cheese cubes.

Once she’s confident with a fork (getting there) I’ll try more to encourage proper dinners but at the minute this is what works. I feel like a bad mum

With usual toddler twattishness about food so long as the day/week are vaguely balanced and child is satisfied a fed child is a win!

Don't feel like a bad mum! This sounds normal to me (in my somewhat united experience with two children). I think it's too early to worry about it meaning anything and I agree with PP about toddler twattishness and the struggle to get them to eat. I used to dread mealtimes (and bedtime! ) but it has got easier. What was the advice of your lovely and helpful friend?

*limited experience

I disagree with the other replies i think it's important to have regular mealtimes and not encourage constant feeding or snacking. I do get kids can be fussy but IME if they are consistently offered a variety of foods when hungry they will usually have a bit of what's offered even if they focus on the bit they like more. I think but allowing grazing your child won't ever be hungry so can afford to be a bit more picky. What's milk intake like? I'd also reduce milk if they are having lots and focus more on the food.

I’d just crack on with what works this week/today/5 minutes because it’ll all change anyway.

A close friend of mine , and one of her children both graze through the day. Meals don’t work for them, they find them hard to digest and are overwhelmed by the amount. They are just little and often people.

It’s such an individual thing,

Try giving 3 separate bowls at the same time. One with ham, one cheese and one bread. See what happens. She’s may eat all the cheese, then all the ham etc. I wouldn’t be stretching her eating out at 20 minute intervals.

All my kids have been grazers rather than 3 set meal types... as they've gotten older they've been more settled to it but still graze throughout the day

My two year old use to be like this, teen she suddenly started eating sandwiches, keep trying occasionally and offer snacks on side x

Zippidoos suggestion is a good one. The foods you would give her in an hour on seperate plates but served together.
If that seems overwhelming for her, put all the plates on the table but one of them in front and switch it when she's finished with that one.
She's eating a meal at meal time, but on her terms so its not overwhelming.
As things get better (over months) gradually move things closer together, 1st in plates then eventually same plate but not touching, with clear space around the piles.
If that doesn't work, don't stress, she's eating which means you're winning and continue as you are already.

Have you tried a plate split into compartments? Like this sort of thing:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XCLDCTS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ref=plSrch&keywords=compartment+plates+for+kids&dpPl=1&dpID=51nbMpmzV2L&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1530452854&sr=8-3

Or several small plates at meal times?

There’s lots of things that I’ve said I wouldn’t do before having children and when my DD ate well I used to say it was because I’d got her in good habits etc.
Now she’s become quite tricky about food I just focus on whatever works to get her to eat and trying not to become stressed or make her stressed about it.
My DD is the opposite and seems to do better having a wide variety of food on her high chair, sometimes she’ll eat something sweet then go back to savoury. I ignore any comments about it as she’s eating and getting a decent variety

As long as you get food in her I'd consider it a win.
My kids can't handle more then one or two things in front of them at a time so I make a plate of their lunch then individually pass them a piece when they are ready. Takes a bit longer but at least they eat it all.

Food should be enjoyable for everyone. If your (very young) child prefers to eat that way then let him. It will soon change and trying to make them do different will only cause him and yourself stress.

Agree with responses about smaller meals or separate them out into individual dishes.

My nephew is a constant snacker and his dentist advised that his enamel isnt getting a chance to recover hence the fillings. Its not even crap he eats. He is 4

Food and how they eat it is about the one thing children that age have any control over.

I've watched toddler DD and other friends' similarly aged children go through various phases of eating. That's just what they are, phases and you just have to ride each one out and not make a big deal of it.

It's worth trying the suggestions other posters have made though about separate compartments etc though as it sounds like the current phase is a bit time consuming?

Have you got a cupcake tin or bun tin? Put little bits in different compartments - you don't need to buy anything special

She's 16 months. Plenty of time to sit round and have family meals.

Feed her how you can. Long as she's eating, no big deal