Ok so I think we have a texture problem.....

[tory79]

I have posted a few times about 16mo ds being a bit of a fussy eater. However, I have been experimenting a bit recently, and have come to the conclusion that his problem seems to be with either the texture or presentation of food, not the taste.

So eg this afternoon, I gave ds a bit of rice cake with hummous on it. He touched the hummous, got upset and threw it on the floor. A bit of dry rice cake was eaten with no problem, and then I made him a little hummous sandwich which was also eaten.

Of late I have found that I have been doing 1 of 2 things with his food - either mushing it up slightly, and putting it in a sandwich, or spreading it on a pizza base, sprinkling a bit of cheese and voila..... Using one of these means he will eat pretty much anything! Curry, fish pie, lamb tagine, pasta..... all things that he won't put to his mouth at all if they are presented 'au natrel' are eaten quite happily in this way. I always put some of the original item on his tray as well, but it is either ignored or thrown.

He is interested in cutlery, but can't use it yet - I did think this might help as then he wouldn't have to touch the food so much, but although we are working on it obviously there is a long way to go before he is proficient at all!

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? Although I am happy that he doesn't seem very fussy with regards to taste, I loath putting decent food into sandwich or pizza form just to get him to eat it. Is it better to carry on with this and let him get over it in his own time, or should I be more actively trying to get him to eat it as it comes?

Thank you!

Hi there, my DD (15mo) is exactly the same!

Well, until 6 days ago when I bought a booster seat for our table and put tbe highchair away. We have been eating as a family and it has worked wknders, she has ate all her dinner every night for ybe first time in ages!

I think they naturally go through fussy stages thst pass eventually but I know how frustrating it is when you've cooked something nice just for it to get chucked on the floor!

Sorry for the spelling im using my phone and predictive text is rubbish

Thanks saycheeeese, ds does eat with us at the table already, and I don't use the tray of his highchair so it just pulls right up to the table and his food goes on there, as he seems to prefer that. This has been going on for ages now

:(

How long? Has he any teeth coming? Dd didnt eat for about 3 weeks due to a molar coming through, I just made sure she drank more milk and gave her a daily dose of multivitamins!

Erm....... since he was about 10 months! So most of his eating career! Although the use of sandwiches and pizza by me has probably been going on for about the last 2/3 months.

Hi

Does your Ds enjoy messy play at all? How often does he get to do it?

We don't really do messy play yet, what kind of thing do you mean?

I have wondered if actually its because he doesn't like getting his hands dirty. This never used to bother him, a few months ago he was happily scopping up curry/spag bol with his hands and shovelling it in. But now if he gets food stuck to his fingers he asks me to get it off for him mid meal!

scooping

I think you may have just answered your own question

Sometimes children can get fixated on being clean, and this can transfer in to other areas....eg mealtimes. Him 'needing' his hands cleaned is a give away. I have done a lot of theraputic play with children over the years, and a good starting point is water play, because it is a 'clean' play, but he will still be getting messy iukwim. If you can bare it, and obviously safely, let him stand at the kitchen sink and 'wash up'. Or if the weather allows, let him have a bowl of water outside. Then a week or so down the line, let him experience the feel of a bowl of jelly. Let him play with it, out of a normal meal time setting. So let him sit in the bath with it, take it outside. Whatever works for you really. He needs to feel lots of textures, and in his own time he will over come this and enjoy his meals again. But for now, try not to change what your doing at meatimes. One thing at a time. PM me if you want more details, and I can type up a plan for you, if that's what you want.

HTH

Oh dear, thanks McPhee. I am feeling a bit responsible now, as both DH and I (especially dh actually, which surprised me when we started weaning) are a bit mess phobic, and have a tendency to hover a bit with wipes etc

ANy info you have would be most appreciated.

Hey, no need to feel guilty. We all do it, me included with my 6mo

If you can, try and hang back abit with the wipes. Do you sit with him? So you are 'on tap' with a wipe? Can you go around the corner, obviously so you can still see him, so he can explore his food. You'll be surprised what children will do when they think you're not looking. Or busy yourself across the kitchen, still talking to him, but so you aren't so 'available'. Don't be tempted to take his clothes off before mealtimes, this also gives them the cue that 'we must not get dirty'. Have you got a large meal apron, or even a painting apron he wears?

I'm about to go to bed, but I'll be able to help more tomorrow.

Chin up....it's all just a phase, and soon enough this will be solved, and then he'll throw another problem your way. It's the nature of the beast

Thanks McPhee. No I don't take his clothes off before he eats, in fact he doesn't even wear a bib any more!! Partly as he always seemed a bit uncomfortable in them and tried to get them off, but partly I guess, as he has moved away from tackling messy food it has become less necessary anyway.

I eat with him in the dining room. We haven't got a table/eathing space in the kitchen which is a pain as it would make it a lot easier. I have just told dh we are going to have to sit on our hands a bit more and let him get on with it. Does that mean I should stop cleaning his hands when he asks?

If you can bare it yes. Or if he gets too distressed, then do it once, then reassure him that he is ok and mummy/daddy will do it when he is all finished. Wipes out of sight...not sat on the table.

How has today gone?

Hi, sorry, we were out all day yesterday! We had lunch in a pub with some friends, and gave him some jelly for pudding which is the first time he's had it - he didn't actually eat any but he certainly enjoyed giving it a good prod and watching it wobble.

I had a look on the imagination tree, and think I might try making him some paint for finger painting, and giving him spaghetti to play with. I think I struggle with the idea of messy play as he seems quite young for it - nothing holds his attention for more than a few minutes, plus he's a thrower so EVERYTHING ends up on the floor at some point.