Fussy eating 16month old - please help

[rislip]

I'm at the end of my tether with my fussy eating dd.
I do concede she happily eats loads of fruit, ham, bread, eggy bread, cucumber, carrot sticks, hummous, homemade potato wedges and most finger food style meals, so lunch and breakfast are without the drama. But she is a total nightmare at eating a hot evening meal - vege pasta, spaghetti bol, shepherds pie, fish pie all the yummy things I love to cook for her and dreamt she would eat happily. She clamps her mouth shut and will scream blue murder. I weaned her on purees and she liked those just fine, moved her on to more lumpy food and that's when the trouble started. I tend to just give up and get her a yoghurt and some bread sticks. Bottom line is I'm getting more upset than she seems to be. Does anyone who has been/ is in this situation know a helpful book which covers this or have a method which has worked?

Appreciate any help - thanks very much. x

I was having the same problem with my 15 mo dd. I have now resorted to leaving the food on her tray and she helps herself in her own time, no fuss or drama. Its incredibly messy and the first few times she just played with the food, now she holds a spoon with one hand and squishes, plays and eats!

HTH

Thanks for replying MSTG. I have been thinking about trying that. I just get so worked up when she eats practically nothing before bed. So just give her the meal and see what happens. All over the carpet I predict. Thanks again for your help.

You could also try swapping lunch and dinner around for a while IYSWIM - so she has a hot dinner in the middle of the day and a picnic tea.

She may also be not that hungry at that time of day, combined with being tired and you getting stressed. It sounds like she is eating a good range of things tho

Rislip your so lucky your dd eats veg and carrot sticks etc...my 16 mo ds wont eat any veggies...only wants to eat sausages, toast, cereal, fruit and naughty stuff....he used to loveveg and mashed potatoe but wont touvch it now....wont let me feed him either wants to do it himself so I put stuff on a plate or dish and give him a spoon and leave him to it..but mainly he just picks at things and rarely has a good hearty meal like us.

I understand about you getting worked up as I'm exactly the same especially when we eat out and I feel people are watching him.

Does your dd still have much milk?

Thanks for replying.

My MIL suggested that too MaeWest, so will do the meal swap. To be honest, at least then if she doesn't have any hot meal lunch, I know she will eat her picnic supper.

BHM - she does have milk. 2.5 bottles a day - about 440mls.. I know I should probably cut this down.

Thank again