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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for advice on my 13 month olds diet?

61 replies

Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 16:51

She doesn’t seem to eat very well at all and it’s worrying me now she’s no longer really taking formula.

She eats porridge for breakfast, and sometimes a yoghurt.

At lunch time I made her a ham and cheese toastie, she ate a few bits of ham and refused the rest. Then she had a fruit pouch. She ate some of DHs pizza.

Then for dinner a bit of spaghetti.

Can anyone give me any pointers? She doesn’t seem to have a very varied diet.

OP posts:
Hospedia · 28/12/2021 18:18

At this age I'd offer her a mix of whatever you're having alongside stuff made specifically for her (e.g., the food ideas provided in the thread), you can leave gravies/sauces off her portion if they're too salty or too spicy.

At every meal try to offer 1-2 foods that you know she will almost definitely eat so there is never nothing for her to eat. Don't fuss or worry over refused foods, just take them away without comment and offer them again at some point in the future - toddlers can reject new foods multiple times before eventually trying them.

Give her a good multivitamin every day, one with iron.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:22

She eats such tiny amounts though. Honestly at lunch today she maybe had half a slice of ham, that was despite me offering her other things.

That’s a really good tip re the courgette, thanks.

OP posts:
shouldistop · 28/12/2021 18:24

My 12 month old some days eats tiny amounts like that. I'm still breastfeeding him twice a day though so I wonder if he's drinking tonnes of milk. Plan to cut him down to one feed a day soon.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:25

I wouldn’t worry if breastfed as so much goodness in it.

OP posts:
Justgettingbye · 28/12/2021 18:26

The food thing is hard! I remember with my first I fretted so much over it and it felt like everyone else's children had these wide/extensive diets. Now I've got 2 and the first one is older it's much easier.
I take the view I offer them what I can and try and make it as varied as I can and they will eat it or not and will find their favourites. My first was probably 3 1/2 before she properly turned a corner with it all. I don't think before then she was interested in food. I hope it works out for you

Uniforn · 28/12/2021 18:27

She might just be more of a snacker and prefer smaller portions but more regularly. Could you do half the amount of porridge and perhaps a banana/apple/satsuma with it, cucumber sticks or something mid morning (helps when they're teething too as they're nice and cool on their gums/teeth), and then half a sarnie for lunch- DS used to love soft cheese on white bread, something mid afternoon and then a bit of what you're having for dinner? Could leave out the salty bits and sub for something else maybe? They usually eat what they need, if it's not at mealtimes as such but throughout the day I wouldn't worry- but of course if concerned speak with the HV.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:28

Thank you, that reassures me. I feel like you, like other babies a similar age are eating proper meals!

OP posts:
Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:30

Yeah she likes cucumber but often sucks on it and then throws it, I don’t mind that as I assume she still gets some goodness. Thanks, this is all very helpful.

OP posts:
shouldistop · 28/12/2021 18:33

Try plum tomatoes cut lengthwise. They're popular here with my 5yo and 1yo.

AliasGrape · 28/12/2021 18:35

@Starryspacetrip

She eats such tiny amounts though. Honestly at lunch today she maybe had half a slice of ham, that was despite me offering her other things.

That’s a really good tip re the courgette, thanks.

I'd she still having any milk? We did (cows milk) bottles first and last thing for a while after one just because she Still.seemed to need them and wouldn't take a cup, dropped the morning one about 14 months and the nighttime one a bit later, I offer her a cup of milk now but hit and miss whether she will drink it.

If tiny amounts I'd really focus on adding as many nutrients as you can to what she does eat like the stuff I posted before - nut butters are good for that. You can stir them into stews and stuff as well as cereal, or into plain yoghurt. And if your DH eats really can't expand his diet then maybe leave him to it but make sure you with your dd as often as you can and model good habits for her.

Is she flowing her centiles for height and weight and otherwise healthy? If so then do.try to take the pressure off yourself a little because they do pick up on it

Also does she go to any childcare? They often eat far better there than at home for some reason! (Again j tbink often because they see others eating and also there's not so much individual focus on them so the pressure is off a bit)

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:37

She eats much better at nursery!

Her centiles are spot on so reassuring. She won’t drink cows milk so she is on the toddler milk - cow and gate.

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 28/12/2021 18:38

Sorry for the awful.typos my phone is on its way out and I've got a toddler on my knee!

WotsitMum · 28/12/2021 18:42

@Starryspacetrip my 13 month old is very simular. Ive allways offered him fruit and veg yet it allways ends up on the floor. His daily diet consists of blueberry wheats for breakfast, for lunch a jam sandwich (most the time he sucks off the jam and eats a small amount of bread) a bag of wotsits (he loves wotsits!) A yogurt and a fruit pouch, id offer some kind of friut such as banana, apple, blueberries but they allways end up on the floor, i offer the friut first and throughout and he imediatley chucks it on the floor, dosent go near his mouth. Dinner varies, i offer what im eating then if he dosent eat it i would give him a jar or pouch so hes actually eating somthing. Hes a huge fan of cheese, i found that he wount eat veg on its own but if i mix it into a cheese sauce he will eat it. He eats the mince in cottage pie but will spit out the veg thats mixed in, but i keep trying, i dont not offer it because he didnt like it last time. He loves spinach ravioli so we have that regulary. Im hoping its a phase and he will grow out of this fussyness, some days he will flat out refuse all food, even the food i know he likes that he ate just the day before

Lifeisnteasy · 28/12/2021 18:43

Sounds okay to me OP. If she’s underweight by all means visit GP, but she’s eating meat, dairy, fruit, carbs. If not in great quantities, but she’s getting the main food groups. You’re doing a good job.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:44

You’ve been really helpful AliasGrape I really do appreciate it.

