I don't know if this has gone beyond the normal toddler food phobic behaviour....

[ilovespinach]

ds1(2.11) has a strange attitude towards food and DH and I are now starting to get really worried.

As a bit of background up until the age of just over 1, he was a good eater - he wouldn't eat everthing but I didn't worry about food. Since then though, he has got more and more selective and almost 2 years later we are down to Marmite on toast, plain brown bread, yoghurts, banannas, pancake and pasta pesto.

I know this might be a lot wider then some dc's choices but his attitude towards food is starting to worry us. He freaks out if anything new is put in front of him or even the stuff he used to eat. Good example was this morning when his dad asked him if he wanted some Weetabix for breakfast, ds was literally shaking as ifhe was really worried about it. He has also has a bad tummy upset twice in the past 3 weeks, so he was being sick a lot - all food that he ate just before he was sick is now being rejected as well. Due to all the tummy upsets, he has lost a lot of weight and there is nothing extra on him anymore.

I just don't know what to do. I know that some people will say just put it in front of him and if he wants it.......But we have tried this approach with him and it doesn't work - he just seems to get more stressed about eating which is something I want to avoid. He just doesn't seem to enjoy food....

I know there are no magic cures but has anyone ever sought help for this kind of issue?

Ilovespinach - have you spoken to your GP about this? It may be that your DS could do with being referred to a specialist who could help you - and him- work through his food issues if he is getting scared at the prospect of food. My DS (2.11 also) is a very uninterested eater (would much rather play than eat and if forced to eat will hold food in his mouth till he gags and is sick) but will at least have a few spoons of his meal before claiming he is finished/not hungry/will save it for later. The things we've found have helped with his eating are making sure he has lots of activities to do (so he is at least hungry enough to eat some of his meal) and eating with him (he will want to eat what we're eating - or at least try it - on occasion) and positive reinforcement for eating well when he does. I do feel your pain - I have to keep telling myself its a phase and he will come through the other end (and in the meantime its saving me a fortune in food bills)...

thanks dinkystinky ( ) I think it's come to this. Honestly, we have tried eating with him and there is no way in the world he will eat anything new I'm just so worried for him....I don't know where this has come from - he has never choked or anything like that