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Help Please!!!!!!!!! Sorry, bit long and has probably been covered so many times.....

16 replies

Expectantmum · 15/06/2006 18:46

My DS has literally just turned one and almost overnight we are having trouble at mealtimes. Up until a few days ago he loved his food and would eat everything we put in front of him. He normally has three meals a day with an afternoon snack. He only has one bottle of milk a day (first thing when he wakes up as he refuses any other bottles and has been like this for about three months). His breakfast he is fine with, but the other meals he seems to "play" with, he'll eat some of it and then start refusing, shaking his head, even has a paddy. He also has a habit of when he doesn't want to do something he makes himself sick. He is probably only eating half of what he was and it is worring my. Spoke to my friend today and apparently her DD is doing exactly the same thing, and her HV has told her it is a control thing. Do you think this is true? What could/should I do to overcome this? Do you think I should cut out his afternoon snack and just assume if he is hungry then he will eat?

OP posts:
Twiglett · 15/06/2006 18:50

give him finger food, leave it in front of him and let him get on with it .. ignore any bad behaviour .. throwing food? remove the plate and say No firmly

remember it is hot and your appetite goes down when you're hot

yes he'll eat when he's hungry

if it helps the average 2 year old eats about 11 tbsp food a day (all food including snacks) .. measure that out .. its not a lot .. also they'll probably only eat one proper meal in 48 hours .. this averaging is over a week to 10 days .. so they may not eat a 'meal' in 3 or 4 days then eat a couple of meals

I think the important thing for you is to stay calm and don't let it bother you

hth

Xena · 15/06/2006 18:54

I have no advice but 3 of my children did this and I'm sure the 4th will when he gets there. the only helpful advice my health visitor gave me when I had ds1 was to feed them as much as possible with as much variety as possible before they are 1 as they will stop eating then.
I have got abit of advice though DD2 won't eat 'lunchy or tea' type foods so she has 2 hot meals aday and eats better that way. IME it gets better at 4.

Pruni · 15/06/2006 18:57

I read somewhere, before ds turned one, that it's the age when their food consumption goes down to worrying levels. I tried not to worry, since I wass prepared, but did (of course).
Good healthy snacks are the key.

MerlinsBeard · 15/06/2006 18:57

my 14 mo is doing this at mo, we just give him things he can eat with his fingers and let him get on with it. means no mash/no custard etc but he is eating much better for it. I do 2 bowls. 1 with a little bit of food in and another with the rest in. means more washing up but also means that if he does tip up his bowl, that i can fill up with food again.

Expectantmum · 15/06/2006 19:15

OK thanks ladies, thats really put my mind at rest and has saved me rushing for the door to take him to the doctors (mad, I know!). I might be being silly here though but what is good finger food - he has gone off bread, so won't eat a sandwich or toast, so any tips on finger food would be greatefully received. Shame because he was doing so well, eating virtually what we were eating :(

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 15/06/2006 19:17

I still do whatever we are having but have adapted it so that ds2 can eat with us still. eg boiled potatoes, baby carrots, chunks of chicken rather than cutting it really tiny. He will even eat fish finegrs like taht! It was too much stress trying to do special things for him

Twiglett · 15/06/2006 19:17

vegetable batons (cooked or not dependent on chewing ability): carrots, brocolli, cauliflower

cucumber strips, tomatoes

pita bread and humous

fish fingers
chicken goujons
chips
strips of fruit

etc etc

Twiglett · 15/06/2006 19:18

pasta

Expectantmum · 15/06/2006 19:22

Hes gone off fish fingers. Tried them today and he just wouldn't even try with them. The pita bread might be a good option as he has gone off normal bread.

OP posts:
Expectantmum · 15/06/2006 19:39

Thanks for your help and for putting my mind at rest. I am sure we will cope, somehow Grin

Does it really last for three years???????

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 15/06/2006 19:40

try not to think about how long it lasts for, some phases are long some are short but try and remember that that is all it is, a phase :)

Expectantmum · 15/06/2006 19:49

Typical male really Grin

Thanks again!

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Coolmama · 16/06/2006 21:19

My DS is doing a similar sort of thing at the moment - so am using breadsticks that he can dip into a variety of stuff as a way of getting him to snack as healthily as possible - also because he wants to do things himself now.
I then repeat after myself - "no child with food available to them has ever starved" - and leave him to get on with it - he will be fine and so will your loGrin

Expectantmum · 16/06/2006 22:52

Cheers Coolmama, bread sticks is a cool idea and yes, I know he won't starve but its just worrying when they aren't even half of what they were a few days ago. I wish it could happen to me like that, I might get somewhere with my diet Grin

OP posts:
Coolmama · 16/06/2006 22:54

The bitch about him not eating is that I end up eating his food!! - the road to hell...........

PonderingPen · 19/06/2006 16:08

I have struggled to get my 25 mo to eat reasonable quantities from the time he went onto solids. It got to the point where he refused to let me feed him with a spoon and for about a year now he has been eating everything with his fingers, including custard!

I used to get very worried about it all as his weight was getting really low. I got him checked out but everything was ok, so now I now try to relax and be grateful if he eats anything at all.

He also won't eat pork, chicken, lamb or beef, so I struggle to make sure he's getting enough protein.

Lunches tend to be easier as I give him toast or crackers(Hovis)with cheese spread, peanut butter(luckily he's not allergic), humous or mashed sardines. I also spread the toast or crackers with butter to try and get some fat into him as he's very thin.

He'll eat scrambled egg if I cook it slowly and carefully in the microwave in a small tub. I let it set into a soft lump which can then be cut up into cubes which he can pick up easily.

He will eat pots of pureed fruit with a straw.

A few other suggestions are:
chunks of cheese
halved cherry tomatoes
halved dried dates, apricots
raisins
fruit chunks
chunks of good quality sausages
fromage frais (I give him a spoon but he ends up scooping it out with his fingers!)
bread sticks
pasta
peas & corn (eaten one by one!)
baked beans !
seeds & small pieces of nuts (but supervise carefully - I'm always a bit scared that he might choke) (plus be aware of allergies)

I hope some of this helps.

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