A question for nursery nurses - how do you get fussy babies to eat?

[muddypuddles12]

Just that really. My 8 month old is a very fussy eater, and he is going to nursery in 2 months time (2 days a week) and I was wondering what nurseries do with fussy eaters? Do they try to encourage them to eat or if they're fussy and don't want whatever is on offer - they just don't eat?! If it's something he likes he can eat for England but if he doesn't like it he literally point blank refuses to entertain it at all and I'm concerned that on the days he's at nursery, if he doesn't like what's on offer he just won't eat anything!

For those of you with fussy kids at nursery - what's your experience?

As a nursery nurse I would say that fussiness is often less of a problem in a group situation, children and babies often mimic what others are doing. Have nursery said there is a problem?

No experience in a professional capacity but my DS was going through a fussy phase when he started nursery at just turned 1. With a month or two he was scoffing whatever they put in front of him and the staff told me they get one meal option and no alternatives, and when they see everyone else eating the peer pressure soon encourages them to try.

@bloodywhitecat @marmitemayonnaise thank you both so much, this is exactly what I was hoping you would say! My hope is that nursery will make him less fussy as he is actually a much better eater when he eats at the same time as us, although this is v.difficult as it would require us to eat dinner at 4:30pm!

He hasn't started nursery yet but is pretty fussy with purées (will only really eat it if it tastes like fish or sweet potato!!) so we tend to do a lot of BLW / finger foods at home instead, which he is far more experimental with and will try most things (how much gets eaten is a whole other thread!) but not sure how flexible nursery will be able to be with finger foods.

Thanks again to you both.

Our nursery is proper food only, no purées. Hopefully yours is the same and he'll do grand!

I'm an ex nursery nurse. Some babies stay fussy at nursery but some do eat better. I used to encourage them to eat but never force them. I'd offer them the spoon if old enough or let use their hands, anything to encourage them to eat.

We would go by what the parent's preference is in regards to the texture of the food.

At 8mths and older he’ll have proper food not purée at nursery. They will make sure it’s suitable for him to manage either by being finger food or chopping it small enough for a spoon. They will help him when needed but lots of babies that age like to be independent and feed themselves so expect mucky clothes and put in spares (even with a bib they end up with it everywhere!).

They tend to be less fussy in general in group situations but some babies are just fussy and there isn’t much anyone can do except give them time and encouragement. Generally speaking there won’t be other food on offer if they dislike the main cooked meal except for snacks such as fruit etc. Speak to your nursery as to if you can put in something for those occasions baby doesn’t eat the meal.

Thank you all so very much.

@Tumbleweed101 - I do a mix of finger foods and purées anyway and to be honest, if I had the patience, I would let him feed himself exclusively as he often does prefer that and he's also a lot less fussy when feeding himself. Chicken / meat he won't touch in a purée (I've tried many many many times) but pieces of torn chicken, he'll happily munch away on. The more I offer finger foods the better he is getting at feeding himself, but I must admit I'm lazy with it and there are certain purées / mashed foods he enjoys and it's a lot easier to just get one out the freezer and let him have that. I will encourage the nursery to let him feed himself (as I don't have to be the one to clear up afterwards 🤣).

For those who have experience BLW, at what point did you feel like your baby started getting more food in their mouth than up there nose / ear / floor?