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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

Major tantrums every mealtimes- teething? Any advice??

11 replies

jem1969 · 02/10/2008 13:04

My DD is 14 months old and has always been quite a good eater. Now, apart from the occasional breakfast every mealtime has turned into a drama of epic proportions. It is getting VERY boring. She screams as soon as I try to give her anything- doesn't matter if it's homemade, ready made, something she used to love etc.
The only thing she seems usually happy to have is cheese and bananas and ellas's kitchen smoothies! Even screamed today when I tried to give her a yogurt.
She then throws whatever she can all over the kitchen if I try and feed her anything. Finger food doen't work either.
She has some horrible big teeth coming through and has been a bit miserable. Don't know if this is anything to do with it? Or is it an 'asserting her independence' phase.
Should I just indulge her for a bit and just make sure she's eating something or carry on with the dramatic mealtimes?? She seems to young to send to bed without any supper!?(Thought she might be tired as well but she screams even if she's had a really good nap as well). She's in no danger of fading away as always been on the chubby side...
(She loves our cleaner and was quite happily letting me shovel a bit of food into her mouth while smiling at the cleaner- as soon as she left the room we had screaming again .)

OP posts:

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mktc · 02/10/2008 13:28

Hi jem
My DD is 13 months old and has been exhibiting the exact same behaviour since she was 11 months. I struggle to get her to eat anything all day except breakfast which is usually OK. I have tried ending the meal as soon as she does this and then trying again in half an hour. Also tried sitting with her while she headbutts table and throws everything she can reach on the floor for about half an hour while I calmly get on with eating my meal. Also tried parading out every kind of food I can possible think of that she might eat. She was good with food until 11 months and I have no idea what has caused this but I am at my wits end. My DD is very slight and I am really worried that she s not getting enough calories each day. Today I tried making her eggy bread with jam on and she had a fit - I thought as it was sweet she would at least eat that but no.

I would also really appreciate any advice from other Mums out there who have overcome this problem.

Sputnik · 02/10/2008 14:08

It's very likely the teeth. Mine is 16 months and has molars coming through and has been exactly like this for the past week. He only wanted bananas and other fruit, milk etc. In the last couple of days he has been getting back to normal, in fact he has been eating extra to compensate.

I would "indulge" your DD for a week or so then see what happens. Keep some bananas etc in the fridge as cold things soothe the gums.

Pipsicle · 05/10/2008 14:48

Jem
My Lo is nearly 16 months and we are having this too! Very clingy - saying cuddle all the time, barely eating anything even her favourites.

Her top 2 bigguns came through the other week when she was like this but now I dont know why she is like this - can only presume that the others are coming through down the bottom!!!

Its great isnt it - keep smiling!!!!

Pip

PumpkinPatty · 05/10/2008 14:56

OMG you have just described my DD exactly!

Dd currently lives of bananas, weetabix, yoghurt and toast.

I have no advice as I'm struggling myself - but you have my sympathy.

PumpkinPatty · 05/10/2008 14:56

Sorry OFF not of

meandmyjoe · 05/10/2008 17:45

Same thing here, ds 14 months and been like it about a month. Finger foods are currently only nibbled on whereas he used to eat loads. Rejects the spoon unless I give him a toy to hold. He can spoon feed himself but recently has chosen to just tip the bowl over or stick his hands in the food and throw it. Hoping it's a phase as I don't think he's teething, seems happier than ever.

puppie · 06/10/2008 10:07

jem 1969 no advice I'm afraid but some sympathy and a shared experience. DS is 13 months now and for the last 2 weeks has been doing the same thing. Its ended up with me nearly in tears at every mealtime. DS refuses food (will have 2 mouthfuls at most) despite me trying a variety of different things.

I'm weary of hearing "he will eat if hes hungry'. I find it hard to believe he isnt hungry after having two mouthfuls of weetbix all day. He WILL however eat any pudding I put in front of him. Its SO SO difficult for me not to give into temptation and just feed him sweet things (fruit and puddings) when I know he hasnt eaten. I dont know if I am doing the right thing or if I should just give him what he is willing to eat until such times as he gets over it?????

Original poster

jem1969 · 06/10/2008 10:28

Thanks for the reassurance that it's not just my DD! She's been a bit better over the weekend but my Mum and DH were around so we'll see what happens today- I suspect she'll give me a bit of trouble, although she has just had a good breakfast.
Don't let it get to me, it's just very boring!

OP posts:

liv01 · 06/10/2008 17:05

Yes- no advice I am afraid but lots of sympathy- I have exactly the same issue with my 12 month old dd. She used to be a good eater and ate everything! For the last four weeks she has eaten nothing at all at home apart from bread and some fruit. I have tried every kind of tactic. I know that she is hungry- at nursery she apparently devours her own portion and everyone elses.

I have exactly the same dilemma as puppie- do I just give her fruit and sweet things so that she at least has SOMETHING- or is that setting her up for lifelong terrible eating habits??

noonki · 06/10/2008 17:25

Hi - don't want to come across as been there done that, but as I have, I will!

At around that age they start getting fussy, it really is a protection mechanism as it stops them eating anything and everything as they ar now able to get away from their parents! Also it is because they it is one of the things they can control and so are testing the amount of power it can have!

My advice would be to:

Ignore it completely
Keep offering different things at meals, even if rejected before, offer a selection (on one plate), if refuse completely I would offer one other thing (bread/fruit whatever) and then if that is refused I would get them out of high chair, no fuss, no grumbles (and thus no extra attention)

try and avoid upping milk intake (unless really obviously teething)

My DS1 ate only about 4 things for about 2 months but now (aged 3) is back to eating loads DS2 (aged 16 months) is bang in the middle of getting fussy so you ahve my sympathise, nothing more frustrating than lovingly making a dinner for it to be refused before it has even been tasted!

Annie75 · 09/11/2008 20:12

Relieved to find this thread - 15 month DD has been like this for the past three weeks. It seemed to start around a cold and now she will only eat bread and butter, crackers, raspberries (sometimes blueberries) and yoghurt and not v much of those. Bloody annoying, though I've done my best not to seem worried about it I know she's sensed something and acts up more accordingly. At least, I think that's why. Have been making myself anxious over whether she's getting the right stuff although I know it's actually quite hard to be nutritionally deficient in the space of a few weeks.

She does eat better, although not much, in nursery. It's also the frustration of cooking her stuff and it completely going to waste. Gah!

I let her feed herself walking around as the high chair is a no, as is me attempting to put anything near her mouth!

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