Can anyone give me some perspective/ideas about DS2's appalling diet?

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He's 16 months. He was a fantastic eater until November when he succumbed to a catalogue of illnesses. Since then he turns his nose up at virtually everything I present him with. He'll eat breakfast cereals, toast, pasta with some things on it, that's it.

I know it's not the end of the world but I feel awful about it - tonight (new low) he rejected chicken, mash and veg, had a yoghurt and then managed to get hold of some of DD's chocolate egg.

DS1 and DD are pretty good with food so I feel I've gone wrong somewhere with DS2. Should I, for example, not give him pudding if he refuses to eat his main meal? Does anyone have any ideas for sneaking something good into him somehow? I fear I am gong to end up being lectured by Tania Byron on that Tearaways programme....

I'd go with it really so as not to make the issue worse. Give him a tiny portion of the family meal plus something you know he will eat. And not comment on what he actually does eat. Vitamin pills can give you peace of mind if he is against healthy stuff. I bet he'll get over it especially if he has siblings who like their food. My DS went fussy when DD was born, but now eats like a horse.

I would chill out, he's nowhere near 2 yet, and I think quite a lot don't really start eating well till nearer this age- maybe your other kids were just superb eaters .

I would just keep offering him a healthy balance of food but not worry too much about what he does and doesn't eat. DD (second child) was a lot slower to get going with food than DS. She didn't wean well until nearer one than 6 months, and then only really starting eating any amount of anything nearer 2. She's a brilliant eater now (2.5) and a lot less fussy than DS (4.5).

Is there anything he will eat with good stuff in? DD used to eat spag bol when she wouldn't eat much of anything else "good". This was re-assuring!!

Oh yes, was going to say I think sometimes they have a sixth sense when there is chocolate etc in the house!

Last night DD rejected her tea which was pasta and can't even remember what else, but stuff she normally eats, well she just picked tiny bits of it, then managed to scoff 2 kindersurprise eggs!! DS was doing an "Easter egg hunt" after tea which involved placing any easter eggs they had been given all round the house and then of course they were open to scoffing!

I agree with sageygirl. My 15 m.o. had about 4 or 5 months where he rejected all vegetables and potatoes as well as various other stuff. (Prior to that he ate everything except chilli.) I just kept offering him the same things we're eating, and let him have an alternative from the same food groups if he wouldn't eat it e.g. if he didn't eat potatoes, offer crackers. I worked on the assumption that dishing up 'normal' food would mean he still thought of it as 'normal' even if he didn't eat it IYSWIM.

He's started to eat veg again and now eats jacket potatoes.

We don't do puddings so I can't advise on that I'm afraid.

I did pasta sauces which were variations on vegetable purees. For some reason he'd eat grated veg in porridge, so he has that every morning.

Thanks for the sensible tips. I was feeling very angsty when I posted this but a bit calmer this morning! I will just continue to offer what the others eat and hope some of it will pass his lips! Hopefully he'll cotton on in time that if his big brother/sister are eating it he can too.
Thanks!