Meal ideas for fussy 14 month old

[OscarPsmummy]

My 14 month old ds has recently become very fussy at dinner time. He eats his weetabix ok at breakfast time and normally will eat a sandwich, cheese, fruit etc for lunch but only a small amount. The prob starts at dinner time. He won't eat a proper hot meal. I've tried just giving finger food but after a few bites the rest is thrown on the floor. I try lumpy hot food (he won't let me feed him which is fine I let him do it himself) but this just gets flung across the kitchen as does anything pureed. Every dinner time seems to end in him having a tantrum and me getting totally stressed (which I know is not helping!) Any ideas to save my sanity?

mmmm is he having dinner with you or on his own?
are you feeding him what you have?

I usually feed him on his own because it's so stressful at the moment I wouldn't be able to enjoy my meal. Have tried giving him what we had the night before but usually won't eat it (unless it's roast dinner pureed).

Mmmm do you think he might want company? try eating with him if possible, even if it means your partner has to eat later, he probably wants company and wants to eat what your eating, he's getting to that social age.....I'd also try mashing the food, as might be too early for too many lumps, dd's still not keen on them at 23 mths, but she'll eat finger food fine!
Try to remember that throwing is just a phase, you could let him do it, then remind him its not good and if he does it again, he'll get a minute on the naughty step/chair/corner etc, after doing that a few times, they usually give up and eat their food. Hope this helps.

have you tried giving him his main meal at lunchtime? Mine used to get too tired to eat a bigger meal at 5pm or so.

My ds (18m) usually has his main meal at lunchtime, after his lunchtime nap, so he's quite hungry for it. Then, if he doesn't eat much tea, it doesn't matter too much if he had a good lunch.

Milk - 7.30am
Breakfast 8.30am
Snack 11.30am
Lunch - 2.00pm
Dinner - 5.30pm
Milk - 7.00pm

HTH

Sorry meant to add, with regards to meal ideas, if I am feeding him at a time when I know he's going to be fussy, I try and give him something I know he will eat. DS's favourite is mashed potato, so I give him mainly that, with a few things mashed in (eg cod & cauliflower) that he can't see in there!

Is he normally tired at dinner time? Actually my DD at that age had just gone down to one nap and so was often very tired at lunchtime but usually OK later on. But for some it works out the other way.

Personally I am a big advocate of eating as a family. DD is 16 months and has whatever we eat. Of course, she likes some things more than others. Roast dinners always go down well. Other things she enjoys are mashed potato based - fish pie, shepherd's pie, sausage and mash, and she also enjoys couscous or rice based meals.

mine is more difficult to feed in the early evening because of tiredness too. I have to admit that I put his high chair in front of a video and feed him that way - he's distracted and calm, and eats very well.....(bad mum, bud it gets the grub down him!)

Thanks for all the tips guys. He's usually more tired at lunchtime so I think I will stick to big meal at tea time. I will definately try eating together and see if that makes a difference. Dh and I normally end up eating far too late anyway!

How'd it go tonight?