Ideas/help for 1 year old meals

[kisaki333]

Hi, this is not about what to feed her. I have a very active (might even say hyperactive dd). She is tiny and growing slowly. She still drinks milk (formula) but also solids (3 meals per day).
Trouble is she eats very little during those 3 solid meals. After much trying and experimenting, i am fairly certain it's not the food but rather the fact that she gets bored and wants to go play.

For example, this morning, i was trying to give her porridge. One tiny baby spoon per minite, if that. Eventually, i caved and put on some cocomelon. Then she basically gulped the whole portion while watching it, in record time.

But I don't want her to get used to watching tv while eating.
Has anyone had a similar problem? Any success stories?

Is there a reason that she's still on formula @kisaki333? How much is she having and when?

Are you sitting at the table eating too?

Are your expectations of what she needs to eat portion wise realistic?

Think little and often, so rather than trying to do 3 big meals, 4 or 5 smaller ones. Avoid "snack foods" like baby puffs, crisps, cake bars - give her things like hard boiled egg or cubes/sticks/slices of cheese, fruit, bread/toast, crackers, cucumber sticks,

Time feeding times so that she is not tired.

Yes, shared mealtimes are good. Feeding her is also fine, she is only little.

Also, I totally get not wanting to be in a TV habit but it's also not the end of the world. Keep persevering with alternatives to TV if it's important to you but if you can't actually name your objection then you might be feeling guilty for no reason!

Kids Eat In Color on instagram is very useful.

Their stomachs are still tiny at that age, so she won’t need much to not be hungry any more. Just give her food six times day and see how you go. You are responsible for offering the food but you can’t control whether she eats it.
Both of my kids had a click moment around 14 months where they would then sit and eat most of the plate. It was from one day to the next, you won’t necessarily see the improvement coming.

Thanks all. She's still on formula due to doctor's recommendations. She is very little and growing slowly. We have begun transitioning to less milk more solids. She's also alergic to milk so that doesn't help either (milk ladder in progress)

Regarding portion sizes, yes, i am realistic in that I'd be happy if she had anything. If i give her toast with butter and almond spread, for example, on a good day she might have an eighth of a small slice. Or a teaspoon of porridge.

Sometimes i eat with her, sometimes not, also doesn't seem to make a difference. If i eat with her it's even worse as all she wants is to explore (not eat) whatever is on my plate. Even if it's exactly the same as her plate.

Like i said i my original post, it's not the food. It's that she is very easily bored and wants to play. Food is a waste of time in her view, if you see what i mean...

DS1 was totally like that. Eat to live, not live to eat. He is a teenager now and strugling with the increased calorie needs of growth spurts because he just doesn't want to eat that much food!

Have you tried just having lots of toys on her tray while you feed her? Sorry if that's obvious. And music!

I wouldn't jump straight to videos if possible, but also if nothing else works then I think making sure she eats is more important at the moment.

Also, I started to have much more success when I started spending 45 mins on meal times. Before that I think I was rushing or thinking my LO was finished when actually he was just taking a break.

Setting aside the time and not rushing made a big difference and it turns out he eats like a horse.

Thanks @booboogiebabies , yes toys are the other thing that helps! I got a full bowl of them in the kitchen but she gets bored of them sooo quickly!

I'll try music although so far she doesn't seem that interested in sounds.

Good idea about the times. I did notice a few times just when i was about to give up she picks up another bite. With me going back to work soon, dedicating 45 mins per meal will be tricky but we'll try our best.