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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

Once a fussy eater, always a fussy eater?

12 replies

RachelG · 10/02/2007 20:23

Just wondering if anyone has experience of this.

My DS (17 months) has always been a fussy eater, would really prefer to live on milk.

I've tried lots of different foods, techniques, situations etc. Some things work for a short while, some not at all.

Anyway, what I'm wondering is if this is likely to be permanent. Will he grow up to be a fussy eater - one of those kids who refuses vegetables, will only eat crisps etc?

Has anyone had a fussy baby/toddler who started eating well when older?

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brimfull · 10/02/2007 20:31

my dd was a very fussy baby/toddler,but as a child she improved a lot.By the time she was school age she wasn't fussy anymore.
Now my ds is 4.5 yrs and is quite fussy,won't eat pasta,drink milk,eat cheese,try tomatoes but not as bad as some.I'm hoping peer pressure at school will change things.

So don't give up yet,I'm sure things will improve as long as you keep mealtimes a calm and enjoyable time.

franca70 · 10/02/2007 20:32

dd was really difficult to wean. when she was around 15 months she would have lived on milk and fruit. then things slowly improved, especially because I gave her complete freedom of feeding herself (at set mealtimes). She now eats lots of different thing (however doesn't like cooked veg unless veg soup with pasta).
ds however, who's always been a very good eater, is being very fussy at the moment (he is now 4 and a half)
Don't give up... keep offering. but I'm sure you know this already

frenziednester · 10/02/2007 20:32

Yes! Light is at the end of the tunnel! My DS 1 was a nightmare - shreddies and PF for about a year and nothing else. I hated every meal time and used to cry with frustration at the baby books who gave me all the advice under the sun - but he was SO much more stubborn. Things got better when DS2 was born (a little better, not an immediate omnivore) and DS1 was 21 months as I simply didn't have the time to stress about what he was eating and he started to eat more when paid no attention. The other breakthrough was when he started preschool this term. He hoovers everything I give him now - even broccoli, and will try anything, not always eat it, but I don't mind as long as he tries. Hang in there - and feel free to contact me if you want to vent - it is a horrible stage.

Lilliput · 10/02/2007 20:36

If it is any consolation my dh was a very fussy eater as a child according to MIL. He is now a chef and really has a go if I won't try new things. Food is now his life and on a recent restaurant outing he had bone marrow on toast followed by ox heart and chips.

Ellbell · 10/02/2007 20:46

Don't worry. My dd was a total nightmare. She lived on milk, cheese and yogurt till she was about 3 (with occasional forays into places where I'd really rather not go - e.g. cheesy wotsits, hot-dog sausages and other variously vomitacious things that dh would occasionally try her with).

She is now 6 and eats pretty much anything. I would say that food is still not her main interest in life (iyswim), but she will now eat all veg and most fruits and pretty much anything that we are having. Definitely no longer to be classed as 'fussy'.

Just persevere and don't make a big deal of it (easier said than done, I know) and one day it will all start to fall into place.

Original poster

RachelG · 10/02/2007 20:46

Thanks everyone, I feel much better now.

Broccoli - that's very impressive!

Not so sure about ox heart and chips!!!

Thanks again.

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Gobbledigook · 10/02/2007 20:51

Ds1 was incredibly fussy when he was younger, even though he was fine when he first started on solids - at the 18 month stage he was a nightmare. He really turned a corner when he started school - I don't know if he was just more hungry but he will now pretty much try anything. All my 3 have been a nightmare from around 18 months up to past being 3. Ds3 is only 2 now and despite being a great eater early on - he too became a nightmare at about 18 months and still is.

I'm more laid back about it now because I've seen how ds1, and ds2 to some extent, have come out of it. Plus, I was very fussy as a child - I would never touch peas, cheese, onions, peppers, anything made with mince...all of these things I eat in abundance now. In fact I was fussy right into my teens so don't know what triggered my change!

Anyway, the key is to be laid back about it (hard I know!). Make what you want to make, present it to him and if he eats it great and if he doesn't, just take it away. Keep presenting it though as eventually they do start to eat it. Just don't let it get to you and don't bother trying to bribe or bargain. I've found it doesn't really matter what you offer - if they don't want it, they won't eat it.

TheArmadillo · 10/02/2007 20:51

according to the nhs site someone gave me once over 90% of children grow out of it either before or once they get to school. I was given this as the reason as to why they won't usually refer you to dietician/nutritionist or any other help until your child is between the ages of 5 and 7.

This has been keeping me going with mine (2.4 now). WE found one method that has helped ds calm down around food (no more 3hr tantrums or refusing to eat anything for days on end) and have stuck with it. Progress is slow but in the yr since we have stuck with this method he has improved around food and has had two breakthroughs - he tried a boiled egg and started eating a couple of foods warm.

Keep on trying - I know it can be really really hard, but they will improve in the end.

Remember though it isn't going to be overnight its going to take a lot of time.

TheArmadillo · 10/02/2007 20:53

don't know how true it is, but HV (who has been great) told me the vast majority of children improve when at school when they can really sucumb to peer pressure (i.e. everyone else is eating).

Lilliput · 10/02/2007 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

juuule · 10/02/2007 21:27

I've had one child who ate everything and anything until he was 4 or 5 when he gradually decided he didn't like anything. He was then fussy and faddy until about 14 when he started to try things. Now at 19 he eats anything again.
I have another who has always been fussy and still is at 14. Although he has been trying different foods and introducing more variety into his diet for the past 12m.
My sister practically lived on custard at primary school age. By the time she was 21 she was eating well.

NannyL · 10/02/2007 22:01

My sister was VERY fussy as a toddler

ate:
white bread
ham
cheese (cheddar or red leicester)
baked beans
egg
apple
strawberries
sausage
bolognese sauce
pasta BOWS
sweetcorn ONLY ON the cob
peas
carrots
rice krispies
mash potatoe

that was IT

She now eats EVERYTHING including zebra and ostrich! anything at all! got less fussy about 8ish... then at 12ish then at 20ish she started to eat EVERYTHING!(oh but not broccoli!)

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