Normal or time to seek advice?

[tryingtobemarrypoppins2]

DS1 is 2:7 years. He is quite hard work.

1)VERY fussy eater, we are stuck at only eating baked beans and he is almost phobic of trying anything else. Gags when he looks at some food! He eats very little and has no really need to eat it seems, he would even turn down cake/choc etc

2. Is always tired. He sleeps around midday until 4pm so sometimes 3 or 4 hours in the afternoon. He then goes back to bed around 8 right through.

3. He keeps falling over and is covered in bruises.

4)His speech, I think, is a bit behind his pals. However he is quite lazy with it too and will not give up his dummy easily which doesn't help!

5. He needs a lot of cuddles at the moment, keeps asking. I thought this was related to his new brother but its been 4 months now.

6. He is really really pushing his behaviour at the moment. Loads of crying not getting his own way. He is tense with other children and I have to watch him a bit. He has this horrible habit of saying "goodbye" "cherrio" then hissing at anything he doesn't want to do/ or anyone he doesn't like......this worries me....

7. He is really funny around 'professionals' hates doctors/dentists etc gets very very upset major tantrums.

Whats going on with my little chap!

Sounds normal to me, if a little challenging for you.
The only thing that would potentially worry me would be the long sleep in the afternoon- but I think DS could sleep for 2-3 hours easily at that age. If in doubt, take him to the GP and have him take a blood test.

Other stuff seems more to do with being a toddler plus the new baby- it can take longer than few months to get used to the new baby.

Mmm...and I would try to make him eat other stuff than just beans as well, he needs vitamins etc. Does he come down with infections often? Maybe I would test him for anaemia? That could explain tiredness.

He will eat hummous, bread sticks dried fruit, cerial etc its the main meals which are terrible and so limited.....no meat at all.

He isn't pail, although tans easily so may hide it I guess. He was weighed 2 months ago and had gained 2 cms but hadn't gained any weight since he was 18months old!

He does seem to be having a rough old time of it, doesn't he? Difficult to know what's leading to what. The restricted diet will not be helping in terms of fatigue, bad temper and the bruising. Vitamin/mineral/energy deficiencies can have some really profound effects on behaviour as well as health. He could be very anxious/insecure/annoyed about the changes since the new baby... four months isn't all that long. And then you have to throw in the fact that he is a toddler and even the most mild-mannered ones have their moments.

I would be tempted to try getting some more nourishment into him as a first step. Follow-on fortified milk, fortified juices, vitamin supplements etc. Keep going with the cuddles and offer lots of praise for good behaviour, trying a new food or helping out with his brother etc. Special time with you and his dad is important for his sense of security.

If you're still worried - and the fact that he's prepared to turn down food all together would be the one that would bother me more than the rest, if I'm honest - then see your GP and ask their advice.

Yes, if he drinks well then 'liquid' food might be a good route - milkshakes, soup etc. The difficulty with fussy eaters is always not making a big issue of food - you can end up pleading with them to eat, bribing, threatening etc and all are the wrong thing to do. But I would definitely try to get more calories in one way or another - I think the bad temper and the long sleeping/neediness might be related to it. Have you tried a change of eating scenery? Perhaps eating naked in the garden might be more fun?

Everything sounds normal, even the naps, and sleeping pattern. The only worry is the food. Ask for help with that.
Good luck. You can hide food in things he already eat. A bit of white fish or mince in the houmous or in the backed bean sauce. make him help you do sandwiches, diner, he might want to eat it afterwards ? (tough with a 4 months old!)

I agree with everything Winnybella said. All sounds normal.
He sounds as though he is eating okay, too. If he has cereal with milk then he's probably getting all the vitamins/calcium/etc that he needs or at least most of it.
I wouldn't worry too much about the meat. If he's eating beans he'll be getting protein.

Many thanks all.
We eat in the garden tonight.....not naked though!! He has eaten better today but slept 1-4:30 so another long stretch.

Some good ideas suggested. Glad you agree its nothing too serious. Thanks again!