Eating

[adjoa01]

Hello please give me advice on what to do, my son is 1year in 3weeks time, he won't eat food like you and me, won't eat bread/toast, he makes himself gag or be sick, he won't touch food, I have tried being hard on him but then he screams so much and it's just a ongoing battle, I don't know what else to do, I don't want him on purée food being a toddler.

PLEASE HELP.

Thank you

I feel your pain, our DS was very fussy with his food too. I tried stepping up to 'in between' food, I.e. Stuff in between puree and normal food, like minced beef, mash potatoes, ratatouille etc. Then slowly started adding meats and breads in a more casual way. It really worked for us.

Have you tried things like this? Or go straight for finger foods? I think it's trial and error really but you will find something!

I've been reading about this in Bee Wilson's 'First Bite', she has a lot about how being hard on children makes the situation more difficult. I won't summarise her whole solution, but basically there are studies saying this works: in a low pressure time (not a meal) give him a range of pea sized foods to choose from, to smell, feel the texture of, taste, more as play than food. Once he has chosen one to taste (doesn't have to swallow) the session is over. Do it daily. The idea is to give them a chance to taste things outside the stressful meal scenario.

I don't know if that might work for you, but in any case I think the book would be a good bet.

Thank you ladies, will defo try, he is just so fussy unless it is puréed he won't eat it, even tried off my plate etc just doesn't end well, but I don't want to make him go hungry.

My son was a bit like this. Loved purees, yogurts and custard at that age! He would eat toast but that was about it other than Quavers.

I haven't really got much helpful advice for you. My son grew out of it in time.

He is now 4 and although still a slightly fussy eater. He is trying and eating a lot more and is completely healthy!