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Original poster

depressed by ds1 eating habits

21 replies

oops · 17/01/2006 18:43

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 17/01/2006 18:46

Mine went a bit like this. Stick with it is all i can say.

She still eats pretty well, except green stuff, but i blend that up and mix it in where i can.

I am aware that their tastebuds do change at around 2 years old and alot of foods they used to like now taste bitter to them.

JenumGeranium · 17/01/2006 18:48

Feel free to borrow my thread! lol!

here

Original poster
oops · 17/01/2006 19:21

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JenumGeranium · 17/01/2006 20:08

OK no probs! Just thought you might pick up some useful tips!

Original poster
oops · 17/01/2006 20:58

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JenumGeranium · 17/01/2006 20:59

This reply has been deleted

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NotQuiteCockney · 17/01/2006 21:01

It sounds like a combination of the normal food changes, and his tummy bug.

They do need less food, for a while, as they get older. I find, up to a year, maybe a year and a half, they eat loads, and are very open-minded. Then they get suspicious of new foods, and don't eat that much anyway. If you work at it, they will start eating a wider range again, but they still aren't that hungry.

My DS1 went through all this, now, at 4, he eats a bit more, and is once more reasonably open-minded. Well, he will say "that looks disgusting, but I will try it". And sometimes he likes it.

fennel · 17/01/2006 21:03

oops my dd2 got gradually worse til about 2 years, at which point she rarely ate a vegetable. now at 4 she asks for seconds of vegetables and for christmas dinner ate ONLY sprouts. last week she had green beans for "pudding" as a treat.
they do improve. we persisted with dd2 encouraging/bribing better eating and now she really is quite good. i wouldn't have believed she was the same child.

don't give up!

Original poster
oops · 17/01/2006 21:13

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Mercy · 17/01/2006 21:14

You say he is getting thinner and thinner, are you really concerned about his weight?

My ds is 23 months and until very recently was a terrible eater (for about 5/6 months). However, he continued to gain weight and in fact is fairly chubby.

I know children of this age can be awful - yuo have my sympathy! I tried every trick in the book to no avail. Suddenly he just decided he was going to start eating again - I have no idea what changed!

fennel · 17/01/2006 21:23

i read somewhere that the average toddler needs about 7 tablespoons of food a day, and maybe one "proper" meal every two days.

they do eat less than when they were babies, usually.

Original poster
oops · 17/01/2006 21:37

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NotQuiteCockney · 18/01/2006 07:55

They do tend to get skinnier around this age, too. Really, it's not worth getting too worried about, particularly as he's getting over a bug.

Original poster
oops · 18/01/2006 08:43

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Enid · 18/01/2006 08:47

aha another skinny veg and nut freak

my dd1 is older but sounds similar

cod · 18/01/2006 08:48

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Enid · 18/01/2006 08:50

what, The Plan

beasmum · 18/01/2006 08:56

Don't know if all has been said already but just wanted to send my support, I'm sure you are doing everything right and from my experience I know it's worth keeping on serving up what you are, even if it doesn't get touched. I think then, your children just know that dinner is dinner, that's what there is - and they don't get the chance to become finicky.

However I definitely think you need to adjust your expectations - at two and a half he is no longer a baby and you just will not get cleared plates now - it seems to be very true that toddlers 'pick' rather than eat big meals. just don't stress about it at all - he will eat when he is hungry and he will eat enough to keep him going. One thing (maybe bit controversial for you but just a thought) I am vegetarian but do give my son meat occasionally. I only give him free-range, organic meat maybe 1 or 2 times a week. It's a really good way of getting protein into him to help his little body with all the growing it has to do and I think maybe with your son's health a real concern to you, it might be worth considering? Home made organic chicken strips to dip in sauce never fail to be eaten up in my house.

However I know everyone is different on their limits re:meat so won't be offended if you think this is the worst idea in the history of the world! My view simply was that I would not make the choice for my son re vegetarianism - that's for him to choose later.

Good luck and hope you can stay calm through this time - as others have said, just keep on the way you are and he will eat up again.

Bozza · 18/01/2006 08:56

Its very common at this age - smaller appetite, more fussy, striving for independence etc. He will get thinner as he gets more active. My DS at his second birthday was still a huge, podgy thing. Now we are approaching is fifth birthday and you can see all his ribs.

Original poster
oops · 18/01/2006 19:23

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brimfull · 18/01/2006 19:41

oops,your ds sounds exactly like mine.Ds used to eat whatever we were having,a good variet of healthy homecooked food.Now he won't try new food at all.

Some days we struggle to know whether to try bribing him,ignore it,insist on him trying and put up with the tears??Its so confusing .we're sort of ignoring it at the moment ,but making sure there's at least something on his plate we know he likes.
Tonight he refused most of his dinner of sugar sanp peas,roast red pepper and tomato,onion potatoe dish thing he used to love,and tomato/basil sausage.

We don't give him anything until b'fast now.

Just thought I'd let you know you're not the only one!

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