Big decrease in appetite around 16mo....normal?

[BotBotticelli]

DS1 has suddenly become very picky about his food - or, rather, he's just not really eating much of anything any more, having previously been a right little piggie!

Is this is a normal developmental thing?

I cant help but worry its cos i'm getting it wrong somehow - not providing the 'right' food that's tempting enough for him to eat.

For example at lunchtime today he ate 1 small bit of a cheese crumpet, half a cherry tomato and a small yoghurt. (Previously he would have happily polished off 2 crumpets and 3 cherry toms and a yoghurt).

He has all 16 teeth (apart from his back molars which I thought they didn't get till around 2?) so I don't think he's teething.

Just seems to have taken exception to my cooking! (apparently still eats like a horse at nursery, the little monkey!).

Any reassurances that this is normal would be much appreciated.

Yes it is normal. If you search MN you'll find dozens of posts just like yours.

They often instinctively get more picky about food at this age because they are getting mobile and it's nature's way of stopping them eat things they shouldn't.

Just offer what you would normally offer and allow him to choose from it what he would like to eat. Don't cajole or pressurise him in any way. Just remove what he doesn't eat without comment.

They do get better as they get older but it will be a while yet

My 17mo is also going through a very picky phase. She used to be a good eater and ate my homecooked food but lately is refusing a lot of things and I find it very hard to know what she might try and what will be rejected. Sometimes it helps to let her have the spoon and feed herself, other times she just doesn't want to try it. I offer finger food for lunch and a bowl of cooked dinner late afternoon. If she doesn't eat the cooked dinner she doesn't get another option, I let her have a breadstick and some fruit but no yoghurt or alternative meal. It's hard not to get stressed when they refuse food and eat little but I think we just need to keep offering a variety and try not to stress too much or look visibly upset when we end up throwing much of it away. Hopefully this phase will pass before too long!