12 month old suddenly getting difficult with food

[amyboo]

My DS turned one a few weeks ago. Until now he has been a fantastic eater. He was weaned around 5 months and would/will basically eat anything you put in front of him. He's been eating the same food as us for about the last 2 months.

I started giving him pieces of banana instead of mashed, and other finger foods like bread, toast, biscuits etc about 3 months ago and he would happily feed himself. However, for about the last 2 weeks he essentially won't feed himself. We had been doing quite well with him spoon feeding himself, but now that's out the window as well. He'll happily be spoonfed, but refuses anything you put in front of him that he has to put in his mouth himself!

Is this just a phase? Any tips on how to see it through? He's had about 3 teeth come through in the last month, so I don't know if it's down to teething. It's really stressing me out (which I know doesn't help) as he was always so good at eating. A side point, but he's also started getting really clingy in the last couple of weeks....

Welcome to the world of the toddler! It's a power thing. Just put the food in front of him and leave him to it. Once you stop playing the game so will he!

He's exerting his right to do what the hell he wants. It is a phase that lasts til adulthood imo (when it is no longer your problem...)

I would just spoon feed him without a fuss. He'll do it for himself when he wants to. The important thing is that he can do it iyswim.

It is about control, boundaries and development.
They become more fussy as toddlers to avoid "poisoning" (in the wild) so they will take only food they recognise. They are also developping their own taste.
Then teething may make them reject anything that stings (tomatoes, peppers, citrus...)
It is an investigating age, DD2 is 14 months and refused to be spoonfed or handed food. She will take only what she can take herself with a spoon and a fork which is far beyond her dexterity and really messy. She also likes to put her hand in the bowl to have a good feel and rub it in her hair, all about exploration and possibilities.
I do hope it passes (it did with DD1 but she was not nearly as messy, fussier though)
They do also eat more or less depending on their growth spurts, one week can be very good eating the next a bit of grazing.
Keep offering, share your food, don't make a fuss
good luck

OK, so I can see that I need to not stress, get a mat to put under his chair, and leave him to it! He's quite a "strong minded" little chap anyway, so I guess he's just starting to exert that! I (naively) thought we might have a few more months till the dreaded toddler years started. Sigh.

One of my friends does this, gives dd food, walks away and pretends not to notice if dd eats or not. It works. My Dnephew on the other hand only ears waffles and fish fingers and sausage. No dairy, fruit, veg or unrefined produce. And the whole family panders to it.

They also go through phases of just not needing to eat as much. At 6m or so, they're still growing really fast, whereas I found by 1 they slow down a bit so don't need so much. I've got 3, and really stressed over 1 and 2. After a bit of gap, I'm just going through it all again with 3, and really trying to remember they tend not to starve themselves.