Food everywhere except in the mouth

[fireandice]

My 13 month old dd has always been a very, very small eater and she is also tiny and very slight (2nd percentile). She eats a handful of things - toast, yoghurt, chicken and peas and blueberries and sometimes a bit of egg. But she eats very little. In the last week shes eating even less - she has literally 2 or 3 tiny pieces of her toast and then the rest of the pieces she throws on the floor. Or 5 or 6 peas and then starts flinging the peas on the floor. I'm not sure where to go from here... how can i get her to eat?? Any ideas? Even her yoghurt which she would happily eat a full pot of, now after 3 or 4 spoons she clamps her mouth shut. Since she is so tiny anyway I am very concerned as she needs to eat. Any ideas, advice, suggestions?

Hello

I have two girls (aged almost four and 12 months)
Both sound so similar to your little girl.
My baby is 2nd percentile too. She eats as you say tiny amounts of limited things.
The only thing I can say from my older daughter's time is that somehow it is enough food to keep them going. Have you tried offering milk (didnt work for my baby who hates milk but the older one would sometimes have it) Does your baby sleep OK at night...
If not it may also be worth looking at giving milk last thing. I gave mine Abidec multivitamins (available on prescription or over the counter) so at least I know they have some of the right nutrients.

Hang in there. It will get better in time.

Hi how did she get on when you 1st weaned her with basic stuff like carrot, veg?

My DD is also 13 month and her appetite has increased loads in the last few weeks.

Will she have porridge or anything ( i tried loads of diff ones ) but my DD just likes the creamy porridge.

I find that putting a few bits of finger food on the tray ( ie veg ) for her to eat/play with/throw etc is a good distrction while i spoon feed the rest in.

I suppose its a case of keep trying new things i am always surprised by the things DD loves like cheese & onion quiece LOL

I think messing around this age is quite common so try not to worry to much.
Corned beef stew is a firm fave for my DD but she also has issues with peas!
Try custard the little ready made pots instead of yoghurts.

Cauliflower cheese, mash potatoe with gravy is a good 1, i somethimes just do DD this and give her a yorkshire pud.

Hope some of this helps x

just go with it is my advice,
IME the bigger deal you make of it, the more likely it is to turn into an issue, and the less likely they are to eat.

keep offering, and she'll eat what she needs.
I'd also be tempted to keep snacks available throughout the day
when my first child went through a phase of not eating much we kept a bowl of snacks on the table so he could help himself (cherry tomatoes, olives, flapjack, fruit etc)

Thanks so much for your responses. TBH its been a struggle from the start. She didn't have much milk when she was a tiny baby and weaning was a nightmare... she just didn't want to eat. She is a very good sleeper though - slept thru the night from 2 months and never stopped (unless unwell). I have tried all kinds of foods - mash and boiled potatoes, carrots, porridge, avocado, cauliflower cheese, fish, pasta, bolognaise sauce etc the list is endless. She doesn't like anything but tolerates the foods named in my original post.
Nicola - she won't allow me to spoon feed her ANYTHING except yoghurt. So that leaves finger foods only.
Olimum - she drinks her milk morning and evening but if i give her more milk she won't eat anything at all. I have only just got her on to 3 meals a day (tiny, tiny meals!). But I am wondering if I should just replace a meal with milk as atleast she seems a bit keener on milk?
I do give her snacks too.. they too are rejected!
I am at my wits end I guess because it's always been a struggle (I had 4 good weeks from early dec to early jan and thought finally she is eating a bit at least but that didn't last) and I worry as she is so small anyway. she can't afford to lose weight!

maybe this is all she needs?

My DS is the similar to your DD, he is almost 16 months now but has been a tricky eater since birth! I'm not sure where he gets it from as dh and I are the most unfussy eaters ever and love food! He was doing okay for a while until he was about 12 months and then refused anything on a spoon unless he was being distracted by a toy or playing with other food on his tray. I got help from an Early Years Adviser (through HV) and she was so lovely, told me to stop using distraction methods and just to give DS a selection of finger food, some that he likes some that he doesn't and then leave him to it without batting an eyelid. Don't let the meal last for more than 20-30 mins and give pudding on the tray with savory so that it's never seen as a reward. I was dubious about this method but I have to say I am so much happier as I dread meal times far less and DS can choose exactly what he wants to eat. It has resulted (after 4 months so it's not always a quick result) in DS liking a few more things than he used to and this is very gradually increasing. What we do now is give him what we eat but also give him a bit of toast too as this is something he will reliable eat. The HV told me that the trick is to almost stop caring a little bit (easier said than done!), and then it doesn't become such an issue for all involved. Good Luck!!

I hope she starts eating better soon and think she probably will. My baby is a terrible feeder and doesnt even have any milk at all most days. She sleeps badly so the fact that yours sleeps well means she is getting enough probably.
It is really horrible I know but does pass !

all the best