HELP!!

[Lsammie]

Hello,

My son is 14 months old and has started being a fussy eater.

He used to eat everything and now will only eat crisps or biscuits.
I feel like I've got him into this habit but now I can't get him out if it.
His eating went downhill about 8 weeks ago but it's just getting worse.
I've tried everything I've read or can think of to encourage his to eat.
People say 'he'll eat when he's hungry' but I genuinely think if I didn't offer him anything all day he wouldn't miss the food at all.
He won't even eat fruit anymore :(.

Has anyone else been through this?
I don't know if I should be seeking professional help for this or is a 'phase'?

Please help :,(

Thanks

Have you tried putting a little bit of crisps on a plate with other food?

Have you tried making a game of dippy foods? Crisps or crackers dunked in pea puree, or spread cream cheese on cheese crackers.

Ah yes, miserable stage.
Only lasts for a few years .
Nature keeping your child safe! The kids who wondered out of the cave and shoved any old thing in their mouth died, so they’ve evolved to eat super safe bland food (not sure if this is true but I like the story).
The trick, I was told, is to make food fun. Demonstrate food eating. And (this is the most important bit) when they are open to eating something good jump on it. Slowly their taste buds open back up again and you have to be there with your peas.

Keep offering the food he rejects, but don't force him to eat it. Let him see you eat it and enjoy it. He needs to learn that the food is safe and also that while he can say no, it doesnt mean you're going to change what you cook according to his mood. The book 'fearless feeding' is quite useful.

Serve food 'family style' (I really hate that phrase. Let them help themselves. Let them 'help' you in the kitchen. Eat with them at the same time.

Dts were a royal pain in the arse at that age.

If he genuinely only eats crisps and biscuits then I wouldn’t hesitate to seek professional help, probably starting with the health visitor. Most toddlers go through a fussy phase and usually I’d say ignore because it’s normal and they’ll come out the other side but that would be if you can actually create a semi balanced meal from their safe foods.

Honestly don't work yourself up too much about this, I have been through similar although not quite as extreme. Do not make a big deal out of it in front of him, if he sees he's getting a reaction he will just continue the fussiness as its one of the only things he can control. Sit him with you at the table for meals like PP suggested put his usual food on a plate with things he doesn't usually eat, he will ignore it for a few meals, perhaps touch the next one, sniff it the next, perhaps give it a little lick the time after 🙈 it's seriously slow going and frustrating but don't show him you are frustrated. He will start eating more eventually, for the meantime biscuits and crisps will just have to keep him going! I sometimes wonder if it's the thought of what other people think that bothers us the most but honestly at least he's eating something and you will get there with him! Scream into a pillow if you have to but don't show him how it affects you! Good luck 😁

If you offer those he will eat them. Try similar foods like crackers with cheese or toast so he can pick at it.

@SpiderFluff

Have you tried putting a little bit of crisps on a plate with other food?

Yes and he'll just eat the crisps and throw the sandwich on the floor 😭.

The things is 8 weeks ago he was living sandwiches would have most any filling ... now he'll put bread in his mouth and cringe and spit it out 🤷🏻‍♀️.

@Ohshittt

Honestly don't work yourself up too much about this, I have been through similar although not quite as extreme. Do not make a big deal out of it in front of him, if he sees he's getting a reaction he will just continue the fussiness as its one of the only things he can control. Sit him with you at the table for meals like PP suggested put his usual food on a plate with things he doesn't usually eat, he will ignore it for a few meals, perhaps touch the next one, sniff it the next, perhaps give it a little lick the time after 🙈 it's seriously slow going and frustrating but don't show him you are frustrated. He will start eating more eventually, for the meantime biscuits and crisps will just have to keep him going! I sometimes wonder if it's the thought of what other people think that bothers us the most but honestly at least he's eating something and you will get there with him! Scream into a pillow if you have to but don't show him how it affects you! Good luck 😁

Thanks for replying!.

I'm really trying to not show frustration and when he throws stuff i ignore it and pick it up at the end. I've tried sitting him at the island with a booster seat with me, on his highchair pulled up to the island, letting him do his thing and eat on the go, I feel like nothing works!.

I just don't understand what's happened 8 weeks ago he'd eat loads 🥺 ... he'd eat a sandwich with nearly every filling and now he'll put bread in his mouth, cringe and throw it 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I feel like it's making me ill because he doesn't eat a lot 😭🙈.

I spoke to the HV and they told me they want to weigh him but I got an appointment through for the end of Jan. i just feel like I'm not getting no support anywhere 🤷🏻‍♀️

Did you give him sandwiches every day? Maybe he's bored? When DC were younger I tried to rotate foods so they weren't always having the same thing all of the time.

Please DO NOT listen to the people who say a child will not let themselves starve. My 6YO DS has always been hard work around food. When he was a baby he would only have 2oz of milk at a time. Then he went through a phase of pretty much eating nothing when he was 2. Even now he doesn't eat a sizeable meal in one go. He has always preferred little and often. So many people told me to keep battling him, he won't let himself starve etc. As soon as I gave up fighting and accepted he's a grazer life got 100% easier. I make him small meals now and accept he will come looking for something else an hour later. I just keep lots of healthy snacks around.

I would normally ask about his teeth in this situation, but if he is willing to eat crisp and biscuits there is probably not a problem there.
Will he accept yoghurts or smoothie type drinks, very bland/ runny to start with then build up the flavours, sweet and savoury?
Just offer small quantities of finger food, little and often, sweet and savoury. But I would stay away from the sandwiches, the texture can be quite boring after a while!

Maybe it's a texture thing.

Try things that are a similar texture. Thin apple slices baked in the oven for apple crisps is better than normal crisps if hell have that try other vegetable crisps.
Try dry and plain things like couscous and plain pasta.