When would you go to GP for picky eating toddler?

[ThedaBara]

My DS is 2.5 and over time has become very very selective with his food. He apparently eats most things at nursery, but at home he barely eats anything outside of bread, fruit and yoghurt. He will very occasionally have some tomato soup, baked beans or pasta, but that's about it.
The nursery aren't too worried and think that as he's eating a variety there, but they mentioned the GP might help.
Has anyone found this helpful? Thank you

No. I wouldn't.

What do you expect GP to do if the todler is fine with weight/height and the child eats fine at nursery?

Most children grow out of it. Don't bother too much.

He‘s actually eating a pretty balanced diet, especially if he’s eating what he’s offered at nursery. At this age, the keys things are calcium and calories. He won’t get ill because he’s not had any broccoli. DS is almost 6 and hasn’t touched a vegetable in 4 years. HV has repeatedly said she’s not too worried because he eats a lot of fruit and dairy. He is always given lots of foods but they make him gag. I ate naff all at that age but I gradually started eating more.

Oh wow that's interesting.

I have also had zero success from the GP - they suggested they need to lose two percentiles body weight before any action.

Out of interest - anyone who has been through it, has anyone's just been picky eating and NOT ASD/etc?

Mine was an extremely picky eater. Lived on chips, pizza, chicken nuggets, hated fruit & veg. I gave him vitamin supplements as I was so worried about his crap diet & refusal to eat a decent meal.
He's now 26 still a little picky about veg, but will eat decent food. Don't worry too much.

Picky eating in children this age is developmentally normal. Children age 2-5 tend to prefer safe familar food. From an evolutionary point of view it prevented very young but walking children that could wander away from parents from eating food which may be poisonous.

It wouldn't be a red flag for ASD at this age unless it was extreme e g. children who will only eat one brand of breakfast cereal and absolutely nothing else, or if it continued in older children despite parents efforts to expand diet.

DS was diagnosed ASD as a teenager. His eating habits were one of many signs that there was something going on but for years we just thought he was being awkward.

unfortunately this is correct. They will probably tell you that no child will starve and to just offer food and if they dont eat it dont offer anything else.
They are wrong.
If Nursery arent concerned and your child is healthy I wouldnt worry but you could speak to your HV if you have one.
My advice would be to chill out and offer food but dont push it, you could just make it worse

I would speak to the health visitor in the first instance you're concerned about their height or weigh as they can weigh and measure them accurately to check. Other than that I wouldnt bother, it's very common and the fact that they eat better at nursery is also common and reassuring. My 5yo is much better now than she was at 2.5 just to give you some hope for the future. Short and slim but growing fine and healthy and has a wider diet and also can be convinced to try some new things sometimes too.

Hi any improvements m?

Your DH needs to stop making him clear his plate.

GP and health visitor will give basic advice as per above with keeping offering foods, no pressure, eat together. I doubt they will refer to a dietician if he is a healthy weight.

I have fussy eaters, one worse than the other. We try not to let it stress us out, we just usually have at least one thing on the plate they will eat. This can limit our diets sometimes which can get depressing.

I was an extremely fussy eater as was one of my siblings, the other wasn't. I started eating a normal diet in my teens when I ate at other houses more and became embarrassed by my picky eating. I love most food now especially veg! I believe veg tastes more bitter to kids.

From experience, the 3yo is exerting the one bit of power he has! It's a common battle.

What's worked for us: ignoring, serving 'new' things alongside 'safe' things, divided plates so new things aren't touching safe things, a side bowl to put in anything she doesn't want, low-pressure approach. And I'm sad to say, bribery. "chocolate for whoever tries the most broccoli, you or dad" .... Keep the best bits of the meal (garlic bread, etc) in reserve. Small slither to start. Eat all the safe healthy stuff (chicken, pasta) and I can go look if there's any garlic bread left after. Sitting at the table family style. Keeping snacks small, consistent and at the same time each day (e.g. apple at 10am, cheese & cracker at 2.30pm). Nothing extra so not grazing all day.

What didn't work: cajoling, pleading, nagging! "mmm I promise you'll like it". "you liked it last week", "look how much I'm enjoying it yum yum".

Sometimes her baking/preparing/cooking worked - it did when she was 2-3. She'd want to try new ingredients that she saw me cooking with/snacking on. Not so much now at 5.

arghh didn't realise it was a zombie thread

Sometimes they load up on calories at breakfast and dinner and aren't as hungry at dinner. They can also be exhausted by time dinner hits so can be the worst meal to get them to sit and eat.

When my son was little I mentioned to the doctor I was worried about his diet during a consultation about something else. At the time he was only eating about 10 items but they included fishfingers, beans, chips, bread, fruit, yoghurt, weetabix and milk. The doctor said his diet sounded fine as would be getting enough nutrients from that.

And indeed he did grow to be 6 foot tall and eats everything now, less fussy about food than I am.

Hi I have noticed your comment on your son around 2 and his diet . My little girl just over 2 doesn’t seem to eat too much . For example today she had yogurt with nuts , milk , and piece of toast for breakfast, multiseeded crackers , carrots and peach yogurt for snack , lunch small plate of lasagna with courgette , snack 2 cucumbers , literally 2 pieces of dried banana , dinner : same lasagna with boiled carrots

That sounds pretty healthy & nutritious to me. I expect she will eat many more things as she grows older.

The GP won’t do anything I’m afraid.

That is prime picky age for sure so it might be a phase. Try not to let it become a battle - offer some safe foods alongside some new foods, lots of praise if he tries things but no pressure and then just quietly clean up whatever is left after. Making it a whole thing will just create another problem.

I wouldn't go to a GP unless my dc became seriously under weight.

I'd just keep offering him a wide range of finger foods, and let him see me eating them. Lots of variety including beige stuff. If he's hungry he will eat, and eventually he will get more adventurous. And not make a fuss about it.

My ds went through a stage of eating very little except pastry, wholemeal bread hummus and sausages. But every meal had cherry tomatoes, chunks of cucumber, beetroot, salad leaves, fruit, and veg.

And he was served every meal we had. Pasta with sauce, cassoulet, omelets, everything. It took him a while but he got there.

Absolutely - if he’s eating differently at home and nursery

Your daughter is fine. People have seriously skewed ideas of what disordered eating is. This is not it.

My daughter and many of her friends were very similar. I took the route of school dinners once she started reception, eating socially she tried new foods that I was able to incorporate at home. It was all very beige until around 7/8 though and there’s still very little veg now. Some found their kids didn’t eat at school at all, so had to introduce packed lunches. I know healthy, nutritious eating is important but kids are resilient will survive. If you make it a fight, it’s miserable. I honestly don’t think the GP will be much support, ask the HV, it may be generic advice but they may have a scheme set up. Can she have play dates with friends that involve eating? There’s a couple of books, something about ‘getting the blighter to eat’ and ‘french don’t throw food’ (can’t remember the exact titles) but they made me feel less of a failure, which you’re absolutely not.