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2YO food issues

6 replies

TheNeedyOrca · 25/02/2025 12:59

Hey all,

I've read a few posts here on it and still ended up a bit indecisive on worrying.

My son is 28 months and since around his 2nd birthday his food pallette has gotten significantly limited.

He used to eat everything and anything that we prepared for him from Kormas and mild Tikkas to beef hot pots to chicken dinners. However things have taken a bit of a turn.

He doesn't say many words due to suspected hearing issues but will lead us to what he wants in regards to toys or items and does basic hand movements like pointing and signing for more etc.

The only consistent thing we can give him lately is some banana on cereal for breakfast.

We usually just give a rich tea biscuit or a small portion of fruit as snacks and then lunch time a few hours later before nap he always runs over to the kitchen dinner table on announcement for "Food" and interested on what's to offer, but main meals are always met with tantrums and crying and trying to throw his bowl.

We never force feed and generally have a 15 minute timer from when he's sat down to calling off food. For meals we will make whatever it is we're eating and if he turns that down we will make him a slice of toast or 2 with butter which is also hit and miss.

Sometimes he signals for a yoghurt but I'm concerned with how often he's rejecting food for toast as a fall back or often refusing all food in general.

Breakfast is the only consistent meal that he will eat without fuss.

He's not losing weight and is full of energy himself, I just don't know suggestions on tackling the main meal part of his day as he seems genuinely interested in food because he always runs over to see and tries to get into his chair but with there being limited vocal skills at the moment and the issue with he never shows or tries to tell us himself what he wants it's hard to make something work.

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24Dogcuddler · 25/02/2025 17:28

Can you pinpoint any change or event that preceded him reducing his diet? Illness especially sickness can trigger this.
Good that he is still choosing some foods that he will eat.
If you are concerned about communication, you could try some laminated photos of some basics he currently eats or previously did. If he can recognise symbols you should be able to download some free ones or buy some ready laminated.
Make a food choice board.
You could introduce this with breakfast choosing between cereals or even how he likes his toast cut. Start with boxes of cereal or toast in triangles or squares so that he gets the idea of choosing.
A plate with sections might help? Offer small amounts in bowls he can pick from or put on his plate.

GloriousBlue · 25/02/2025 17:33

I think it's a pretty common age for them to get fussy

My kids have days where they want plain foods and others where they're more adventurous

Just keep offering a variety and one day he'll surprise you

TheNeedyOrca · 25/02/2025 23:17

24Dogcuddler · 25/02/2025 17:28

Can you pinpoint any change or event that preceded him reducing his diet? Illness especially sickness can trigger this.
Good that he is still choosing some foods that he will eat.
If you are concerned about communication, you could try some laminated photos of some basics he currently eats or previously did. If he can recognise symbols you should be able to download some free ones or buy some ready laminated.
Make a food choice board.
You could introduce this with breakfast choosing between cereals or even how he likes his toast cut. Start with boxes of cereal or toast in triangles or squares so that he gets the idea of choosing.
A plate with sections might help? Offer small amounts in bowls he can pick from or put on his plate.

I think the ideas here a lot with the lamination of known foods.

He was ill about 2-3 weeks ago but the fussiness start pre-dates the illness quite a bit.

His plates and bowls do tend to be compartmentalised with some variety or division of food but might start trying smaller portions to see if that gets him interested. Thanks for your time to respond.

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TheNeedyOrca · 25/02/2025 23:18

GloriousBlue · 25/02/2025 17:33

I think it's a pretty common age for them to get fussy

My kids have days where they want plain foods and others where they're more adventurous

Just keep offering a variety and one day he'll surprise you

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Yeah, that seems to be the common answer across food posts with toddlers around this age bracket is

Just Offer It
Dont Stress
Be Consistent with choice

So I'll try and keep to it!

OP posts:
HeyDoodie · 25/02/2025 23:40

If he’s traveling along the same percentile, he’s getting enough food without the main meal. Personally I’d knock the snacking on the head so he’s actually hungry at meal times.

Beamur · 25/02/2025 23:51

It's not unusual for toddlers to start refusing foods. But as long as he's a healthy weight, active etc, he's getting enough calories.
Your tactics to offer food, not make a big deal if he eats it or not and offer something fairly bland and unexciting to eat if hungry later is fine.
Many kids really don't mind repetitive meals - food is fuel and there are more interesting things to do than sit down and eat.

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