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Parenting

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Original poster

16 month old sudden change in eating habits

28 replies

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 05:52

Basically my 16 month old ate reasonably well until he had his jabs and got poorly and didnt eat properly for a week. This was 3 weeks ago! Since then hes happy to eat breakfast and lunch stuff so finger food and cereal cheese beans scrambled egg and pasta on a good day. He loves yoghurt and fruit. Hes always been an early riser about 5.30-6.30 but today it was 5 and he was crying until he got milk. It was sausage and mash for tea he just chucked it. I have ignored him to let him get on with it, tried to encourage him, spoon fed him and given him the spoon. I dont no anymore. Basically its all dinner type meals. Stew no, lasagne, no, saudage no, jacket potato no all gers chucked on floor unless it has cheese on then will pick each bit of cheese out! I dunno what to do. Yesterday he had banana and yoghurt coz he needs something otherwise he wakes hungry but its not enough. Hes obviously waiting for that. Any advice?? Do i not worry and just give him what he wants or continue offering things he chucks on floor and gets hungry. Thanks x

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Taddda · 14/12/2019 06:02

What's his poo like? Is he generally well otherwise?

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 06:07

Yeah hes teething on and off i think. Hes had the odd temperature this week. Hes nappys have always been quite lose but not diarrhea. Just squechy. Generally happy. Clingy compared to dd 1. He suddenly gets hungry that just follows me round crying but doesnt eat it x

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Taddda · 14/12/2019 06:22

Sounds like it could be the teeth/tummy combo? I'd be thinking if he's hungry but then crying when it comes to eating there's something stopping him- have you tried giving some pain relief (Calpol?) just to see whether he's more willing to try his food then?

If not, perhaps a little visit to the docs just to check ear/nose/throat...(my 2 year olds just got over a nasty virus, she was hungry too but couldn't swallow with her sore throat, so went back to whizzing it up for her until she was better)

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user1480880826 · 14/12/2019 06:28

Sounds like teething. He’ll be back to normal soon. Keep offering lots of food and milk.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 06:31

We have just shared a piece of toast but he took it from my plate. He eats well with somethings its hot food like stew etc he wont eat and just chucks. He needs a spoon but wont do it himself and gets cross if i help. I no its prob an independence thing but even ahem left with sausages yesterday which is an easy food to eat he just chucked them :( should i offer fruut and yoghurt? X

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Inglenooks · 14/12/2019 06:36

No advice but my 17mo had been the same since about 15mo. Don't think it's teething etc, think she is just getting fussy! It's really hard.

Fruitteatime · 14/12/2019 06:38

Same here for my 14 month old only he won't eat egg or pasta. He's never really eaten any mushy food either, especially not from spoon but did at least pick up bolognese by hand. He won't even do that now. He mainly eats toast with marmite or peanut butter, yogurt, fruit pouches, some fruit and veg (not all), raisins, baked beans, pasties like cheese twists or croissants and cheese! He will also eat biscuits and crisps but obviously I'm trying to limit that! I don't remember dd being this fussy at such a young age. Would love some more ideas for food if you have any op. Just wanted to let you know we're in the same boat!

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 06:43

Its so frustrating isnt it. My 4 year old is starting to copy sometimes and i am just trying not to lose the plot. I try and ignore. Just put it on front and let him get on with it. Do u guys do that? Or do u just give them what they like then try a few days later. I dunno if him having yoghurt nad fruit after is a good idea coz its like hes waiting for that. But he needs something. :(

OP posts:

Taddda · 14/12/2019 06:49

If you do think it's a fussy stage thing and he's eating from your plate I'd be trying that with all food for now (now thinking I'm still on a wind down from 'virus watch'....)

Saltnpepper5 · 14/12/2019 06:54

My 16 month old is the same for the past week or so refusing food what hed usually hoover up. I just say ok then dont eat and ignore him and eat mine, he sometimes starts eating it after alittle while and other times he eats off my plate. If he refuses anything i offer Porriage and he will eat this.
I've read that at 16months they realise they have a choice to say no so put this to the test. I thought it was teething but he has no other signs.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 06:59

Salt and pepper u give him porridge even if he eats nothing?

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Saltnpepper5 · 14/12/2019 07:07

If he refuses what i offer for tea/dinner. Then i will offer Porriage and he will eat it so hes obviously hungry just been fussy but this doesn't happen very often. Its just so he doesn't go to bed hungry.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 07:09

Does he often not eat tea?

