Getting small child to eat

[bellasheffalump]

My daughter has been fussy since day one. She doesn't have any allergies that we know of. She would quite happily live on yogurt and weetabix. I am currently pregnant and running low on energy to coax her to eat. I don't want to just keep giving her stuff I know she will eat. We've tried rewards, bribery and not giving alternatives once the food is on the table. Itwouldjust be lovely to sit down together and all eat the same thing with no hissy fits. She's 2 and a half. Any ideas? Thanks

One word - persistance! No child will starve themselves. My DD is now 3 and she was really fussy too. I never offered her an alternative but gave her things which most children like and will eat, foods which are reasonably bland to start with. Fish pie with white fish, cottage pie, lots of nursery style dishes. She wouldn't eat loads of stuff which other children did. It takes a while for children to grow to like things sometimes and get used to the different tastes and textures that if she doesn't eat something the first time you just try again in a few weeks.

You sound like you've be so desperate to get her to eat you haven't had any consistency with your methods. No-one can blame you but you do need to decide what you are going to do and stick with it and to be honest, as harsh as it sounds, the offering them nothing else is the thing which will work. It took us about 6 months!!!

What I did do was give her a breakfast which she would like and a predictable lunch (ham sandwich for her) so I knew she had eaten something. Then no snacks in the afternoon and then at tea I would eat with her and if she didn't eat it there was nothing else. She never has to clear her plate but she always has to try new food and always have to give it a good go. Don't make a big deal of it either way. If she doesn't eat it doesn't matter. My daughter was so bloody stubborn but now she will try most things and whilst there is plenty she doesn't like neither of us stress about it and we can sit down and enjoy a family meal. Good luck.

A bit random, but I hope that this helps you....

We adopted an "assembly" method. I found that if I put dishes on the table of grilled vegetables, strips of chicken, cheese cubes etc that my DS would eat pretty much anything into a tortilla and wolf it down-then proceed to make another one.

Makes for messy mealtimes, but the upshot is that he now consumes all the food groups I'd been desperate to get into him and with a little encouragement, mealtimes are pretty much stress free.

Mini pitta breads, baked potatoes, toast slices, small chops and "eat with your hands" type stuff (chicken drumsticks and similar) also worked.

We have now progressed to a stack of kebab skewers and "fun foods" (cherry tomatoes, brocolli spears, cheese, chicken courgettes etc) for him to choose and assemble this way.

A bit of planning yes, but damn it's a relief when he will actually eat proper foods.

Best of luck- I hope that this is of some help to you??

This is an age when some kids can be quite fussy.
Personally, as long as she is eating a reasonably balanced diet, I wouldn't worry too much about offering a large variety of new foods.
I've one DD and two DSC's - one is vegetarian, another doesn't like fruit/veg or 'lumps' but I generally offer up the same core meal, with a couple of varied elements to suit everyone.
I like the idea of one meal to fit everyone, but I wouldn't eat a meal I didn't like, so I suppose I don't expect the kids to do the same.
In what way is your DD fussy? Both of our 'fussy' girls prefer food to be fairly plainly cooked, not keen on sauces etc, but do like quite strongly flavoured foods like parmesan cheese and marmite. DD is more likely to try and like foods that are already similar to things she likes, but I have found it can take many tries of a food to acquire a taste for it.
I'd favour an approach where you are calm, don't stress about meals, when offering a new food, I'd offer it alongside something she will eat, so she won't go hungry. Don't insist on cleared plates and don't withold a pudding as a punishment for not eating.

Thanks everyone. DD not keen on wet food such as sauces (she will eat plain pasta at the mo) and really dislikes mashed potatoes. Feel like we started well when weaning. She would eat spaghetti bol and fish pie, etc, with some coaxing but then she got proper flu and her pickiness got worse and worse. She was also fussy when breast feeding and would not entertain a bottle until about 8 months. Try to make sure she has good breakfast and then anything else is a bonus. Would just love to have a meal that she doesn't stress at. She is an otherwise happy, chilled out child. Not sure what's gone wrong really. Will Give the ideas a whirl and let you know what happens. Thanks again.

Best of luck bellas - do let us know how all goes.

And remember- there will be a method out there that works- you just need to find one that suits DD.... Hope you find it soon?

If it's any consolation, there are many foods which my DD would not entertain at 2 which she now happily eats. Many people are blessed with children who will eat whatever is put in front of them, but many of us are were not!
I suspect your DD is probably a bit like mine in that she would prefer her food more deconstructed - i.e. have a slice of bread and a separate piece of cheese rather than a cheese sandwich.
Dry, crunchy foods such as breadsticks, rice cakes have always gone down well and my DD prefers flavours not to be mixed up - but will happily eat plain steamed or boiled veg, or raw. Gravy/cheese sauce/ketchup - all absolute no nos.
You've done nothing 'wrong' - your DD is just developing her palate.
Does she go to nursery? DD tried foods there that she liked and eating around other children can often be a good way to break down barriers about new foods if they see friends eating different things.

DD definitely does better when things are deconstructed. She goes to preschool once a week, but they've been struggling to get her to eat too. Have noticed however, that she eats better around one particular friend who is nearly as picky as she is. Trouble is we can't get them together for every meal. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks all. Feeling better about the situation.

We have just tried stir fried veg and fried rice for the first time! She spat the veg out, but it was voluntarily put in our mouth.