My 1 year old won't eat...

[Kabrown]

Hi there, I am so worried, my son won't really eat much at all in terms of 'meals'. He eats his breakfast no problem, shreddies, weetabix with milk and banana or toast. But I can't get him to eat a proper lunch or dinner. He will eat ingredient type things, like sliced ham or a tomato but not a lovingly prepared fishpie or beef stew. He has even gone off sandwiches which used to be a firm favourite. His repertoire seems to be getting smaller and so I am a bit concerned if he is getting all his vitamins and minerals.
He did have a period of getting loads of colds, and was off food completely and going back to milk. Because of this, and talking to my HV he is still on 2-3 formula bottles a day. I just don't know what to do now to wean him off formula milk and on to food as he just refuses most of the things we offer. ArgH!

Hi Kabrown

I would suggest that you give him what he likes and lots of encouragement & praise for eating what he manages.

Does he snack? He will have more of an appetite for lunch and dinner if his snacks in between are limited.

I don't think 2-3 formula bottles is a big deal & wouldn't be concerned to wean him off it. There's more nutrition in formula than cows milk.

What's the vibe like at mealtimes? Are you keeping it relaxed?

Hi, yes he does snack on fruit and babybel or oatcakes/toast. Maybe could reduce those a bit. He is at nursery 3 days now which I thought would help with all the other kiddies eating together. At home we are pretty relaxed and eat with him when we can. Have started playing, and/or ignoring him and letting him get on with it both of which work for a while. But then he will start screaming, so don't know whether to give him what he likes (which involved me going backwards and forwards to get ham, cheese, fruit, toast, or another weetabix for tea) or take him out the chair and leave it. But then worry he will be hungry

It's really tough isn't it. I would try cutting back on the snacks a bit. At least you are relaxed about it, if you let your concern show or get forceful (doesn't sound like you would do that) things can get worse...speaking from my own childhood experience there!

Are the nursery staff telling what he is eating/how much he eats there?

How many snacks? If never really hungry they won't eat. My son always wanted what I was having. Watermelon. Hummus. Try giving a selection of different food. I always give mine a selection of veg or sandwich oat cakes etc depending on meal. Means less scurrying about trying to get something. Eating together?

ds has never been keen on eating but it is normal for their appetite to slow at 12 months as their growth rate is huge in the 1st year but slows down after that. Also as they get more control over feeding themself, they get more cautious (to ensure they don't eat something toxic probably, although I know why does that make them so keen on the washing powder etc!)

He is eating fruit, meat, cereal, carbs, dairy from what you say. Pretty good actually! I was advised to keep giving him a range of normal foods, perhaps giving something you know he will eat with something you think he will refuse. Don't worry if its an odd combination, babies are not ususally worried about fusion food.

It really isn't necessary for babies to eat every single type of food and even hardly anything in one meal is not going to cause them to fade away. Yes its annoying when you've slaved over some low salt stew but they just want a yoghurt. Better they have the yog than nothing in my book.

Ds also gets bored really quickly, maybe he is a snacker more than a main meal person - is that so bad? They will have their likes and dislikes as does any adult.

Also teething or illness may be messing things up.

Thanks all - i agree something is better than nothing. But yes its so annoying when you have a freezer full of homemade meals!

I also have a non-eater who would happily graze on fruit, veg and snacks all day. Sitting in her highchair and eating a proper meal is not her idea of fun and I have found the more effort we put into a meal then the less likely she is to eat it! Dd has no appetite for meat either so I tend to give her lots of small things she can pick up herself and hope it's fairly balanced in the end.