My 1 year old will only eat puffs!

[Bethmxox]

I’m honestly at a loss with my little boy, he will turn 1 on Saturday and for last month the only thing he will eat is puffs , dry cereal or crackers.

ive tried just not offering them but he screams and cry’s for hours hungry unless he gets them, I’ve offered him eveything I can think off but he won’t touch a thing. He won’t let us anywhere near him with a spoon and cry’s and cry’s if he’s in his highchair now.

he was an amazing eater when we first weaned him and would eat any flavour at all ( pouches or blended food ) when he was 10 months we switched him to ‘ proper solids ‘ and he was doing really well but then one day woke up and just completely refused anything ever since. He won’t even look or touch anything but his preferred foods.

I’ve tried talking to our HV who just advised me to not offer them. He was sleeping through the night but now he’s up nearly every hour wanting a bottle and has also become very clingy and will now only sleep if I’m holding him. He won’t even go to his dad 😩

I’m just so worried about my baby and so tired I end up in tears most days. ( I also have pnd and am 6 months pregnant with baby no2 )

I'd start by insisting on a spoon multivitamin liquid, because thr total lack of fruit or veg is an issue. Lack if protein is at least mitigated by milk intake.

I'd start spreading stuff on the crackers (peanut butter, cheese, pate, jam, avocado).

Make sure your cereal isn't sugar laden. Add chopped soft fruit to it dry.

Don't know what puffs are, but if they are crisps I'd just stop buying them.

Then have one meal a day that's a proper veg meal.

No idea what puffs are, but how about offering a small plate with selection of food - a few circles of banana, some sticks of mild cheddar, a couple of raspberries, half a slice of buttered toast and include two or three puffs on the plate as well?

What if you tried something away from the high chair? A little picnic of things on the floor or in the garden? It might be different enough to encourage him to try a bit more

kids eat in colour on Instagram has loads of good ideas for picky eaters

What about not offering him anything at all. Just eat foods in his presence and allow him to take things from your plate. I wouldn't prompt or encourage him at all. Just literally eat in front of him where he can access your plate if he wants to. Obviously make sure whatever you are eating is suitable for him, but healthy. Take all pressure out of the situation. Prepare though for whatever you try taking a few days which might be a bit fraught.

Also remember he's not going to starve in a few days. But weeks and months on a diet of puffs will lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Will he still have pouches now? You could offer that alongside his crackers and something new each time? As PP said, a multivitamin could be beneficial.

Sounds so stressful! Hope you’re doing ok.

My LO has had phases of mostly only wanting similar stuff. I used to load food onto the wheel shaped melty puffs! Or like someone else said try spreading things on crackers etc. maybe try new foods on a plate but put some of the puffs etc on the side aswell?

What exactly are puffs? I’ve never heard of them, really. Do you mean cream puffs? A sweet cream-filled pastry?

I know it doesn't seem like it at the moment, but it will just be a phase and if you continue to offer varied healthy meals he will learn to be more adventurous in time. Eat with him, always offer a variety of foods at a similar time each day. Try not to put too much pressure on him. (I know easier said than done) and keep mealtimes enjoyable.

Does he consume a lot of milk?

Children need nutritious food, ditch the junk and just offer proper foods. Drinks should be water or milk.

Stay strong and don’t think junk is better than nothing.

Put the puffs on a plate with other food and don't make a big deal of it. You'll waste loads but it's fine. Eat with him and offer him bits of what you're having next to his puffs.

Is a puff like a wotsit? If so, just go cold turkey and don't offer again. They won't be giving him any nutrition so are pointless

My DS is 17 months and has phases like this. I would just continue to offer everything but still allow the puffs. I mean it’s better than him not eating anything at all. I try not to worry too much. How many adults do u know that only eat dry crackers and puffs ! It’s a pain but u can’t force a child to eat. X

I'm not sure to be honest, I think it's probably better to not eat anything and then he'll eat real food when he's hungry, rather than just graze on puffs

What are puffs? Just keep offering a choice of different foods, he'll eat eventually.

It's most likely a phase . Probably teething.
My son goes through phases like this. Last month he was eating loads, this last week he's eaten as much as a mouse would

I really want to know what puffs are now. (Sorry Op I don’t know what to advise but I hope it sorts itself out).

Following because I'm in a v similar boat

Puffs are Ella's kitchen melty puffs or similar. Puffed corn basically like a healthy wotsit

I’m guessing that the puffs are the Ella’s kitchen baby crisps.

If so they’re pointless to eat - no nutrition and won’t teach him anything about real food.

I agree with PPs approach of just eating non-junk around him and making a big fuss about how yummy it is. Pass over a bit when he looks interested.

Put the puffs on a plate with other food and don't make a big deal of it. You'll waste loads but it's fine. Eat with him and offer him bits of what you're having next to his puffs

I'd agree with this.

I'd recommend reading some of Ellen Sater's books

I have a very picky eater (autistic). I would take all pressure off. Keep modelling and leave little bits and bobs within his reach.

You could also try doing some messy play with fruit, let him squish raspberries, wheatabix is good to crumble. Have you got a little area he can sit on and get messy?

I'd stop buying puffs...

Honestly! Stop with the puffs. You really shouldn't be offering them anyway.

You're going to have to bite the bullet and start weaning properly.

It sounds like you've got yourself into a bit of a vicious cycle with this. You're getting wound up about what he's eating (or not eating), he's picking up on it and getting wound up which affects his eating further and then you're getting more wound up.

You need to break the cycle. As hard as it is, you need to be the queen of indifference at meal times. Offer a small plate with 3-4 different food items on it (not puffs as I agree with others - nutritionally totally pointless). Include at least one food you know he has previously really liked. Keep the amount of food very small ie just 2 or 3 pieces of each food item. Whatever he does, remain calm. If he screeches and/or refuses it all just calmly remove it. I would offer a plate as above 3 times a day and offer a snack mid morning and mid afternoon (again, not puffs).

Let him have milk if he wants it, there is no point battling him on this. He will eat when he's ready. If he's on cows milk now and not formula/BF you need to put a multi vitamin in his milk.

As hard as it is, don't worry, he will eat in his own time and you getting stressed about it will just make it worse. 'My child won't eat' is a good read (other than being a bit tediously pro-breastfeeding).

The puffs have no nutritional value whatsoever. I'm sure you're worried if you stop offering them he won't eat but there's very little calories in them anyway.

This is excellent advice.

Good luck OP - it's so worrying when they won't eat. If he's on cows milk can you change it to a follow on milk so he is at least getting some nutrients.