Wotsit I know … I want him to eat loads of fruit and veg and protein but when they won’t eat it nightmare.

OP posts:
WreathSupreme · 28/12/2021 18:50

@Hospedia

Your dh needs to suck it up and be a better example to his children by eating a healthy varied diet.

Depends why he's s fussy eater, sometimes it's not as simple as "suck it up".

Her dh might not be able to “suck it up” overnight but I believe people are capable of overcoming fussiness if they try. Therapy could help him if he’s got ARFID or genuine food phobias. I used to be very fussy. I have autism and I had 2 different EDs. I now eat a healthy varied diet.

Sorry to derail thread op.

What about wholemeal pitta, tomato purée, veg and meat (that isn’t ham or sausage) for a quick homemade “pizza.” You can get dc involved, asking her to pass things to you. Or get her to arrange the veg on top in pretty patterns or shapes.
Broccoli is one of my favourite foods now. I love a broccoli cauliflower macaroni cheese dinner. Make it extra extra cheesy if you like.
You could make porridge fingers to introduce your dc to different textures and to encourage self feeding.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:52

Oh she wouldn’t really do that, she’d just throw it around. To be honest she isn’t brilliant with anything she has to chew. Soft food like banana is OK but again she wouldn’t eat a whole one.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 28/12/2021 18:53

@Starryspacetrip

She doesn’t seem to eat very well at all and it’s worrying me now she’s no longer really taking formula.

She eats porridge for breakfast, and sometimes a yoghurt.

At lunch time I made her a ham and cheese toastie, she ate a few bits of ham and refused the rest. Then she had a fruit pouch. She ate some of DHs pizza.

Then for dinner a bit of spaghetti.

Can anyone give me any pointers? She doesn’t seem to have a very varied diet.

Just give her family food.
BlackKittyKat · 28/12/2021 18:53

No, from what I can remember from Ella's Kitchen it gives you a mix of spoon fed and baby led. I did a mixture of both.

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 18:57

The ham and cheese toastie and spaghetti was family food.

Thanks @BlackKittyKat, I found weaning so stressful.

OP posts:
PanicBuyingSprouts · 28/12/2021 19:02

How much toddler milk is she having in 24 hours?

Did you know that the added iron can be an appetite suppressant? It might be worth switching her gradually to cow's milk. You can replace an ounce of the toddler milk with full fat cow's milk and when she's used to that, add replace another ounce with cow's milk. Just keep going like this until she's swapped.

She only needs 300ml (10floz) a day anyway so it shouldn't take long Smile

MrsR87 · 28/12/2021 19:03

Your little one is the same age as my DS and so far (I am well aware that this could change as they all see to go through a fussy stage) he will eat anything but in front of him. He does of course have his favourites but he will try anything.

We are lucky because both me and DH love cooking, it's one of our joint hobbies. So for us, baby led weaning was quite easy and a natural transition. I would echo some of the ideas above about trying to get your OH to eat healthier, homemade versions of his favourite treats. We often eat pizza, burgers etc but we make it all from scratch do we can control the salt content and flavours which is good for baby but also means we can still have our favourite treats. If your OH is really opposed to veg, it's still important to include them on your DD's plate so get stocked up on frozen veg and tins of sweetcorn etc so that you can quickly add something to your plate. My DS absolutely loves green beans and broccoli! I also stock up on fruit from Asda so he has raspberries/strawberries/blueberries/banana/pineapple every day. This is something you can give as a desert either with or without greek yoghurt that your partner doesn't have to eat.

I would highly recommend the books by Rebecca Wilson (What Mummy Makes and Family Comforts) as these have a mixture of quick and longer recipes that range from curry to eggy bread to meatballs and garlic bread. They gave me the confidence to go on and adapt all the recipes I've made over the years and make them suitable for DS. Indeed, tomorrow we are using our tried and tested recipe for butter chicken curry with homemade naan that we have tweaked slightly in terms of chilli/salt content and is one of DS' favourite meals.

I was really nervous about food for him at first but as he is (currently) not a fussy eater and will eat my homemade food, I feel more confident giving him treats every now and then...today we had relatives round so I made triple chocolate brownies and felt confident in his food intake over the past few days to let him have a small piece - he loved it!

If you struggle to find the time to cook from scratch every day, batch cooking is your friend...there are loads of ideas online for BLW batch cooking.

What I will say is don't give up! Firstly, don't be disheartened if food prep takes a while...I remember when me and DH first started cooking years ago, I think it took me about 15 mins to chop one onion!!! You do get quicker, more confident and ultimately better! Secondly, persevere with the food choices for DD...she may refuse them at first but it can take several times for a food to be introduced before they will eat it!

I hope that long essay (sorry!) was useful! Good luck!

Original poster
Starryspacetrip · 28/12/2021 19:07

Thanks. I’ve got the what mummy makes book. It isn’t really the time, it’s more the fact she doesn’t eat much of what I give her. So all that fruit and veg would just go off, she wouldn’t eat it.

Milk wise she has maybe around 10-12 oz a day. Not a lot. But that’s an added worry as I’m
Concerned about her poor levels of calcium.

OP posts:
PanicBuyingSprouts · 28/12/2021 19:08

This guide from the Caroline Walker Trust might help as well Smile

PanicBuyingSprouts · 28/12/2021 19:13

Milk wise she has maybe around 10-12 oz a day. Not a lot. But that’s an added worry as I’m concerned about her poor levels of calcium

Don't be. She's having the correct amount of milk, although I'd still swap her over gradually to cows milk.

There are so many ways of getting calcium in her diet as well as the milk. You could use a fortified cereal like ready brek and add chopped dried figs which are high in calcium. They last for ages as well so won't go off.

Green beans also contain calcium and are a great finger food. You can buy frozen which means they find go off and they their nutrients Smile