16 month old refusing 'meals'

[BabyHaribo]

DS 16 months has until a few weeks ago always been a good eater. However, lately he has been completely refusing main meals. He won't even try things and starts crying shaking head etc when he sees the food.

At first I though it could be teeth but he will happily eat breadsticks, rice cakes, fruit, etc.

I've tried me feeding him and him having a go himself, doesn't seem to make any difference. He gets so worked up and I don't want it to be an issue so I just take the food away however, I am getting worried about how much he eats. He barely eats any veg and sometimes won't even eat his lunch.

Only has milk in the morning and always eats breakfast of weetabix/porridge/fruit so it's not that he is full from milk.

Any advice or do I just have to keep offering foods and staying calm and not worrying. I am really hoping its a phase!

My 16mo is also going off food at the moment. I'm still offering meals, making her sit in her high chair for a set amount of time, but trying not to fuss or get wound up if she doesn't eat - her sitting for a certain length of time is more to continue to make the point that there are meal times which require sitting for, iyswim. If she is starving an hour later she gets offered quite dull food, rice cakes etc., so not sweets.

I've heard that this is the age they start exercising control, and also that they do need less calories than they did. DD is slimming out, but she still looks healthy, drinks lots of water etc., so I'm trying not to fuss. It's not a fun phase so, by any stretch of the imagination!

Thanks Thurlow it's good to know there are others in this lovely phase!

I think I just worry that he will be sooo hungry....but if he was surely he would eat! I was really really fussy as a child and would like to avoid that but I suppose what will be will be.

My DD is also 16 months and suddenly off her food. I have been assuming it's just a phase, continuing to offer food as normal and trying not to make a big deal of it when it's refused.

If they are hungry they will let you know! DD eats worse as the day goes on, so we pretty much tank her up in the morning - big bottle, big breakfast, decent lunch if she'll eat it, and then let her eat at her own pace for the rest of the day. For tonight's dinner she ate half a nectarine and a few bits of broccoli and cauli. It was not what you'd call a great meal, but she's still sleeping through so she can't be starving.

I was having a similar problem! my 16 month old went off her food for a while- was getting very worried as she just wasn't eating proper meals. but I have just recently brought a disney dining set from Munchkin- she lovesss Minnie mouse !! she is eating much better as she gets excited now for dinner with Minnie! It can go in the dishwasher too which is great- gonna have a look at getting some of the other bits as she loves it so much!
It may be worth a try with your little one, the mickey version is really fun too. think its helped making meal times exciting,has really helped her to eat better.