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How do I get my child to eat?!

40 replies

crazycatbaby · 08/05/2018 18:46

Just a bit frustrated and wondered if anyone had any advice. My little boy is 18 months old, and I'm getting so frustrated at him refusing to eat a proper meal. He doesn't seem to like hot food, he eats mainly toast/rice cakes/raisins/yogurt/fruit/cheese Hmm He also won't eat meat/fish/eggs. I keep trying him with them but he spits it out. I just made him spaghetti for tea and he threw it on the floor and has had toast and an orange instead. Does anyone have any suggestions of healthy things I can try him with? I was an extremely picky eater when I was small but I'm not now, so I'm trying not to worry to much but it's hard not to! (I'm not picky at all now)
Thanks Smile

OP posts:
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TheMonkeysAreMine · 09/05/2018 13:59

My fuss pot won't eat beans, fish, eggs, hummus, pasta that's too soggy, crispy pasta, melted cheese...the list is long 😁.

Just take it slowly, don't make it a big deal, and just keep trying him.

My eldest wouldn't eat scrambled or fried egg but ate hard boiled eggs.
Wouldn't eat battered fish but wolfed down mackerel or kedgeree

Keep at it 👍

Pannacott · 09/05/2018 14:05

Re protein, will he eat fishfingers with ketchup? Sausages? Yoghurt? Cheese? Glass of milk? Peas? Even just lumps of cheese are fine if that's the only way to get it in him. Look at the recommendations for his weight and measure how much protein is going in. Might iron be a worry too if he's not eating meat?

TeeBee · 09/05/2018 14:07

Firstly, stop worrying. He is a baby. He has plenty of time to learn to eat a variety of food. He won't starve, even if you think he will. He won't. I had one fussy eater and one who would literally eat the table if you left him unattended. I did nothing differently. They both now eat health balanced diet and nobody is dead.

There is so much truth in the concept that you have to try a child on a particular food 17 times before they accept it. It is worth remembering that before you get stressed about what he isn't eating.

I used to find that the most stressful thing was spending ages cooking them something and then them not touching it. So I would say batch cook, put it in the freezer and defrost small portions. That way, very little stress. Then try him again and again on the same food until he suddenly realises that its here to stay so he might as well give it a try. Even if you just put it on his plate, it is desensitizing him to it. The biggest thing is to create an environment where you are not getting stressed because he will learn that meals times mean stress. Whatever it takes to make it an enjoyable experience for you all, do that. Its not a race. Just because he won't eat something now doesn't mean he will never eat it. Surely he's still having milk, which contains a lot of the nutrients he needs.

Also don't stress if he throws it. They are learning about gravity at this age, dropping things on eth floor is perfectly normal, healthy and necessary. If it bothers yo, put him on the floor on a plastic mat, and outside in the sun if it helps with the cleaning up afterwards.

Seriously, its not worth your stress. Your responsibility is only to provide a healthy meal, its his choice whether he wants to eat it or not. If not, remove it and remove him from the table. He'll be hungrier when its the next meal time. He WILL NOT DIE using this approach. He might get slightly peckish.

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TeeBee · 09/05/2018 14:13

Also, have you tried those mesh bag things that you put food into and they chew through it? I think at that age, my eldest hated the texture of food and wouldn't eat meat either (he bloody loves a steak now!). He would eat chicken because it was a different texture. With those bags, it breaks down the textures that feels weird to them. He will get there, try not to worry.

Cutesbabasmummy · 09/05/2018 15:20

FATEdestiny Ha ha I wasn't being defensive, I said that you were being harsh! Not at all the same thing. Btw regarding your later post the OP has a boy and not a girl and spaghetti is actually pasta! Good luck OP. Ride it out and it will probably get better x

anxiousmumma12 · 09/05/2018 16:29

spaghetti is actually pasta!

Don't be silly . You know what she meant .

Benandhollysmum · 10/05/2018 00:51

Actually spaghetti broken up into smaller pieces then cooked is perfect for a tot it teaches hand and eye coordination esp if they are eating with their hands..
He’s not wasting away as he’s getting the nutrients he needs and the cheese will help him put weight on.
Just keep trying, if you were a fussy eater as a kid it will be in your boys dna to be fussy too..and as for not giving kid alternative, that’s 1960s behaviour, if a kid refuses to eat esp a fussy kid they won’t eat, so you expect kid to starve or boak on foods he don’t like?

Benandhollysmum · 10/05/2018 00:52

Don’t listen to that person OP.

anxiousmumma12 · 10/05/2018 08:54

Just keep trying, if you were a fussy eater as a kid it will be in your boys dna to be fussy too..and as for not giving kid alternative, that’s 1960s behaviour, if a kid refuses to eat esp a fussy kid they won’t eat, so you expect kid to starve or boak on foods he don’t like

Haha ha .
They won't starve .
If there hungry they will eat what's in offer unless you teach them they can always have there own way and give alternatives. Literally the worst you thing can do re picky eating

Benandhollysmum · 10/05/2018 12:58

Actually I was referring to someone else that was being cheeky to the person who started the thread..if u bothered to read the whole thing you’d have known who it was directed at...

Ok glad to have cleared that up

anxiousmumma12 · 10/05/2018 14:10

Yes I know that and I was replying as I disagree with you

Blondemother · 10/05/2018 14:25

For protein, have you tried making banana pancakes?
Mash a banana, whisk in an egg, fry in a pan for a few minutes on each side. Tastes sweet, not eggy, and can be eaten with hands.

If my little girl is being picky these almost always hit the spot and reassure me that she’s had something wholesome.

Benandhollysmum · 10/05/2018 17:45

Well I don’t agree with other people but don’t pick them out as they are entitled to their opinion, just like I am. obviously you have a problem with that otherwise wouldn’t specifically pick my opinion out or out to pick arguments with people online. Guess we ain’t all perfect like u...

anxiousmumma12 · 10/05/2018 17:55

Eh.you said you was talking about one person

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 10/05/2018 17:56

As long as all the bits and pieces he eats add up to a reasonable diet, I wouldn't worry.

If you believe Mumsnet most 18 month olds are eating the same meals as their parents - my experience of observing my friends children tells me otherwise. Just keep offering him new stuff alongside stuff he likes, eventually he will eat a wider range of foods.

Or do like my mother apparently did and put custard over everything (and I do mean everything).

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