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Saltnpepper5 · 14/12/2019 07:15

Not really hes just been fussy and messinc around He will eat eventually, after shaking his head saying no, if not his food then off mine or his dads plate. Ill only offer Porriage if he eats nothing at all which isnt very often.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 07:18

Its quite common atm with us:( i dunno if i should put him right up to table and get rid of highchair tray

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Saltnpepper5 · 14/12/2019 07:37

You could try that its something different for him. Sometimes i sit my son on my knee and he will eat something.
Have you tried just offering finger food? Like a picnic tea? If hes not interested in a hot meal.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/12/2019 08:16

And a main lunch?

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Saltnpepper5 · 14/12/2019 08:27

It could work so a main hot meal at lunch and a picnic tea. So maybe leftovers from the night before for his lunch the next day maybe, If its possible. Hopefully its just a phase and hes back to normal for you soon.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 17/12/2019 02:58

So I have tried all your ideas. He will have pasta but no other hot food. He has just woken up and ended up screaming i ended up giving him a bottle. He then chatted for a bit and seems quiet now. Its 3am and he woke at 2am. I have not had to give him milk at night for ages!! I spent a while wesnong him off and now cant sleep as am kicking myself but nothing else would settle him. Will he wake up tommorow expecting milk? Have I started something? Why wont he just eat a meal? :( he jad cereal fruit yoghurt for tea last night and 8oz milk before bed. He has a cold and atm i think xxx

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hammeringinmyhead · 17/12/2019 12:57

Mine is nearly 14 months and started nursery at 11 months, where he eats proper solids (veggie korma and rice, tuna pasta bake, fish fingers and veggies etc). Since he started there he now won't eat any savoury pouches or baby meals, but will eat fruit pots, cereal, porridge, toast, sandwiches, beans, veggie fingers, little potato shapes, and pots of fruit or yoghurt. I can only really assume he's in a fussy phase. I tried to give him cottage pie the other day, which he refused, but he devoured some weetabix so is obviously hungry.

PeacefulInTheDeep · 17/12/2019 13:10

My DS is 17 months and I find the evening meal the hardest of the day. I think it's a combination of tiredness and growing independence - he knows he can say no or throw it on the floor and he's testing the boundaries.

My approach has always been that I won't make separate meals. We always give him fruit and then yoghurt after dinner, so if he's refused a meal that he's previously eaten, we just move on to the fruit and yoghurt, just maybe giving him more than if he'd eaten his meal. I do sometimes worry if he does this for 3 or so days in a row, but then he'll go back to shovelling in spag bol with both hands!

He has a cup of milk after dinner before bedtime so can fill up on that if he's still hungry.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 17/12/2019 13:23

Do u think it can affect night time?

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Rosebud1302 · 17/12/2019 16:57

I am in exactly the same situation with my 16 month old. He is very fussy with me. Barely ever eats dinner. Lunch is very picky. Loves breakfast though.

At nursery he eats anything and everything. At home. No chance. He won't touch a vegetable with me if his life depended on it. It's so hard to know what to do as like you said they must be hungry.

I give him a snack before bed but now I'm wondering if I made a rod for my own back and now he just holds off and refuses dinner because he knows he will get a snack.

Can their minds work a few hours ahead like that?? I have no idea. It's so difficult.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 17/12/2019 18:55

I spoke to the health visitor today and she said offer him little bits of what we are having and something you no he likes. So tonight we had sausage mash and veg so i did him a bit of sausage and veg with pasta and tomato sauce which i no he will eat. He ate the pasta and did try a bit of sausage then had a banana and yoghurt for pud. He still has 8oz milk befire bed so health visitor said even if he doesnt eat much u no he has that. She thought it was teething as he only has 5 so basically until they have all teeth they dont worry about fussyness as it could be sore gums. Hot food could be sore. Bits of sausage could be to hard. He might of had some once it hurt and has made him nervous. It all made sense. She said dont offer anything different for instance if doesn't eat anything even stuff like pasta dont offer weetabix or what ever as they learn quick that they will get some thing else. So a snack before bed etc... Its so hard! I said about him waking last night and she said the milk was prob more comfort if rarely wakes than hunger. X

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Rosebud1302 · 17/12/2019 19:07

That does all make sense. I do think my boy is teething. But I don't know I feel it's been going on for so long now and it doesn't explain why he happily demolishes anything and everything at nursery. That's the hard bit for me, knowing he CAN and DOES like this stuff as he eats it there but with me he just isn't interested.

Oh dear so she thinks we shouldn't offer anything before bed at all? Even if they don't eat all day :/?

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