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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

ds (18 mo) has hardly eaten a cooked meal for 3 weeks now...

17 replies

snickersnack · 02/01/2009 19:18

He has always been a great eater - would eat anything put in front of him, though not in vast quantities. But for the last 3 weeks he's refused anything cooked - he simply shakes his head and pushes it away without touching it. He eats a big breakfast most mornings, and will happily eat bread and cheese and fruit and frozen peas for lunch and tea, but almost anything else gets pushed away. Thinking back, he had ate a large bowl of meatballs and pasta on Boxing Day and some fish fingers two days ago, but that's it. He's drinking lots of milk, and has eaten his own body weight in mince pies over the festive period, but I stopped giving him junky snacks a few days ago to see if it improved his appetite, which it hasn't.

I'm just not sure what to do - his sister used to be very fussy but is a lot better now (nearly 4) and as I am cooking for her anyway, I figure I may as well keep putting stuff in front of him. I just don't know whether to then offer him things I know he will eat, or just say "that's tea, if you don't want it that's fine".

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Sycamoretree · 02/01/2009 20:12

Hi Snicker - I think they do go through these phases, so I wouldn't worry too much if he has previously eaten well on your cooked meals. My DS 16 months goes off "proper" food when he's either cutting a tooth or has a cold - could it be either of these things?

I think he's too young for "that's your tea or there's nothing" type of approach, but I'd stick to fruit and yoghurt if he doesn't eat what you cook, rather than resorting to biscuits etc.

Good luck.

iwantitnow · 02/01/2009 20:14

Cut down on the milk. Give him what he will eat along with what you give to the 4 year old. Leave the tea out for an hour after the mean so if he doesn't eat just offer him his tea again. I struggle too but I have since 6 months and DD over 2 now.

alicecrail · 02/01/2009 20:15

It could just be his teeth, my dd is great eater too, but she goes through phases where she is just not interested. I always think well if she's hungry she will eat. Also, is it possible that he burnt himself on some food and thats put him off cooked food? Children rarely starve so i shouldn't worry about it too much, if he eats with his sister, he may just get back into the swing of things anyway.

Original poster

snickersnack · 02/01/2009 20:22

He is teething - canines coming through at the moment - so maybe it's that. I've been giving him a bowl of porridge before bed if he hasn't eaten to fill him up, which he will eat. It's a very specific aversion to any meal that looks as if someone has spent time preparing it. I agree he's a bit little for "it's this or nothing" but his sister finds it confusing that he gets toast if he doesn't eat, whereas she doesn't.

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thisisyesterday · 02/01/2009 20:24

snickersnack, are you a peanuts fan???

GrimmaTheNome · 02/01/2009 20:28

Don't worry too much. So long as what he does like is easy and healthy enough ... much better than having a child who would only eat food which had taken hours to prepare, at least!

Original poster

snickersnack · 02/01/2009 20:31

I do like a peanut, thisisyesterday . But actually it was from [http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/jabber/jabberwocky.html this]]. The chocolate reference only occurred to me later...

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Original poster

snickersnack · 02/01/2009 20:32

Or even this.

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thisisyesterday · 02/01/2009 20:32

ahh lol, no i meant peanuts the cartoon strip. it's the name of the cereal charlie brown eats!

Sycamoretree · 02/01/2009 20:35

Snicker - just realised I've answered you on another thread without realising you're the same person - sorry!

Anyone - some thoughts on the teething on your other post, but I think the not eating and the teething are completely linked. Hot food might be agitating his sore gums?

Who knows - don't stress it too much until the teeth are through and if he's still not interested you might want to try some other tactics.

Original poster

snickersnack · 02/01/2009 20:52

Sycamoretree, I just realised the same thing - you've obviously got your "helping the tired and frazzled MNer" hat on tonight . I'd never really connected the two, but I suppose the teething has been going on for a while. Fingers crossed this is the end of it, and all teeth will be through soon and normal service resumed.

Thisisyesterday - I didn't know that, but I do now...Fictional cereals, indeed!. What a marvellous timewaster the internet is.

OP posts:

Sycamoretree · 02/01/2009 20:57

Yes, tonight I've got my "answer the unanswered threads" hat on!

DesperateHousewifeToo · 02/01/2009 21:02

I'd be careful snickersnack, sycamoretree is a known stalker. I see her everywhere now

DesperateHousewifeToo · 02/01/2009 21:07

WRT your query though...

I agree with the teething theory. Best not to make a fuss (i.e remove plate without comment if he refuses). Keep offering food. Something he might eat together with whatever you are giving your dd is a very good suggestion.

Try to look at what he eats over a whole week rather than on a daily basis.

I'm sure he will be making up for it in no time.

My dd has started taking an afternoon nap and refusing tea since she was ill before christmas. She is 3 1/2 and hasn't slept during the day for a couple of years.

Sycamoretree · 02/01/2009 21:13

poor DD Desperate .

Am dreading Monday return to work BTW...

Still - new dishwasher arrives tomorrow and nice chancersinavan men helpfully helped themselves to the old one in our front garden which saved DH a trip to the tip.

DesperateHousewifeToo · 02/01/2009 21:19

Result, Sycamoretree

See you Tuesday. Trying to get ds to finish off his homework before then. Tis like 'blood out of a stone', lol.

AndISayHey · 02/01/2009 21:43

He eats a big breakfast and bread and cheese and fruit and peas for lunch and tea and porridge before bed. He's also been having a fair bit of junk during the holidays.

He's not gonna starve

As said before kids appetite can go through really weird patterns and teething can have a big impact. He seems to be eating only soft foods as well so his gums might be sore?

Is he still happy, healthy, playful, active and alert ie his usual self?

If you're really worried why don't you take him to HV so they can check his weight now and if things don't improve you can always compare his weight?

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