Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Really need advice on food phobia please.

4 replies

sunnymorning · 09/01/2013 18:14

Have not been on here for years, but am going into meltdown about my sons fussy eating and really need some KEEP CALM advice before I explode! DS has always been fussy when it comes to meals but I have just got on with it, never got stressed and hoped that he would grow out of it. He eats relatively healthy food (although would eat cake and chocolate all day if allowed) but I can count on two hands what I can give him in a meal, he is seven now and, possibly I am wrong, really should be eating far more varied foods. Last year I managed to introduce banana's and cashew nuts but they were the only new foods he tried. So New Year I thought that's it what is on the table you will eat, I am not putting anything exotic in front of him (shephards pie, casserole etc) but he point blank refuses to even try it, it is horrible (for both of us) and ridiculously stressful. I feel like I am being really mean but also feel that by allowing him to be so fussy with his diet that I am being a bad parent. My work has also recently changed and he is now going to clubs so I have less time to cook the meals he likes and really need food that I can pre prepare and then heat in the microwave otherwise I end up not eating as I dont have time to prepare two meals all the time. Am I going over the top, does the hardline approach work eventually, should I just put up with things the way they are. I just want him to enjoy his food (cant believe he doesn't, both me and his dad love food) I have always tried to include him in making/buying food, I am on my own with him (he is equally as fussy when with his Dad) maybe I would feel a bit more confident about being hardline if I had someone here backing me up...... or maybe what I am doing is just the wrong way of doing it????? Any advice..... please?

OP posts:
Violetkay · 09/01/2013 23:06

Help! I can't get my 8 year old child to sleep in the evening! I've tried everything (? I think) but no matter what time I get him into bed he's up and about or reading til 11pm or later - I'm desperate for an evening and also he's absolutely knackered in the morning and it's almost impossible to get him up for school! Any thoughts or ideas very gratefully received....

Violetkay · 09/01/2013 23:14

Oh dear I've posted this in wrong place! But if it helps I have experienced what you have too! I think just keep trying is all you can do - maybe make a game out of it? We had a pretend book which 'listed' all the foods in the world and the ages which my child would start to eat them - he would go and consult it to find out how old he would be when he would try different foods and incredibly he has stood by what the book said! Btw I've got a theory that bottle fed babies (I was v I'll just after he was born) are less adventurous eaters...

cornyclam · 09/01/2013 23:18

sunny has he said why he won't eat the food - is it the texture?

violet here was a thread on the main board today about a 7 year old that wouldn't sleep (I think) - have a look for it - might be helpful.
Have you tried rescue remedy night drops? They may help as a placebo.

terilou87 · 09/01/2013 23:46

i watched a programme on really bad food habits in children and it said forcing them is one of the worst things you could do as it upsets them and they pshycologically link it with food, it said the best thing to do is allow them to eat what they like already but introduce new foods very slowly and gradually using lots of praise for tasting new things hope it works out. my 4 year old seems to be going the same way, she used to eat anything when she was younger and eats very little now, point blank refuses to eat dairy thats what it started with now its potatoes of any form and bread, its very difficult to watch her being like it im just hoping she will grow out of it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page