6 month old wont eat at home - please help!

[worrymummy]

My 16 month old son has stopped eating any of the meals I prepare for him at home, even things he used to love like pasta. He will still eat bananas, raisins, milk, cheese and biscuits (which I don't give him very often). The most infuriating and upsetting thing is that when he goes to the childminder (half the week), he eats everything I prepare for him, even salads and will let him feed her which I have not been able to do for months. I am getting really worried and upset about this, although I try not to show it I'm sure he realises. He is very wilful and determined and I don't know what to do to get him to eat again. As I am quite obsessed with him eating healthily and spend lots of time, money and energy on his diet this is really getting me down.

both of my older children eat better at school nursery than at home, especially ds (who is also v wilful). It is quite normal, if annoying.

I suggest you try:

-feeding him earlier
-cutting snacks (just for a few days, to get him back into the habit of easting meals)
-erm, that's it really. if that fails, bribery can be useful.

Above all though try not to let it get to you. children can smell adult neuroses like dogs smell fear. well i think so anyway.

Yes, they usually eat better for other people. When DS was between 18 months and 2 years, I deliberately used to give him meat on the days he went to the childminder as he wouldn't eat it at home! Then DD came along and I stopped working and he stopped eating meat but has gradually got back into it. He's 4 now and eats ham, chicken and mince.
I followed all the usual advice eg keep presenting the rejected food along with things you know they'll eat, with no pressure to try it etc. I found this easier once I started meal planning and planning ahead how the bound to be rejected food would fit into our evening meal. Eg Cold green beans are really nice in a mixed salad. It is really hard not to obsess about what they are eating, particularly with the 1st one, isn't it!

worrymummy, my lo is a bit like this and I have posted on here about it in the past - he eats everything at my mum's (who looks after him while I go to work 3 days a week), but I usually struggle to feed him off a spoon when I'm at home, I am a bit like you re his diet and it was getting me down, but I took the advice from mumsnet posters and tried to chill out about it and also let him feed himself when he's at home with me which means more finger food type meals, I have also found if I let him feed himself, once he's bored of this but still a bit hungry he will let me take over. I think part of the proble is my lo wants to feed himself with a spoon but isn't able to and he gets frustrated (he's 15 months btw). I have also found giving him fruit in between meals has actually improved his appetite. I also read the book "mt child won't eat" by Carlos Gonzalez which is brilliant - I would really recommend it. Sorry this is a bit of a ramble, but your post sounds exactly like me and my little boy!

Thank you all for your posts and suggestions. It helps a lot just knowing that this is quite common and other mums are going through the same thing.

I am going to really try to chill out about it and not encourage the power struggle/control factor. He is really asserting himself at the moment and had a FULL ON tantrum on Monday (he found biscuits in my bag and I wouldn't let him have one).
I thought it was too young for the terrible twos but maybe not!

Cutting snacks sounds like a good idea, I will try that on friday which is the next day I don't work. I am also giving the childminder the 'difficult' food which for us are the veggies.

And I am eating the same food as him for breakfast and lunch so at least I don't feel it's a total waste if he doesn't eat it as you say.

Let's hope it's a short phase!
Thanks again