Fussy babies- do they really exist?

[LissyD]

I'm just wondering, as our baby has never completely refused anything, if shes unsure about something I just leave it on her plate, maybe eat a little bit myself, but generally don't make a fuss, keep putting it back when she throws it and eventually she eats it and the next time theres no problem. This makes me think that when shes acting like that it's just because shes in a daft mood. Maybe its just because there is no food that me and dh don't like, and we tend to give her whatever we eat.

Are people who say they have fussy babies just being soft or am I really lucky?

Mila you've cheered me up no end, thank you for such an honest and hopeful post x

trebuchet -

My ds refused the spoon from just before 7 months. I gave him things he could manage with his fingers but he never ate much of it. It is incredibly frustrating when your child won't eat, but it certainly does not make you a failure. Some children are just very strong-willed!!

My db only started really eating at about 17 months, at which age he was able to manage very well with a spoon on his own. I'd let him hold a spoon at mealtimes from about 12 months, and although he never really ate anything off it, he liked to swirl it around his bowl as if he was really using it - he certainly seemed to enjoy holding the spoon. Then one day he just started really using it and eating.

Will your ds eat snacks in the pram or while playing? I let ds eat whenever and whereever, which made me a lot less worried about how much he ate at mealtime. People say that this isn't the right thing to do bc of bad habits etc etc but it worked for us.

Trebuchet - my DD1 refused wet foods too (apart from yoghurt ) - she was a fussy eater from about 8-9 months - when the lumps appeared.

She is now 5, and although she isn't a great eater, she will try new things. I have also managed to get her to eat spag bol - although she has to have a piece of kitchen roll to wipe off the sauce . However, with gentle persistence from me and DH she has got so much better.

I hope that helps!

Thanks so much oilandwater and colander.

Its good to know others are/have been in the same boat. It sounds so stupid but I actually feel jealous of mums whose baby's eat anything.

DS (just turned 3) and DD (2.1) have both always been offered the same food and treated the same way. DD will eat anything that is put in fron of her, and will happily much away at a bowl of brocolli or suchlike. DS, on the other hand is VERY fussy, will not eat any type of veg (does eat fruit thankfully!) and is very unwilling to try new foods.

What can you do?

Sounds like you're doing all you can, I guess we just keep offering. I have to admit I resent slightly that I buy ds the bluddeh best of everything, and I know it will mostly be batted onto the floor