Need advice about my DD eating (or lack of), I can't face another meal time..

[been33]

My DD is 18 months and her eating has got to an all time low, she used to eat anything going and had a really healthy appetite but over the last few months she has become so fussy that she will now only eat egg sandwiches, spag bol and cereal for breakfast, she won't let anything else passed her lips.Although she would happily eat snacks such as rice cakes, biscuits or anything like that.... I have tried giving her no snacks of rice cakes or anything during the day, so she is really hungry but dinner time but she will still refuse it if it's not spag bol. She point blanks refuses to let any fruit near her mouth, unless it is those puree pouches that she can suck out of the pouch. I am just at the end of my tether and don't know what to do to get her to eat. Please give me any advice and suggestions as really can't face another meal time of her clamped together mouth or her just throwing it on the floor if I try and let her feed herself.

DS is the same age and goes through phases of not eating anything "proper". We discovered that individual bites off a fork would sometimes get through whereas a spoonful would be refused; if he strops for a yoghurt I will let him have some of that and then he'll often take another few bites of proper dinner; I sometimes give him a toy (one of the soundboards he has pulled off a book works well) and can get some into him while he is distracted and if all else fails I make little muffins with carrots, courgette, sweet pepper and sweet potato in them and give him those. Its often related to back teeth coming through that don't seem to provoke the usual teething symptoms of night waking and horrible nappies. Incredibly annoying when they throw it on the floor. Oh, also, sometimes I will make toast and sit on the sofa with it and he'll come and pester me because he thinks its mine and then he'll eat it!

Isn't there something about this age that they all (or many) go off their food? I heard it was something to do with now they are mobile, and might be wandering into the woods whilst you are out milking the cows, they will only eat familiar food as a survival technique (i.e better not try those funny looking red berries as they might be poisonous??)

Don't sweat it, am sure she'll be fine again soon.

That's very interesting NonnoMum and actually makes a lot of sense. I guess ensuring that there are plenty of other people eating the same thing at the same time may help that.

at 18 months I would be totally letting her feed herself. She can't clamp her mouth shut, a form of having control, if you don't try to put anything in :) Can you try a plougjmans lunch type idea for meals? If she will eat cereal for breakfast give her a little (bit less than will make her full) and a few small bits of fruit or veg in another bowl for her to try 'if she wants or if she is still hungry' then leave them around till lunchtime, she might come back to them when she thinks you're not looking!! for lunch give her an egg butty, again not enough to fill her up and another selection of things, cheese, meat, fruit, veg, nuts and seeds. The key thing is she learns that just because its on her plate or in a bowl next to her she doesn't have to eat it but she doesn't cause a fuss and throw it around. Make suggestions that she tries things but don't panic if she doesn't or let her see it bothers you

As for tea if she will eat spag bol can you for now give her that, make a batch and feed her it every night while the rest of you have somethingelse? add different veg to the sauce if you can but at some point I'm sure she will want to try what the rest of you are having and if she ask's give her a bit if she doesn't keep on with the spag bol atleast you know she is having one full meal a day which is good for your peace of mind :)

I hope she comes through this phase quickly for you because children going hungry, even by their own choice, is hard to cope with. xx

My DD is 2.6. now and used to be an extremely fussy eater, so I do sympathise.

I think the key thing to remember is that a normal, healthy toddler will NOT starve themselves. If she has a meal (or even a few) where she doesn't eat anything, it really isn't the end of the world. If she eats cereal for breakfast, make sure she gets a good helping of that (maybe with some fruit puree on top if she will take it like that). Then I would offer normal meals, sit down with her and eat but try not to focus on her eating- if she has some, great (and praise her if she does) but if she doesn't eat it, fine, just take it away again. Don't let her see that you are getting stressed because then it can become a battleground, and you want her to be relaxed about food and see it as a good thing.

If you are worried about what she is eating, give her either egg sandwiches or spag bol every day for a few days, but not for every meal so she is still seeing other foods (and seeing you eat and enjoy them).

Another good tip is to look at their food intake over the course of several days, not just one day- my DD used to have days where she would only eat one or two mouthfuls and then a day where she would eat loads.

It will get easier, DD now is much more willing to try new foods and will often surprise us by how much she eats.