should BLW DD just eat what she is given?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

DD is 12 months and is BF and BLW.

We have always tried her on a wide variety of foods and she has pretty much tried everything. Amount she eats is pretty variable. Recently though she seems to have been refusing all of what we are eating - so I have got her something else instead that I know she will eat. Is this the right thing to do?

Dunno. I just gave her what we were eating and if she didn't eat it, she didn't eat it.

Didn't really want her to think there was an alternative.

She's 3 now and doesn't eat huge amounts but she is the healthiest child in her preschool. Not a single day off in a whole year.

Forgot to say, Dad was ill for quite some time before he died. That was when my brother appeared on the scene again, at my mum's house, not my dad's.

I was never quite sure of this one either! I tended to make sure that there was something each day that I knew DS would eat, but tried not to worry if he didn't eat much (anything) at any particular meal. He's now 21 months and still has meals where he just takes one look at dinner and refuses to touch it, but I definitely don't give him an alternative now. TBH I think this usually has more to do with his hunger level and what other things are going on, rather than what the food is. I would certainly try to avoid getting a second meal regularly - although every now and then I don't think it's a terrible thing to do!

I personally think they should eat what you are eating otherwise it runs the risk of turning into a battle of wills. However having said that obviously take into account when planning meal times everyones likes and dislikes!!!

For example my dd was never that keen on spuds so I would offer her an alternative!

I confess if DS won't eat what's made for him, I usually try him with a couple of rice cakes. I don't give him a "proper" alternative, unless maybe the original is something he's never tried before. I take the view that even at 18mo there will be food he just won't enjoy like just like you and me.

He rarely turns his nose up at fruit which he has after every meal, so he'll usually just have a bit more of that. If that get's chucked on the floor, then I assume he's not hungry!