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Original poster

15 month old won't eat

19 replies

dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 18:30

Please can someone help! I need advice or just reassurance that I can do no more!

I have a 15 month old daughter who has never been very content but seems to be getting happier as she gets older but I am struggling badly to get her to eat a balanced diet. She lives off breakfast cereal, toast, bread and fruit. She won't eat any cooked meals. She will eat baked beans and cheese. Do I stress out about it and try harder to get her to eat or shall I just let her carry on and accept I cannot force feed her?!

I even tried cooking chicken and sweetcorn muffins which she ate 1 of then wouldn't touch them again!

I get tearful and stressed as I feel I'm failing her but cannot think of anything else to do.

Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks

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ragged · 21/01/2012 18:38

She's fine, honest, that's not a bad diet, just keep offering variety & eating up healthy stuff with enthusiasm in front of her so she knows she's missing out.

Original poster
dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 19:13

Thanks! I was worried she might have some kind of aversion to food as she had reflux when she was a baby, or that she might still have it as she is no longer on meds and hasn't been for about a year.

It's nice to hear reassurance!

Thanks again Smile

OP posts:
Napdamnyou · 21/01/2012 19:17

Shes getting iron and vit B with the bread and cereal, plus calcium, and protein and fats with the cheese and beans, and vitamins and trace elements from fruit, so it's actually a fine,if boring diet. Bet she starts eating again in a it. Try not to stress,it's just food and she won't go into a decline on the above. Toddlers don't grow as fast as babies and I forget who said it, think it was nice,sensible childcare expert Penelope Leach, but if you look at what they eat over three week, n ot a day, most toddlers do self regulate.

Napdamnyou · 21/01/2012 19:20

Wll she eat toasties? Mine will eat anything if hidden in a toastie with cheese. Tuna, White fish, broccoli, mince, peas, etc, as long as there's cheese in it...

You can trick them by serving the first few toasties with cheese only, or cheese and beans, and then secreting in veggies and protein.

Albrecht · 21/01/2012 19:22

This is a great and reassuring book - new edition out soon.

I've heard of the reflux food aversion thing. I think especially if that is the case its really important to be cool about it. Keep serving a range of normal food you are eating plus some stuff you know she will eat. They don't need to eat every type of food under the sun, what she eats is a good range actually compared to some toddlers.

You are not failing, its not a test, some of them are just like this.

Original poster
dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 19:42

Toasties!! Haven't tried that one! Guess what she's going to get for tomorrow's meal!!

Great suggestion, thanks!

OP posts:
bamboostalks · 21/01/2012 19:47

My 15 month old ds will eat porridge, weetabix, smoothies, peanut butter and toast, goodies oat bar. That is it...aprt from biscuits, chocolate, crisps etc! It is dreadful. So different to my dd. It is a worry but I am trying to be cool. So depressing to keep offering food and having it rejected. I am in sympathy with you.

Original poster
dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 20:08

I know! The amount of food I lovingly prepare and cook just get thrown away. I started to give up. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a child who stresses out the parents over this!

OP posts:
Fit2Burst · 21/01/2012 20:15

I'm going through the same thing with my 19mth old DS. The list is almost the same for DS as yours bamboostalks! Apart from the porridge (he'll have dry cereal - cheerios and bran flakes) but no longer interested in toast. Occasionally he'll have a bit of mash, a chicken nugget and a bite or two of fishcake with satsuma's, banana's and grapes. Oh and yoghurts too....I am also trying not to stress about it as he is a happy, energetic boy but he just wants to eat junk all day! I try not to give in but there are days where I feel that at least he's eating something Shock
I just found a recipe for fairy cakes with hidden fruit and veg in that I'm going to try tomorrow - I can't do hidden stuff in a sauce as he likes things dry! He'll eat carrot cake muffins so I'm gona try these with grated courgette, apple and parsnip!

ThompsonTwins · 21/01/2012 20:21

You are doing just fine - this is a perfectly reasonable diet. Guess she also drinks milk. Don't stress or your LO will cotton on and press the buttons even more. Give her variety, little tastes of different foods and she will gradually expand her "repertoire". I bet she's happy and lively, walking and "chatting"

Original poster
dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 20:31

Yes she is lively, which confuses me as I don't think she eats nearly enough to have as much energy as she has!! But I guess she really is eating enough for her.

She does have milk as well, in a beaker in the mornings and on her cereal.

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Original poster
dollylovesandy · 21/01/2012 20:34

Thanks for the cake link. They sound really delicious, I don't think even my daughter will be able to resist these! (if she doesn't want them then I won't try TOO hard to encourage her to eat them as then there'll be more for me!!)

OP posts:
Fit2Burst · 21/01/2012 21:13

Grin the cream cheese ic

Fit2Burst · 21/01/2012 21:14

Meant to say the *cream cheese icing helps!

LMToots · 21/01/2012 21:37

My advice just dont worry about them not eating various foods, my 3yo only ate pasta and cheese for a year (and never ate much/bothered with food) the other day I had to check her poo for worms because she was always hungry and eating everything in sight including celery?! (she didnt have worms!) basically relax as much as you can, they will eat stuff eventually, or one day they love things the next they dont, youll chuck loads of stuff and itll be frustrating but thats just the joy/bonkerness of motherhood!

Original poster
dollylovesandy · 22/01/2012 22:49

I think all the reassurance I received yesterday from people who posted replies helped enormously cos I felt much better. Today I was really relaxed bout her eating and gave her a plate of a variety of food, some I know she likes and some just experimenting to she if she'll eat it and she ate really well!!!!

I could of cried with relief!!!! Thanks everyone!!! I'll try and stay more positive from now on!

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 22/01/2012 22:52

You know what - beans on toast, cheese, a cup of milk and a piece of fruit is pretty much the perfect balanced meal.

leftmymistletoeatthedoor · 22/01/2012 22:59

Yes don't stress. Ds was a horrendous eater when he was that age - he ate very very very small amounts and lived on yogurt (one variety only) and baked potato with cheese for about 18 months. I got so stressed and when I gave up he relaxed and ate more. He isn't the most adveturous eater now but is the biggest boy in his class and not really all that fussy.

Dd is 15 months and eats anything except hummus and jam. I didn't do anything differently with her, she just enjoys food ( touch wood ) so its not yoiur fault, its just the way she is.

Dd most loves beans, cheesy scrambled egg, tuna mayo, tomato+veg pasta with cheese, soup with bread to dip in and suck / eat. Just some ideas. Also, let her play with her food.

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