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Help with toddler eating.

10 replies

EmilyG2020 · 02/01/2020 18:40

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to encourage a three year old to eat more and try new things. He has a limited amount of things he liked, I'm at a loss now and it's causing differences in the family.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Katjolo · 02/01/2020 18:41

What do they currently enjoy?

PhilomenaChristmasPie · 02/01/2020 18:42

Give him what he likes plus a multivitamin. Don't make a scene.

INeedNewShoes · 02/01/2020 18:44

Even if they reject a food one day, keep presenting them with a small amount of the same thing from time to time.

Get them involved in shopping and making food with you.

I also hear great things about kids who are fussy at home having a very different attitude to food at nursery.

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LuluJakey1 · 02/01/2020 18:53

DD is almost 3. In the last 3 days she has eaten for her 3 meals a day:

Tuesday
porridge
pasta with tomato sauce, strawberry icecream
porridge and half a banana

Wednesday
porridge- she refused a banana or blueberries or an egg or toast
4 grapes and a plain yoghurt. Did not want the pizza and salad we were having. Or chicken.
a banana and a piece of bread and butter

Today
half a banana
Porridge and a few grapes
scrambled egg and grated cheese with an oatcake. 2 pieces of roasted parsnip.

Last week she was great - tried everything. I am past fighting her. DS1 was similar with weetabix. I try things to tempt her with a range of things but sometimes she just wants porridge.

She sometimes has some fruit as snacks and drinks plenty. Her weight is fine.

flowerstar19 · 02/01/2020 18:56

My sons 4 & 2 were given these for Christmas and love them.

fred DINNER WINNER Kids' Dinner Tray - Original https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I0VUMBI/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_CWJdEbCNFPBGJ

My 4 year old eats methodically around the 'track' and the last section has a little cover at the end so I pop in a chocolate coin or something if he has eaten everything! Might be worth a try? Disclaimer - 2 year old still only eats the stuff he likes!

Also getting them involved in cooking/shopping can really help!

BubblesBuddy · 02/01/2020 18:58

I sent my ultra fussy 2 year old DD, who ate next to nothing, to nursery 3 half days a week. Lunch included. She sat with other DC and 8 weeks later she asked for more Christmas lunch! Amazing difference when eating with other DC. Could you do this? She’s in her 20s now and is quite a foodie!

Expressedways · 02/01/2020 19:04

Get him involved with the cooking and food prep.
Serve familiar foods alongside new ones, don’t expect him to eat them the first, second or even the third time.
Don’t pressure and be relaxed as you can about it.
Send him to nursery, peer pressure really does work, mine eats loads of things she’d refuse at home.
Give him a multivitamin if you’re worried about his diet more generally.

Janaih · 02/01/2020 19:09

Following as my 3 yo will only eat toast, yogurt and chicken nuggets.

NannyR · 02/01/2020 19:17

Don't make a big deal of him being fussy and don't force him to try new foods - it can often be counterproductive in the long run, turning a bit of fussiness into a real problem.

You could try serving family meals "help yourself" style, with food in serving dishes in the middle of the table and everyone dishes out what they want. If they have the control over putting something on their plate and see other people enjoying the food, they can be tempted to try something. Don't go overboard on the praise if they do, just make a comment on how you like the taste or something.

Get him involved in choosing what you eat, shopping and cooking. You could chat about healthy foods in a very child friendly way, as in milk gives you strong bones, potatoes give you lots of energy, meat helps you grow strong muscles etc.

I know it's easier said than done but don't stress about the situation - a doctor once told me that if they are growing, not losing weight and have enough energy to do normal toddler stuff then they are getting what they need even if their diet seems limited. Giving them a multivitamin is a good idea too.

I read a really good book, I think it was called "first tastes - how we learn to eat" by Bee Wilson, it goes into the reasons why people may be fussy or even food phobic and gives you lots of ideas about helping to solve the problem.

Gastonimo · 09/01/2020 18:26

Following as also have this challenge with my 2 year old. Basically eats fish fingers and nuggets. Will eat beans and peas.

Refuses to eat any lunch at nursery. Used to eat anything and everything when weaning and then suddenly just oven beige food.

Have tried involving him in shopping and cooking, tried not offering any alternatives. Nothing seems to help.

At a loss at what else to do, I give him variations of what he eats every day. Switching out beans, peas, waffles, chips etc.

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