Positive weaning stories for fussy eaters

[Namechangemum100]

Dd is 17 months and has been a nightmare to wean. Breakfast is ol, but I struggle to get her to eat anything at lunch, and more recently dinner. She's pretty much on a hunger strike at the moment and living off milk again!

She is completely indifferent towards food, it doesn't excite her in the slightest.

I fee as though I am never going to see her enjoy a meal.

Did your fussy eaters eventually turn a corner? It's starting to feel very disheartening (up at 420am for milk this morning 🙄)

How much milk is she having OP?

A typical day before her hunger strike was about 6oz before her afternoon nap, and 5oz before bed...she is offered more but this is all she seems to want.

For context her milk is neocate as she has cmpa so I can't switch to regular cows milk.

Now she is also having about 5oz in the middle of the night

The recommended minimum is 10floz so she’s not having excessive amounts. Do you think the CMPA could have something to do with it? Sometimes they can refuse to eat if they are not sure the food is safe and won’t hurt them.

What sorts of things are you offering and are you eating at the same time?

Also, I’d try to keep a food diary to look back on, naturally they eat more on some days than others and it’s helpful to look on what they eat over a week rather than a single meal, it should take the pressure off you both

And yes, my little fussy eater is still fussy but eats more often than she doesn’t and the bonus is, she can now cook so sometimes says, I don’t fancy what you’re having Mummy, do you mind if I cook my own”.

@JiltedJohnsJulie that's an interesting point regarding cmpa, this last week I have relaxed a bit on her dairy (intentionally) so perhaps this is having an impact on her...I'll switch back to 0 dairy and see if that makes a change.

We try to sit with her but admittedly don't every night as we have a 3 month old and are often tryouts my to catch up on bottle washing etc

I’ve got CMPA and as a child I would be totally resistant to new foods and wiukd on,y eat what I knew wouldn’t hurt me. If there was no safe food available I just wouldn’t eat as hunger was preferable to stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Also, if she’s had dairy this week her stomach might feel so bloated and upset that she may boot physically be able to eat much, which is the situation I’m in today.

Don’t forget too that the portion size should he roughly the size of her palm, if she’s eaten that much in a meal, it’s really good.

Also, could she be thirsty and needing the milk at night? Have you tried leaving a simply cup with water where she can reach it at night? Giving her plenty of drinks in the day, ice lollies and high water foods?

The size of her palm, wow I didn't know this! That's very reassuring!

You're advise has been really helpful so thank you so much. I am going to put her 360 in her cot tonight and have stopped any dairy again as of today so hoping to see a difference. Unfortunately for dinner tonight she has only agreed to eat strawberries, cashews and some banana popcorn...but it's better than nothing I suppose!

She might be teething?

Mine didn't eat anything till 10 months and still fills up on breakfast. Just turned 2

I think that sounds quite balanced and she probably looks on those as yummy but safe foods. There’s lots of protein in cashews.

Sounds fine to me

@JiltedJohnsJulie perhaps it is, I always tend to compare her to other babies who seem to eat so much and it's so disheartening, I think I've lost perspective on the portion size she needs.

There is also a chance she is teething, I think I can see her canines just below the surface, but it's hard to say for sure and this has been going on for weeks.

Oh God I can remember the canines, both of mine were truly miserable. You’ve got a sleep regression about now and with both of those and the heat, I’m not surprised she’s waking

Is she tracking her her weight centile and growing taller?