DS 2.4 is a V fussy eater!

[Dominique07]

What should I do?

Yesterday offered him apple juice(100% apple juice), a banana, and favourite cereal (Asda Wheaties like Shredded Wheat)
he asked for and only drank milk ignoring food. (whole milk)

Lunch time I offered an apple, and spaghetti shapes in tomato sauce.
he asked for, and only drank milk.

In the car, he ate a pack of oat cake biscuits and fell asleep for a nap.

Dinner time I offered, my homemade cottage pie, tomato soup and baguette,
he asked for, and only drank milk.

This has been going on since he was about 2.

Over the summer it was similar, except he was addicted to ice lollies. I was spending a lot more money on a lot more food, he didn't eat and I had to throw away. I really don't have money to waste like that!

One week he'll eat one banana,
one week he'll destroy (not sure how much is consumed) one apple
one week he might munch thru a pack of ginger or digestive biscuits,
one week he might show interest in a ready meal i.e. somerfield chicken curry
and he might eat salty popcorn (not plain)
he will also eat plain bread (when in the mood) or baguette.

but he refuses all healthy fruit and vegetables, and homemade food. I count myself lucky if he has drank milk and eaten digestive biscuits, but my heart sinks when I think of the nutritional value of his typical weekly intake.

He does not look skinny or short, he looks healthy and muscular and stocky, also people guess he is 3 or 4 by his height. He is alert and not grumpy. He always produces something in his nappy and i hardly know how sometimes! I tried putting omega 3 oil in his drinks but he then refuses drinks. He rarely has more than a sip of water.
I realise fussy eating is common once babies become toddlers, but the books, full of great ideas to get toddlers eating more, and eating healthier food, are completely unrealistic.
Are there any realistic ideas out there for feeding fussy toddlers?

Help!

Stop the milk wouold be my first thing. It may well be hard but I would do it and I am NOT a tough mummy!

DS was / is a fussy eater but is much, much better now. We tried everything but in the end had to get tough. Breakfast (1hr after waking usually), lunch and dinner. No snacks. Took a while but he finally realised he had to eat when he got teh chance or there'd be nothing else. We then slowly introduced snacks back in, usually fruit or biscuit like digestive etc but something more 'treatish' if we were out and about.

Also, offered things in small amounts and one at a time. So, he got his main course (eg sandwich) then yogurt/fruit/whatever so he wasnt distracted by the more interesting stuff!

I agree, cut the milk and hold firm. Ds2 is 2.2 and a real milk lover, but now only has a cup when he first wakes and one at bedtime. Then, and this is the hard bit, try not to show any emotion when giving food or when your ds is refusing it, dont do the pleading, bribing, cajoling, forcing!! I did all this with v fussy ds1 to no avail and at 4 and a half he is still not a brilliant eater, wheras for ds2 I ignored him if he refused food and simply took it away ( but didnt replace it) and he is a much better eater. It isnt easy, but staying calm works wonders

Oh yes missmapp is right. We make no reference AT ALL now to whether he is eating or not. If he sits nicely and eats (not necessarily whole plate, ofetn not) we say 'well done' that's it.

hmm, ok, I was trying to cut down on drinks between meals, but I will have to be even tougher and just offer water with lunch. Its difficult! Thanks for these ideas.

Tbh I dont give ds a drink with his meal at all because he just faffed with it. He does get access to water / apple juice rest of the day though.

Thanks everyone. Even having received your advice this lunchtime DS has now sat down to dinner and although ignoring his pasta and carrot sticks, has munched through 6 meatballs. Immediate result! I will just save milk for bedtime for this week.

Thats good.